How to Put Together a College Wardrobe

Pack your bags to head to college in the fall.

Bring along the right clothing for college so that you are stylish and comfortable during your college years. Most colleges offer limited space for clothing because of the small room sizes; therefore, you should pack clothing that is versatile and efficient for your entire college year. Most college students are on a limited budget during their years in school, so your clothing selections will need to create a variety of different looks. Plan your wardrobe ahead of time, and take pictures for reference if you get stuck scratching your head for what to wear.

Things You'll Need

• Jeans
• Shorts
• Sweatpants
• Dress
• Skirt
• Tops
• Jacket
• Coat
• Pajamas
• Undergarments
• Loungewear
• Chinos

Instructions

Girls

1. Bring along at least five pairs of well-fitting jeans. These will be your college staple because you can dress them up for a night look or dress them down for a casual appearance. In addition, bring along one to two pairs of shorts, comfortable lounging pants and a pair of nice slacks.

2. Choose a dress to bring to school that you can transform from a casual day look to a night look simply by changing the accessories. Even if you are not a dress type of girl, consider bringing a little black dress to keep on hand in case you attend a college party. Skirts are also an ideal option for girls because they can work for both casual and dressy occasions and are versatile to work for warmer and cooler weather.

3. Pack tops that can layer easily for hot days walking to and from class as well as cold classrooms. Tank tops are wonderful to wear layered over one another. Wear the tanks alone when it is hot out or under a jacket or cardigan when the cold weather strikes. Pack a wide assortment of solid color tanks to take with you to school. In addition, pack cardigans -- two casual and one dressy -- and a couple of nice blouses.

4. Carry along a thin fall and spring jacket and a heavy winter coat. The need for a winter coat depends on where you will be attending college. Students heading north will want to invest in a good coat, while students heading south may not need a heavy coat. Midwest students will need both -- light and heavy.

5. Pack pajamas, undergarments and loungewear to bring to college. Your undergarments are the foundation of a good outfit; therefore, spend money on decent bras and panties. Pajamas are essential when sharing bathrooms with other girls from your floor. Loungewear is nice to have on hand when relaxing in your dorm on the weekend or catching movies in the common area.

Guys

1. Bring along four to five pairs of well-fitting jeans or chino pants. Both types of bottoms can be casual or dressy for day or night. In addition, pack sweatpants, track pants, shorts and athletic shorts for comfort during the warmer and cooler months.

2. Stock up on T-shirts because they will be a staple in your wardrobe for college. Choose a variety of solid tees, undershirts and graphic shirts to wear throughout the college year. You can layer T-shirts under short sleeve and long-sleeve shirts or wear them alone. You will also want to pack a button-down shirt, some polo shirts and some long-sleeve T-shirts.

3. Pack a light fall and spring jacket, a winter jacket and a cardigan for transition from fall to winter to spring. Where you attend college will determine the thickness of your winter coat.

4. Pack appropriate pajamas, undergarments and loungewear for college. Pajamas are ideal for sharing bathrooms, undergarments for under all those clothes and loungewear for late-night study sessions.

Tips & Warnings

• Both men and women should bring along tennis shoes, dressy shoes, boots and flip flops.

• Pack for comfort first, then style.

References

• College Fashion: Wardrobe Essentials for College Girls
• College Fashion: How to Improve His Wardrobe: The Oft-Overlooked Chino Pant
• "Seventeen"; Secrets to College Fashion; October 2009