college clothing essentials

whether you are living on campus or commuting, there are a few items every college girl needs to have in her wardrobe. while coming up with this list, i wanted to include things that were practical, stylish, classic, and also a few options if you're on a budget (as most college students are) because lets be honest, there's gonna be a day where you a) have a presentation due, b) you're running late , or c) are so hungover you can't even think straight.. and if you're really lucky, it might be all three. :-)  so, i've compiled a list of items that are sure to make you as comfortable as possible, look your best (without actually trying your best), and in a hurry. you can thank me later.

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l e g g i n g s:

express

if you take anything from this blog post, let it be this: leggings are pants. say it with me, loud and proud. leggings are a key part of every college girls' wardrobe for a few reasons. the first, and most practical, is because they're comfortable. if you find the right fitting pair of leggings, it can feel like you're going to class in your pajamas. and even the most fashion-conscious girls like comfort. another reason they're so great, is that they can be styled in a million different ways. if you're looking for warmth, get a pair of fleece lined leggings, and layer layer layer. if you're going out, pair the leggings with a cute top, a necklace, and some leather boots. if you're turned off by black leggings, go for a less traditional pair (a pair with cutouts, "tuxedo" leggings, printed leggings, cropped leggings, lime green leggings, leggings that look like jeans.. really the options are endless.)

for comfort: victoria's secret pink

for budget: forever 21

for quality: lululemon

for different styles: express

h&m

p r o f e s s i o n a l w e a r:
this is definitely one of the most important essentials on this list. even if you don't plan on dressing up for classes, you need to have a nice, professional outfit in your closet. there are a couple reasons for this. for one, you could potentially have a job interview and not have time to go by your house/to buy something appropriate. another reason is presentations. when you are to present something in front of your class and professor, you need to look somewhat professional. this doesn't have to be something extravagant, but it needs to be nicer than what you would typically wear to class. even if your teacher doesn't "require" you to dress up for a project, i would still highly recommend it so everyone will take you serious.  although leggings are awesome, i would absolutely not recommend them for a job interview. apparently work places haven't gotten the "leggings are pants" memo yet. for this outfit, there are plenty of possibilities, but what it comes down to is, what are you most comfortable in? for some, it might be a pair of twill pants and a button down shirt. for me, personally, i would go with a structured dress (appropriate length), a pair of booties, and knee socks.

for budget: h&m

for quality: nordstrom

r o m p e r s:

showpo

rompers, jumpsuits, and dresses are great for college girls, especially in the warmer months. the best thing, in my opinion, about these one piece items is that you don't have to do much matching. it can be so exhausting to find a top that doesn't clash with what you're wearing on the bottom. to save time, just throw on a romper, some sandals, and head out the door. another great addition to this would be the 2 piece trend that is popular now. some site i recommend are showpo, and love culture. (also, just realized that h&m has a whole section on their website right now dedicated to rompers under $20!!)




l i t t l e b l a c k d r e s s:

lulu's

of course, this is an essential for every closet, but especially the college girl's closet and here's why.. if you know you'll be going out that night, you can put on your lbd and dress it up or down however you want. find one that is uniquel to you, depending on whatever your personal style is. if you want it to be casual, pair a scarf and tights. if you want to dress it up, add a pair of nude heels and chunky jewelry. you just really never know when the occasion might come that you would need this, so it's very important that it stays in your closet at school. there are formals, dates, parties, or even just for going to class. lulu's has an entire section on their website for the lbd, so i would check it out.

c a r d i g a n s:
cardigans are a god send in college because they're light enough that you can always carry one with you in your backpack, and take it out if you get cold in your classes, the library, or wherever you may be. they're also a great way to add some dimension or color to an outfit that might be a little "boring" otherwise. boohoo has a huge variety of cardigans, and more traditional ones could be found at the gap.

t o p s:
as far as this category goes, use your best judgement because everyone has their own "essentials" for tops. one thing i can promise you is, you won't need to bring your entire collection of crop tops or knitted sweaters. bring your favorite shirts, whatever showcases your own style, while still being comfortable, practical, and keep in mind the size of your closet.

the north face

s n o w b o o t s:
if you're lucky enough to live in a place where it doesn't typically snow, disregard this one. snow boots are great, for obvious reasons such as: keeping your feet toasty, making sure you don't bust your face open from sliding on ice, etc etc. however, if you find the right pair, snow boots can actually be really fashionable, but also pricey. if you think that investing in a pair would be worth it to you, you can find nice ones from the north face and columbia.



r a i n b o o t s:
this is one that i wish i had thought of prior to starting school. again, the pros to having these in your closet are pretty obvious. i would definitely go for a nicer pair, because i have had cheap pairs in the past that completely fell apart on me.. in the rain. my rainboots are black with mint green monogramming  from a shop on storenvy, but i can't seem to find the seller unfortunately. i would recommend checking etsy for something similar. to go with your rainboots, you will need to have a rain jacket. i would go for something not too heavy and big enough to wear over sweaters and sweatshirts.

b e a n i e s:

wetseal

beanies are the bomb because if you're having a bad hair day, you can just put one on and not be bothered for the rest of the day. you can find pretty much any color beanie these days, with any kind of logo, print, or saying on it. it used to be a lot harder to find them, but now you can find them in most trendy stores year round.

budget: wet seal

quality: neff

s n e a k e r s:

even if you're like me, and think you are way too cool for sneakers, you will have a new found love for them in college. i definitely think you should have a comfortable, light pair of sneakers because you never know what could happen. you don't want to be the only one in a random workout class you didn't even know you were in, wearing uncomfortable, high top, chucks (trust me, people, it happens). i would recommend buying your sneakers somewhere that you can try them on and decide which ones are the best for you. my favorite are the nike rosche, and i have even found that they are versatile enough to wear with some of my more fashionable outfits. which brings me to my honorable mention, a workout outfit. you don't have to go out and buy anything if you truly don't think you will use it, but at least have a pair of running shorts and a light, comfortable, breathable top. once again, for workout classes, or even if you just end up wanting to go for a walk.

b a t h i n g s u i t:
this might be a weird one, and i added it to the list last minute, but hear me out. like i keep saying, you never know! you might end up going on a spur of the moment weekend trip, maybe you'll join the swim team, maybe you want to go lay out somewhere, maybe you're going to the tanning bed. it's one of those things that you don't want to have to go out and buy another one from the local supermarket (if you're like me and have a trillion bathing suits at home anyways.) it's not like it's going to take up a bunch of space in your closet, so you don't have anything to lose.

i hope you all enjoyed and this was helpful to someone out there!
xo, hailey