Creating a school uniform: How to look and feel your best for class

For new and returning college students, the approach of fall brings a focus on finishing up summer reading, thinking about class schedules, and connecting with roommates to coordinate dorm supplies and decor. But if you haven’t given your wardrobe any thought yet, we’ve got you covered.

You don’t have to buy a whole new closet, but you should make sure you have what you need to look and feel your best, which research associates with increased productivity. Here’s how to create a school uniform:

1. Check your school dress code

This seems obvious, but you don’t want to go and buy a whole new wardrobe just for it to be deemed inappropriate for class! Dress codes vary widely, and many colleges are fairly lenient, though private religious colleges may have more expectations for modesty and formality.

2. Take the weather into consideration

Especially if you’re going to a different region for college, it’s important to understand the weather needs. I went to school in New England, and my friends from California were never quite prepared for the brutal winters! So make sure you have a good coat and snow boots if you’re going to a cold region. If you’re going somewhere warm, it makes more sense to spend money on high-quality sandals that you will be wearing all year.

3. Stick to a color palette

When choosing what to buy, opting for clothes within a specific color palette guarantees that you can mix and match, getting more use out of each article. Knowing your seasonal color analysis helps make sure that your clothes make you shine.

4. Know your body type and essence

Knowing your body type and beauty type will help you identify what styles and cuts flatter you most so you can show up to class and events feeling like the best, most confident version of yourself. It also helps narrow down your shopping list to make sure you don’t fill your wardrobe with things that won’t feel right. Check out Zeale’s article on essences here. 

5. Comfortable doesn’t have to mean sloppy

Most people value comfort, but dressing with a little more formality signifies respect for yourself, your classmates, your teachers, and the importance of an education. So try swapping out your sweatpants for an A-line skirt, your sneakers for loafers, and your sweatshirts for a v-neck sweater for a more elevated, but still comfortable, look.

6. Invest in high-quality basics

Finally, identify the pieces you’ll be wearing regularly, whether that’s jeans, slacks, or skirts, and consider spending a little more on high-quality versions of those items. You’ll get way more use out of them and you won’t have to replace them mid-year. I especially recommend buying high-quality, comfortable, and stylish shoes, since you will spend a lot of time walking around campus! It’s also worth making sure your basics fit well, so if your pants or shirts are always a little too long, take them to the local tailor for a proper fit. Or invest in clothes that come in tall sizes or longer lengths if you have the opposite issue.

Clothes are one of the first things we notice on another person, and they immediately convey a certain level of respect or disrespect for one’s environment. Dressing well also boosts your own confidence, focus, and performance. So show up looking and feeling your best and seize the day!