Wardrobe Essentials For College Girls

Making the decision to study and play your sport in the USA on an American Sports scholarship has many benefits, including getting the opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture. During these four years, you will learn a lot about yourself, and with that you will develop your sense of style that will carry through College and on to your professional life. If you are a fashion-conscious female embarking on a sports scholarship to the USA, then you might be interested in this article from Collegefashion.net about what wardrobe essentials you might want to consider when packing for a new life in the USA!  It's a great blog, so check it out! Wardrobe Essentials For College Girls Article featured on Collegefashion.net Absolute Must's 4-5 Pairs of Jeans That Fit Well Jeans (not sweatpants!) are the basics of a college girl’s closet. Find a brand of denim that fits you well, and then stock up on different basic washes and styles. Rotate these through the week (no one will notice if you wear the same pair twice in one week, I promise.) One of these pairs can be a trendy style, like skinny jeans or wide leg jeans. Just don’t buy all trendy denim, because you’ll have to buy new jeans next season or risk looking really out of date. Brands to check out: American Eagle, Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap A Classic Dress This is my favorite because it’s pretty much an entire outfit in one easy piece. A lot of fashion experts say that you need a “little black dress”, and of course I agree that black dresses are chic and classic. However, I think if a dress fits you well and isn’t trashy looking, it doesn’t need to be black. Let’s face it: most college girls aren’t going to cocktail parties that require LBD’s. If you are, by all means, buy a little black dress. If you’re the typical college girl, just get a dress that fits you well in a color that flatters your skin tone. 4-6 Basic Tank Tops Get a few tank tops of varying lengths in different basic colors like black, white, grey and navy blue. These can be worn alone in summer or layered under cardigans, jackets and long-sleeved tops in winter. Also, look for tanks that are 100% cotton to avoid the weird clinging that some blend fabrics can cause. No one wants to see the outline of your bra under your tank top! 1-3 Chic Cardigans You don’t have to go 100% cashmere, although that’s certainly nice and everything. Most college girls don’t have the time or money to get things dry cleaned regularly so don’t think that cashmere is a must! Pick up some basic cotton cardigans at H&M, J Crew or GAP and layer them over your tank tops for a look that’s chic and trendy at the same time. Get one basic black and at least one in a color like purple, hot pink or chocolate brown. Great Bras & Panties These will take you SO far. Underwear is the foundation of your look. If you don’t have a bra that fits well, the rest of your outfit is not going to look right. Same goes for panties. Spend the time and the money shopping for good well-fitting bras and panties that don’t pinch, bulge or show under your clothes. A Bag That Holds Everything You want a bag that’s good quality (canvas, leather, or strong fake-leather are good bets), goes with most of your wardrobe, and still looks chic. The right bag can also go from day to night, so look for classic details like metal accents. Also, bonus points if you can find a bag that has lots of pockets and zippered compartments to keep you organized! 1-2 Dressy Tops Look for satin, lace, bright colors and cute prints. Wear a dressy top under a fall/spring jacket or by itself with jeans and heels to a party. Don’t go see-through, uber low-cut or too-tight. 1 Pair Nice Dress Pants Get a well-fitting trouser in black or dark grey with a wide leg to wear on job interviews and recruiting sessions. Your dress pants should be long enough to wear with heels, but not so long that they drag on the ground. 1 White Button-Down Shirt Again, this is most likely going to be used for job interviews and/or internships. Look for a button-down with a little stretch and a cut that’s flattering to your body shape. You don’t want one that’s too tight of course, but you also don’t want to look like a box. Spending a little more money here will be well worth it because you can wear this shirt to work when you get a big girl job later. 1 Well-Cut Spring/Fall Jacket This can be as casual or as formal as you like. It just needs to match most of your clothes and has to fit well! The cut is everything with jackets so spend as long as it takes shopping around for the right jacket. Don’t settle for something that doesn’t fit just right. 1 or 2 Winter Coats Those of you who live in Cali don’t need these, obviously (unless you like to ski). For those of us in areas that actually have winters, warm winter coats are a must. I like classic wool pea coats and cute faux-fur trimmed parkas by brands like J Crew and Juicy Couture. 1-2 Pairs Casual Flats Essential for spring and fall, ballet flats add Kate Moss chicness to any outfit and are usually fairly inexpensive as well! Get one pair in a basic color like black or brown, and one pair in a bright color like Kelly green, red or yellow. Other cute trends to try with your flats: metal embellishment (think Tory Burch), patent leather, and patterns. The choice is yours! 1 Pair Good Winter Shoes/Boots If you’re living in an area that has a real “winter” season, you need some serious winter footwear if you’re gonna be walking anywhere (and I assume you will be.) Unfortunately, you might have to sacrifice style for function a little in this category, but it’s better than slipping and falling in the snow or having really cold feet all day! Or you could just buy a pair of adorable snow boots like those to the right by Juicy Couture. In that case, you wouldn’t have to sacrifice anything. 1 Pair Black Pumps These are to wear with your dress pants and white shirt for job interviews and professional occasions. Spend a little extra money and get good-quality shoes because if you take care of them, they will last you forever! Dormwear/Sweats For hanging around the dorm or apartment, get some cute sweats! Note that these are for hanging and lounging only and are NOT to be worn to class, except if you’ve been up all night studying for a final and plan to go back to sleep after you take it. Even for a final, think hard about wearing sweats in public. The only other exception is if you’re working out, but I’m sure you know that.  

