Back To School Series: Clothing Essentials

The summer before my freshmen year, I was so stressed by the dilemma of how to get my two-closets-and-six-drawers of clothes and over forty pairs of shoes to fit in my tiny dorm closet. I bought every space-saving tool I could find - from cascading hangers (which I love with my dear live) to air-sucking vacuum bags to over-the-door-shoe-and-jewelry-hangers.

My parents drove me up to my school, so transporting everything wasn't a problem. However, for those of you who are going to college by plane, it's not practical to move your entire wardrobe. But, by the end of my freshmen year, I found that a lot of the stuff I brought I never even wore anyway.

Here is a list of must-haves clothing/shoes for every college girl. Of course, you should be bringing more than these staples, but hypothetically, if you were only allowed one duffel bag of clothes, this is what you should bring.

Casual Tunic Top  

Tunic tops are a godsend; I don't think I would have made it through final exams, late-to-class days, and hungover weekends without them.

When to wear:

1. You're about to take your two-hour economics midterm and you've can barely remember the difference between comparative and absolute advantage. The last thing you need right now is to be bothered by the annoying feeling of your jeans tugging into your hips. Throw on a tunic top and you're good to go. Being completely comfortable when taking an exam will allow you to focus and give your best performance.

2. You just rolled out of bed. It's 8:50. You have a small-group discussion at 9:00. Yikes! Don't worry about finding jeans and a matching top; just throw on a tunic top and belt it for a quick and effortlessly chic look. Now grab your books and get your butt to discussion!

3. Waaaayy too many tequila shots and rounds of beer pong last night. You just woke up and downed two huge glasses of water. Great, now you feel hungover and bloated. But you've gotta get out of bed. There's homework to be done and you're craving an omelet and some greasy pizza. But it's hot in your room and the last thing you want is to put on sweatpants, not to mention jeans. Again, tunic top to the rescue! It'll take you to the dining hall and back to your room to catch up on some unfinished homework.

4. You sleep in your bra and undies. It's 3 a.m. Some annoying person is banging on the door. Ugh. You could greet them in your underwear, or wrap your sheets around yourself Roman-style. But your best bet, throw on a tunic top and then go yell at whoever's knocking. Just hope it's not a cute guy, because you're not wearing makeup and your hair is a mess.

Cocktail Dress 

In college, there are parties all the time (unless you're going to military school). While a lot of parties are themed (e.g. "Wild Wild West", "CEOs and Office Hos"), quite a few of them require fancy attire.

When to Wear

1. Cocktail Night - In a sexy cocktail dress, all those college boys will be fighting to buy you drinks!

2. Rushing a Sorority - For those of you who are planning on going Greek, a fancy cocktail dress is a must. Tons of sorority events require formal attire.

3. Dinner at a Fancy Restaurant - Many housing systems organize house dinners at local restaurants. Especially if you're going to school in a big city like NYC or Chicago, there are a lot of upscale restaurants where you will look out of place in casual attire. Plus, this will come in handy if a guy asks you out to dinner somewhere posh.

Dark Solid Leggings 

An absolute must, especially if you're going anywhere where the temp dips below 50 degrees. I'm a total jeans girl and even I wear leggings all the time over the winter!

When to Wear

Leggings can seriously be worn pretty much anywhere, anytime, and any occasion. The one exception is LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS! Check out this post on what to wear with leggings.

Knee-high Boots 

Many people are wary about knee high boots. They think they'll come off as being really trashy or that knee-highs are uncomfortable and hard to walk in. If you are one of those people who believe that, get those assumptions out of your head right now! Knee highs are completely amazing and versatile. I own a flat grey leather pair which I wear to class, dining hall, etc., a pair of skin-tight camel-colored suede wedge ones for when I want to look slightly more dressed up or for country-themed parties, a pair of dark-brown snakeskin platform ones which works for pretty much any party, and a pair of skin-tight black suede ones for cocktail events (I would wear that pair more often because I love it, but they hurt my feet).

When to Wear

Like leggings, knee-length boots are very versatile. Different heel length, color, and material work for different occasions. A flat grey leather pair is perfect for class and walking around (with or without tights, or with skinny jeans tucked in) while a dark platform snakeskin pair is great for going out.
Word of warning: Stray from skinny stiletto heels and super pointy tipped ones as those tend to come off very S&M-ish. Opt for chunky heels with a round of square toe.

