The Her Campus National Editors write about products we love and think you’ll love too. Her Campus has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase. All products are in stock and all prices are accurate as of publication.
Going home for the holidays can be taxing, especially when you’re packing under a cloud of post-finals exhaustion. Your brain is probably fried, and the last thing you want to think about is packing. You’ll have to sit down, make yet another list, and rack your brain so you won’t forget anything.
There are holiday parties, meeting with friends, grabbing a bite, and shopping to be done with. You’re lost! What to wear? To make packing just a bit easier on you, I’ve put together a list of the outfits everyone needs to bring home on break.
- The “Finals-Are-Over-I-Woke-Up-At-3PM-But-I-Still-Feel-Tired” Outfit
-
Sweatpants are very stylish, and I’m willing to fight anything who thinks otherwise. I mean, you can look casual and fashionable at the same time.
Grab your least drab pair of sweatpants and pair them with a cropped tank in any complementary color. I suggest white because it’s the most versatile. There’s something incredibly polished but also effortless about wearing a white shirt — it’s a blank canvas to paint on, and you can wear it with any color.
After picking your color combination, layer on some simple accessories. A dainty necklace that’s tight around the neck will look lovely layered with a longer thin chain. Think: this darling star choker necklace (Glamour & Glow, $98, shop now) or this bead choker (Etsy, $11, shop now) paired with this geometric chain (Etsy $44, shop now). Some faux eyeglasses (ASOS, $13-19, shop now) will hide the bags under your eyes and some white sneakers will finish the look! I promise, you won’t look like you just rolled out of bed.
- The “Cute-But-Low-Effort” Outfit
-
Maybe you’re still tired from finals, or maybe you just don’t feel like going all-out with your outfit. Whatever the reason for a low effort level, you can still look fly! This outfit is one of my school-year go-tos because I look ready to take on the day without sacrificing personal comfort. My look of choice is vintage high-waisted pants in a romantic blue, a black cutout top in black and sometimes a trucker-style jean jacket over it.
One of the wardrobe staples that you should already have by the time you’re in college is a pair of pants that you love. They can be slacks (Theory, $455, shop now), vintage-styled trousers (NastyGal, $18, shop now), or casual workwear (ASOS, $28, shop now). These pants should make you feel like they were made for you, they shouldn’t need to be ironed, and (most importantly) they should be comfortable. Basically, they need to be your ride-or-die bottoms.
Grab some platform boots (Dr. Martens, $180, shop now) or sandals (DSW, $40, shop now) and then pair them with a shirt that brings a bright pop of color to your outfit. However, if your pants are any color other than white, black or neutral, you’ll look even more fashionable. I recommend sticking to a white or black top to balance things out. You’ll be so comfortable and ready for a photo op!
- The “Night-Out Glam” Outfit
-
I’m a firm believer that The Little Black Dress is great for a wide variety of occasions, and a night out is no exception. I’m currently very into the ‘90s-style LBD: spaghetti straps, a V-neck and a fitted silhouette. These dresses come in quite a few fabrics and I especially like the Insta Baddie satin (Reformation, $198, shop now) or the ‘90s child velvet (Boohoo, $19, shop now). If you’re looking to keep warm, grab a printed blazer, like plaid (Lulu’s, $72, shop now) or tartan (Shein, $20, shop now) (a la Cher from Clueless!)
For shoes, stick to something comfortable, like flats, sneakers, or booties that have a two-inch heel or less. You can also get creative with your makeup, opting for a colorful, sultry, dramatic, or even a natural-with-bold-lipstick look.
- The “Family Is Coming Over” Outfit
-
We’ve all had a time when we’ve been a little bit overwhelmed by our family during the holidays… Sometimes you just need a break, but there are days when you can’t really pick whether or not you get to see your family, so you might as well look great when you do. You can’t really go wrong with a simple wrap dress (Nasty Gal, $30, shop now). They’re incredibly flattering and they come in so many different colors and prints. Plus, no matter what color you choose, you can wear it with a pair of strappy black heels (Lulu’s, $32, shop now).
Related: How to Decide Whether or Not to Go Home for the Holidays
- The “Unexpected Road Trip (or Outing!)” Outfit
-
Even if you plan for every single possible scenario, there will always be someone that decides, last minute, that they want to go out, or maybe you bumped into a childhood friend and decided to go out for a spin (for old time’s sake!). You need to be prepared with a versatile outfit.
I recommend a skirt in a bold and stunning print with a contrasting pattern up top. This outfit is stunning, but it’s also comfortable which means that you’ll look and feel ready for whatever you decide to do. For example, this daring simi stripe skirt (Nordstrom, $445, shop now) will look absolutely fabulous with a white floral top (Nordstrom, $40, shop now).
- The “Meeting the Parents” Outfit
-
Whether you live in the same state as your SO or you’ve decided that you’d like to fly out with your partner for the holidays, you should have a “meet the parents” outfit at the ready.
No matter what you decide to wear, I don’t think you should sacrifice your personal style when meeting your partner’s parents. But, I do think you should look a little more put-together than your usual, everyday look. I suggest a chunky knit sweater (Toby, $40, shop now)—just in time for the holidays—and a cute skirt (Halogen, $89, shop now). If you’re a pants kind of person, then high-waisted jeans (PacSun, $25, shop now) with that same sweater are just as good of an option.
Holidays are the perfect time to experiment with your style. There are so many colors, so much glitter, and so many events happening that you’ll likely to never look out of place even when you wear something outrageous. I hope this list has helped you feel more in control about what you’ll wear.
Happy Holidays!