Nice To Have

At Least 1 Pair of Super-Flattering Special Jeans Splurge a little on this item. The right pair of flattering jeans will take you SO far. You should look for a clean, dark wash jean with a straight or bootcut leg that is long enough to be worn with heels but not so long that it drags on the ground. Spend the time and try on as many pairs as it takes to find the perfect ones. 1 or More Pairs of Sexy Heels For wearing to parties with your super-flattering jeans, get at least one pair of really cute and fun high heels. I like shoes in a bright color or a patent leather with a heel height of 3-4 inches, but get whatever speaks to you! These can be as outrageous or simple as you want – express your style, these are your party shoes! 1-3 Summer Skirts These are a must for me, but not essential to everyone’s wardrobe. I like knee-length solid colored and floral printed skirts, because they are so easy to pair with flip flops, pretty jewelry and a simple tank top in the warmer months. Sandals Of course these are nonessential, but so much fun. Sandals are a great way to add color to your wardrobe without spending lots of money. My favorite brand is Havaianas – they are so comfortable and look brand new forever. Black Opaque Tights Tights were huge this winter and will continue to be popular into next winter. Black opaque tights are inexpensive and so basic to a wardrobe. They look so chic with heels, flats and most dresses. Slippers For walking around in your apartment or dorm. I like really ridiculous, fun slippers – bright colors, fluffy textures or duck prints, for example. They’re slippers – you’re only going to wear them indoors.. go as crazy as you want. Rain Boots Cute rain boots are nice to have but not essential. (I still haven’t found my perfect pair yet!) A Cozy Hoodie This is another nice-to-have college staple. Hoodies with your college’s logo are great for lounging, studying and being comfortable, but don’t fall into the trap of wearing them everywhere! Use with caution. Spanx These body-shapers are great for anytime you’re wearing tight-fitting clothing and want to smooth everything out. Say goodbye to “fat days” forever. Jessica Alba swears by them so you know they must work! Cozy Bathrobe So nice to have when you’re walking to and from the bathroom in winter or just hanging around your room. Get one in a bright color and supersoft fabric for the ultimate in adorable luxury. Don't forget that there are many great (and often cheaper) shopping outlets in the US, so don't spend a fortune buying everything before you go, and take up all your baggage allowance.  Dress for the seasons too, and don't forget that you will be expected to wear your College team colours!