Linen/Cotton Square Scarf 

If I were only allowed one accessory for the rest of my life, I would take a scarf. Scarves are magical: they can make a simple white tank look incredible or make an inappropriate low-cut top class-friendly. And a light, square linen scarf (preferably in a neutral colors and a patterned print) that can be worn folded into a triangle is by far the most versatile.

When to Wear

1. You have an appointment with your professor in 30 minutes but you're sporting a major hickey. You're worried your professor is totally going to judge you (which he or she probably will). Rather than tossing on a bulky turtleneck sweater (which hardly ever looks good on anyone), wrap the scarf around your neck and you're good to go!

2. You slept on your hair wet last night and now it's all over the place. Fold your scarf into a strip and use it like a headband, or fold it into a triangle and wear it bandanna-style.

3. You open up your eyes and find yourself in a frat boy's room. Shit. And you've got class in ten minutes! You run to the dirty frat bathroom, stare at yourself in the mirror, and realize oh my that top is way too low for class. So you sprint back to your room, grab a scarf, drape it triangle-style and tie it in the back, and make it safely to class.

4. Winter sucks and the chilling wind is absolutely penetrating. The neck is a very sensitive area. Cover up with a scarf and you'll feel like it's ten degrees warmer.

Rubber Flip Flops 

This probably goes without saying since almost every single girl wears them. But flip flops are so essential in college, especially if you don't have a private bathroom. Dorm bathrooms are not pretty. People throw up in the showers, some even pee in there, and you never know who may have athletes foot. Always shower with a pair of flip flops on! I recommend a pair of Havaianas slims - they're sturdy, comfy, and the slim straps are very stylish.

Belted Pea Coat (Cold Weather Only)

Pea coats are worn by about 85% of the girls on my campus. While I'm not at all a wear-what-everybody-else-wears kind of girl, I do love pea coats, especially a slightly longer one that hits mid-thigh. A good pea coat will not only keep you warm during the cold winter, but it is also very stylish (unlike a lot of down jackets, puffers, and North Face). Plus, a pea coat is one of those classics that never goes out of style, so invest in a designer piece rather than the latest from Forever21.

When to Wear

1. With Jeans.

2. With tights.

3. With boots. Kind of embarrassed to admit it, but I've done the whole boots and just a jacket look many times. Sometimes I'm a little too tipsy to think straight, sometimes I'm just lazy. In either case, my adorable and chic thigh-length belted pea coat has come through for me so many times.

Uggs(Cold Weather Only)

Or similar style boots. I know Uggs are the stereotypical snobby sorority footwear, but in the winter, they're a lifesaver. Not only are they extremely warm and comfortable, I think they actually do look kind of cute.

When to Wear

1. With leggings and a tunic with a pea coat over your top.

2. With skinny jeans tucked in and a puffer vest.

3. With shorts when you're just running to your friend's room three minutes away or if the dinning hall is right outside your dorm. In most other cases, shorts-and-Uggs is a combo that is frowned upon.

Word of Advice: No Uggs when it's warm out! It's just tacky.

Style Guide: Boots Boots Boots!

Boots boots boots. From the hate-em-or-love-em Uggs to Miley Cyrus' cowboy boots in Party in the USA to the kelly green Hunters that gets me through those gloomy, rainy days, I love them all. In the harsh Chicago winters, boots are a must-have for me.

Lately I've developed an adoration for those mile-high over the knee boots, which I first coveted after seeing them on Louis Vuitton's fall 2009 show. To my joy, various designers and fashion companies have made affordable versions this fall. Here's some of my favorites:

I'm a huge fan of the gray Chinese Laundry suede boots on the top right. Suede is such a versatile material and is great when you want to appear effortlessly chic on your way to class. It can also be dressed up for a night out when paired with a minidress or a tunic top. The top also folds down and can be cuffed into a knee-high boot.

Below are three possible outfits: one for going to class on a cold winter day, the other two for a night out in town. The color and fabric of these boots work with almost anything. I stuck with mostly neutral tones although they'll also look great with a pop of color.

Going to class look

Going out looks

Over the knee boots are an excellent investment as they can be worn in the fall, winter, and spring. With so many varieties out there, there's something for everyone. Steve Madden and Chinese Laundry carry many great styles in under $100. One warning of advice though: be careful about buying a pair with high heels. While the Boutique 9 above is very classic, a pair with a leathery exterior and pointy heels can easily appear trashy-girl-does-Halloween.

Would you wear over the knee boots? Do you have a favorite pair?