If you’re anything like us, back to school season means planning outfits, looking cute, and making the best impressions you can. Yes, we know, we should probably be focusing on classes, organizing our school supplies, and overall starting to get our lives together, but… that’ll come second. Whether you’re new to university life or going into your last year, you’ll want to be prepared for any scenario possible, and why not look good at the same time? Struggling to figure out your back-to-school style? Look no further: here are some outfit ideas inspired by Youtuber Kaiti Yoo that’ll ensure you’re always looking your best, no matter what university experience you may come across.
Move-in Day
Moving in to residence or a new apartment can be a huge hassle – bringing big bins and boxes up elevators or stairs, unboxing endless amounts of IKEA packages, all after traveling in the car or moving van all day is NOT the vibe. It’s a lot of work, but you’ll likely be meeting roommates and other students living around you, so you’ll want to make a good first impression! Our ideal move-in day look would be comfy and casual but also cute; this could be accomplished by wearing a pair of wide-leg pants, structured sweats, or something just baggy, comfortable, and easy to move around in. To balance out the baggy bottoms, we’d suggest a nice fitted top. This could be a graphic crop top or maybe a little blouse, it’s really up to what you feel suits your style best. For shoes, we think a pair of chunky sneakers would be the best because, again, comfort and balance help create the perfect casual look. Want to step up your look even more? Try adding some light jewelry like dainty necklaces and earrings.
Study Date
In university, it’s inevitable that you’ll run into some hotties around campus, and why not use the excuse of a study date to hang out? Whether this is in the library or a nearby Starbucks, you’ll want to dress to impress. For this so-called study date, you really can’t go wrong with a pair of your favourite jeans (we prefer loose-fitted – we’re all about those ~cozy~ vibes – but these could range from classic mom jeans to fitted high-waisted jeans). Then, pair these jeans with a simple white button-up and a printed or coloured sweater vest. Adding a pair of hoops and a claw clip for your hair would also accentuate this classy yet effective look, so you’ll look and feel your best while spending time with that special someone.
Frat Parties
Ah yes, the classic frat party. Whether you’ve been to one before or not, movies and tv shows have made it pretty clear that the first rule of thumb when it comes to a frat party dress code is: DO NOT WEAR NICE SHOES! They will almost definitely get ruined, so always wear a pair of crappy shoes you couldn’t care less about. In addition, if you want to keep it safe, wearing black is always a go-to; you really can’t go wrong with the superior LBD (little black dress), or a monochromatic black look with a pair of black bottoms (we would suggest a mini skirt or loose-fitting pants) and a matching statement black top. Black may seem basic at times but trust us, it works. It’s also stain-proof! Put on some minimal jewelry and you’re all set!
Running late for class
We’ve all had days where we’ve hit the snooze button one too many times and are running late for our classes. Don’t lie, you know it’s true. It’s easy to get extremely flustered when you’re in a rush and can’t think straight, so it can be especially tough to figure out what to wear! Don’t worry, we’ve got you: what you need is a quick and easy outfit that’s comfy but not giving you literal ‘I just woke up like this’ vibes. The perfect solution is a pair of biker shorts with an oversized tee – for a more put-together look, you could wear a striped or plain button-up to match your shorts. Finish the ‘fit off with a pair of runners and you’re all set and ready to go.
The presentation you didn’t prepare for
Were we the only ones that would overdress for presentations to hide the fact that they were kinda terrible? Just us? We’ve always believed that faking it until you make it is key. In this scenario, a blazer is your best friend. Your fake-it-’til-you-make-it fit can be as simple as straight-leg jeans, a white tee, and a black blazer! If you really want to take it up a notch though, a plain turtle neck and plaid pants could pair nicely with the blazer as well.
If life were a tv show, this is would be a new season with a new setting, new cast members, and a new plot, so you might as well go off and start this season looking your best for whatever may come your way.