College Fashion Essentials

As the fall college semester has kicked off, so have all of the back-to-school deals on online clothing websites, enticing young college kids to invest in a whole new wardrobe. Realistically, however, most of us can’t afford to revamp our college wardrobe every year, so here are some college outfit essentials you need (and can probably find somewhere in your own closet). 

What to Wear to Class

The majority of your time on campus is likely spent going to classes, so finding comfortable and cozy outfits for going from building to building is essential. In the south where it still feels like summer for another few months, athletic shorts and tanks are a great investment. As the weather starts to shift and it gets colder, transition into leggings, yoga pants, and thicker tshirts. Layering is also a great alternative. Wearing summer tanks or shorts layered with a comfortable sweatshirt or flannel will keep you cozy but can be taken off in the afternoon if it begins to feel warm again. In the winter, layering is essential. Leggings under yoga pants and long sleeves under tshirts are the best way to start. With this, you’re able to recycle wardrobes from warmer weather while still staying warm in the winter months. Using this guide as a baseline, hunt for tops and bottoms that match your style and personality, so you’re able to remain true to yourself while still staying cozy and comfortable. 

What to Wear to Other Events

College is not just about classes and studying, however. This means you need to prepare outfits for any potential party, football game, or other campus events. People go all out for UGA football games, showcasing red and black however they can in their fun and dressy outfits. Oftentimes, a lot of college kids also join Greek life or attend their events and socials. Fraternities and sororities throw all sorts of themed parties, and having crazy outfits ready to go for them is a great addition to a basic capsule wardrobe. Toga nights, neon outs, Hawaiian luaus, and camouflage are just a few commonly used themes in Greek life parties. Also keep in mind to pack a few jeans, nicer tops, skirts and even dresses to wear to fancy dinners, birthday events, and any other formal occasion. Lastly, don’t forget to pack a set of business clothes, including a blazer and dress pants, for any career fairs or job interviews you may stumble across. 

How to Build a Capsule College Wardrobe

The best place to begin is to decide how long it stays warm outside for, and how quickly winter approaches. With this in mind, you can begin selecting pieces for each season. Look for pieces that you’re able to recycle through layering. This allows you to get the most for the money you’re about to spend. Invest in good quality loungewear, pieces you can wear at all times of the year, regardless of whether or not you’re in your college town. Below, we discuss the best ways to shop to create a capsule wardrobe, and how to save money.

Best Places to Shop

To prevent mass consumption, one of the biggest problems from shopping is fast fashion. To try to avoid falling into this, carefully select each capsule wardrobe piece, understanding that it can and should be used after college too. Probably the most affordable but also environmentally friendly option is to go thrifting! Most towns have some sort of thrift or second-hand clothing warehouses nearby, providing broke college students with a great alternative to fast fashion. Learning how to thrift correctly, coupled with learning how to sanitize and wash your new second-hand clothes, will provide you with a great new capsule wardrobe to last all four years of college! Similarly, being a college student will open up a whole new world of discounts! Learn the best times for sales and discounts in store or online, and add student coupons and discounts on top of that to get the best price imaginable. For example, try shopping for fall and winter clothes in the spring when they mark down prices to get rid of unsold clothing. Make sure to hit up all of the big sales, such as Black Friday, Labor day, and 4th of July sales! There are also many websites and apps available for college kids to register using their university email address to unlock multiple discount codes. Just a few options include UNiDAYS, Student Beans, and ID.me. Learn to stack coupons and discount codes to get the best deals you can.

Remember

No matter how tempting it may be, don’t go on an enormous shopping spree at once. Save your money, use discounts when applicable, and learn to shop during the right times of year when large sales are present. Plus, your fashion favorites may change as the years go by, so do your best to buy versatile and neutral pieces to recycle each year and season. You have so much time to build up a capsule wardrobe that you can enjoy for years to come!