This post is all about how to dress for college for test days, study days, presentation days, and more.
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College is an amazing experience and even if it can be exhausting at times it’s such a special time to create memories and build friendships. You meet new people and participate in study groups. It can be stressful, exciting, life-altering, and even fashionable.
There are different types of events you go through your college days like lectures, study time, gym time, and even travel days. Every single thing we do during our college days can take a toll on us so I decided to curate styles that are far more comfortable for college students to wear especially college freshmen. Besides, freshman year can be a lot to consume especially with all the changes you go through compared to high school.
My college days were filled with long nights and days full of studying, homework, and projects. I joined extracurricular activities at the beginning of my college career. I met so many people and got to experience so many things. Because there is so much to do in college our outfits are the last thing we tend to think about. However, I came up with some styles that can help you feel comfortable and cute for those exhausting and tension-filled days.
With that being said, here is how to dress for college, especially on those days when you can’t seem to find something to wear for a presentation or an examination day.
How to dress for college?
Lecture Days
How do you dress for college lecture days? Well, lecture days are laid-back and focus on the lecture while taking notes and actively participating in class. I have always loved going in comfortable clothing to lectures. Most of the time my lectures only lasted an hour and then I would go home to finish either assignments, discussions, or quizzes online. I loved wearing oversized sweaters and shirts because it was the most comfortable. These were so ideal, especially during the days when I had to run back and forth from my home to the university.
I would match my oversized shirts or sweaters with jeans, long stretchy skirts, or leggings. I also wore relaxed denim, and I loved layering if the classroom or auditorium was cold. Layering would look like wearing cardigans, bomber jackets, zipper jackets, or hoodies.
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Study Days
Study days are the days you don’t have class but you’re either getting together with a study group or spend time at home studying by yourself. These types of days include getting assignments done or memorizing heavy material meaning the outfits are way more relaxed and comfortable. I would highly recommend wearing loungewear to study because it’s super comfy and breathable. If you feel cold you can wear a nice jacket or a sweater. Loungewear will help you stay focused on the material rather than having to worry about the clothes fitting too tight.
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Test Days
Test days are anxiety-inducing and the last thing you want to think about is your outfit. On test days, I would plan out a basic denim pant with a T-shirt combo almost all the time. I wasn’t thinking about what would look great on me that day. The basics were enough to get me by until the test was over. The only way I would get dressed up was if I was doing something else after the test like going to a job interview. However, the majority of the time it was a pair of jeans with a T-shirt or some sort of athletic pants.
Test day outfits need to be planned out the night before so you can have everything ready to feel comfortable enough to take your exam. Also, FYI for those incoming freshmen, taking a test in college is not like high school. Once you’re done with your exam you don’t go back to your seat and wait for the next lecture. Instead, you turn in your test, leave the class, and come back for your next lecture on the next date according to your syllabus. Just thought I’d throw this in here because it might help someone.
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Presentation Days
Presentation days will be the days in school where you will be dressing the most formally. I was a business student so this meant studying cue cards and prepping your slacks and blazer the night before the presentation. Your presentation sometimes accounted for the majority of your total grade so these projects were prepared as a group. Sometimes, groups were competing against other groups for the best grade.
What do you wear on presentation day? The very first thing is a blazer and slacks or if you want to go semi-formal try a nice blouse with some slacks. This all depends on your major or course. However, since I was a business student wearing a blazer or business suit was the most professional and made the most sense.
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Social and Extracurricular Days
Joining clubs or getting together with people with the same interests is some of the most fun you’ll have at school. It’s the perfect time to be sociable. You get to know so many people so dressing up nicely helps add to the atmosphere. You can add bright colors to your outfit or pastels. I recommend wearing a babydoll blouse, denim jacket, shorts, or even a dress. The choices are endless when you go to a social function.
I’d suggest making your cute outfit from your favorite clothing pieces in your closet. If you don’t have much money because of college you can find great clothes for a cheaper price. You can shop at discounted stores, and thrift stores, or rent your clothing for special occasions. The internet has made it possible for us to expand our options to shop for affordable clothing.
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Gym Days
Going to the gym helps reduce stress and anxiety. I used to work out a lot just to help me stay lean, energized, and healthy. My exercise routines were either walking, weights, or dancing. Staying on a routine helped me stay focused in school and it’s also a great discipline with a large reward. When you start noticing results that’s when it feels the best so I will always advocate for anyone going to college to take time and exercise.
I wasn’t ever the type to wear a sports bra alone to the gym or track. I’m the type to wear oversized shirts, razorbacks with a sports bra underneath, and leggings to the gym. No matter how lean I was this is what I always wore. I loved wearing clothes that made me feel comfortable and at the same time helped me reach my goals. For example, if I was targeting legs I would wear shorts to help my muscles expand and contract comfortably, and if I was working on my arms or my back I would wear razorbacks.
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Travel Days
Travel days are the days were we travel back home to see our parents or travel for vacation. These days are filled with excitement because you finished and passed all your classes and now it’s time to leave and relax. The majority of travel days are either filled with long road trips or long flights so it’s all about wearing the most comfortable clothes you can find.
If you’re anything like me and are the type to always complain that the car or on the airplane is freezing always make sure to take a zipper jacket. I say a zipper jacket because it doesn’t require moving so much in a small confined space. Other great things to take with you are cargo pants or pants with multiple pockets to help you keep organized on a long trip. You can also wear very relaxing and cute loungewear.
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Rest Days
Rest days are of course the days where lay back and relax after working so much through school time. This could be after a huge exam or after the semester ends. I wish I had known and told myself to have more of these days. Life was going way too fast at the time and I wish I would understand that it was ok to relax. If I were to do this again I would wear any type of comfortable clothing like pajamas, loungewear, velour pantsuit, or shorts. I would also enjoy time with company or watch movies and read books all day. This is how I would dress for college nowadays.
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How do you dress for college? Well, college is such a big part of our lives but it can also be the biggest life change anyone can go through. What we wear is important because it makes us feel comfortable and focused. The clothing we wear in college has a huge impact and helps us feel productive or professional like the clothes we wear on presentation days. You’re in a time where you’re hardly making any money and the majority of your focus is taken up by school. However, I still think there are cute ways to dress for school that fall under comfort and utility. I hope you found this ultimate guide useful! I will be making a new guide on all the essential items you need for college coming up next!
