What To Wear To A College Class
One thing I get asked probably more than anything else is what you should wear to class in college.
I’m sure you’ve all seen the facebook groups: Are You a Model? No Wait, You’re an Idiot who Got Dressed Up To Go To Class, and Are You Homeless? No, You’re the idiot who didn’t get dressed for class. And if you haven’t seen those, yes, they exist.
Obviously, classroom attire is a controversial subject among college students!
So what do you wear to class, what don’t you wear, what constitutes “dressing up”, and what doesn’t?
I have answers to these questions and more as someone who loves fashion but still has to roll out of bed and make it to class on time.
The “Dressing Up For Class” Debate
If you haven’t heard about this before, here’s the basic argument:
Photo by Checkered and aMUSEd
Some people think that because you’re in college & no one is telling you what to wear, you should use the opportunity to wear nothing but sweatpants. They also claim that sweatpants are easier to put on & more comfy than regular clothes, and that most college kids are hung over every morning and can’t be bothered to change out of their PJ’s to make it to class.
These are usually the people who drag themselves to class and immediately fall asleep, snoring loudly enough that they eventually wake themselves up. They also smell bad, yawn a lot, and generally have no idea what’s going on. They think that “just showing up” is good enough.
Here’s why their argument is ridiculous:
First of all, sweats aren’t any easier to put on than a clean pair of jeans and a cute top. Second of all, if you’re too drunk to function, you don’t belong in a class & should really just stay home. Third, these people are obviously insecure, and trying to make those who look good feel bad about it.
I could go on and on about this, but I’ll save it. Let’s just say that I don’t agree & leave it at that!
Why You Should Get Dressed For Class
Photo by Becka Liu
I’m not saying that we should spend 5 hours getting ready every morning, or that fashion should be more important than anything else. But I do think that looking nice is important, and wearing sweats in public is always a bad idea.
Here are some reasons why you SHOULD get “dressed up” for class, even if that just means jeans and a tee.
Showing respect for your professor
Showing up to class in sweatpants not only makes you look like a slob, but it’s also disrespectful to your professor. He/she dresses nicely for class, in order to show that they take their job seriously. When you dress like you’re ready to fall asleep, it gives off the image that you really could care less about the class, which is not a good impression to make.
Making it easier to focus
I don’t know about all of you, but I don’t feel very productive when I’m wearing my PJ’s. Sweats and pajamas are good for a few things - sleeping, watching TV, and lounging around. When you’re dressed a little nicer, you’re not going to be tempted to fall back asleep or space out.
Looking good
Okay, this is an obvious reason not to wear sweats. PJ’s and sweatpants aren’t cute in the real world. I love ‘em for wearing around the dorm, to the gym, or even to a final if I’ve been up all night studying… but never outside of the house.
If you love fashion (and I assume you do if you’re reading this site), you should wear your fabulous clothes! Don’t settle for boring & shapeless sweatpants. Wear something unique & have fun with fashion. Why bother having amazing clothes if you aren’t going to wear them?
What To Wear To Class
Even if you only have a few minutes to get ready, it’s not difficult to wear something cute and comfortable to class. Resist the urge to throw on sweats!
Here are some examples of outfits that I would wear to class:
Outfit #1 - Simple & Chic
Product Information: Skinny Jeans - Charlotte Russe, Tank Top - Wet Seal, Cardigan - Wet Seal, Flats - American Eagle, Bag - Target
This is a simple outfit that I would wear a lot in the winter - a pair of skinny jeans, a long tank top, and a cardigan on top. I would finish it off with some cute metallic or brightly-colored ballet flats, a long necklace, and a cute tote bag.
I wear many variations on this outfit in the cooler months, but it’s one of my go-to’s whenever I’m pressed for time and still want to look nice. So easy and still so chic!
Outfit #2 - Comfortable & A Little Bohemian
Product Info: Dress & Bracelets - Charlotte Russe, Gladiator Sandals - American Eagle, Sunglasses - Wet Seal, Bag - Karmaloop
This outfit would be great to wear to class when it’s warm and sunny out. A dress is so easy to just throw on, and it pretty much makes an entire outfit in itself.
I added a few accessories to this outfit in the form of bangles, gladiator sandals, and sunnies, but you could go without the jewelry and even just wear Havaianas if you wanted! This outfit is all about comfort, so your footwear should be comfortable too!
It’s All About The Basics
At the end of the day, if you have most of the wardrobe essentials for college girls, then you’re basically good to go when it comes to getting dressed for class.
Most of the time, a cute pair of jeans, a great top, and some accessories are all you need. If you want to wear something more interesting, though, I say go for it! I’m all in favor of showing off the clothes you love & self-expression through fashion.
Have fun with it… and just say “No” to the sweats!
Your Thoughts?
What do you think about the “getting dressed for class” debate? Would you wear sweatpants to class, or would you never even think of it? What would a typical school outfit be for you?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments section!
Filed Under: College Life / Tags: Class, College Life, Tips
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I actually just wrote an article on College Candy(that has yet to be released) on shopping for college loungewear and I clearly stated that pjs should NEVER be worn to class and sweats should be worn in moderation. I don’t go to class in cocktail attire but i refuse to show up in my lecture looking like a bum!
Haha the “not” picture of the girl walking to class on her phone looks like it could have been taken at my campus. Is that a North Face? Oh this is the typical outfit. I detest it.
Finally! Someone else who realizes that sweatpants are things that don’t ever make it out of the house! I am so sick and tired of watching people come to class in sweatpants and pajamas and lord knows what else.
I’m glad to know there are other people out there who think dressing up a little for class is something that should always be done.
I agree with you 100%. the outfits you showed that are acceptable are basically what I woe everyday to class in highschool and will continue wearing in college. I think the people who wear sweats everyday don’t care at all. For me being comfortable is wearing skinny jeans and a cute top because then I know I look good and feel good, sweats just make me feel gross and want to go to bed and I have never worn them in public except for a final or regents.
I’m a rising senior and all my friends know by now that if I have on sweats in class I’m either deathly ill or heading to the gym immediately after LOL. I love dressing up for class because it makes dreary mornings a little bit better and lets you have some fun with the beginning of the day :)
I go to school in Maine, so in the winter you’ll see girls with sweatpants, wanna-be uggs and like 3 sweatshirts/fleeces. Obviously no one ever introduced them to this amazing thing called a coat….
Personally, I love winter because I can add more to an outfit with a coat. Though peep-toes and snow don’t go together :-)
Business casual is dress code at my college. I’m at a loss on how to make it pop, though. I would probably wear the first outfit sans skinny jeans, I just can’t find jeans that don’t make my hips looks HUGE. I love wearing sweaters, especially when I’m studying at the library or tutoring some kids. Too bad it’s always hot and humid here in Miami.lol.
I don’t wear sweats unless I’m home playing DDR for 3 straight hours. Sweats and PJs make me feel like a slob and I usually end up watching Gilmore Girls rather than studying while wearing them.
I wore pj pants to school a few times in high school and ended up feeling like a total bum. Never again.
Wow, those facebook groups are extremely judgemental. I think people should generally wear whatever they want to class, as long as they don’t smell bad or look like a 5 cent hooker. For me personally though, I do like to take the extra effort to look cute for class- and you’re right, it really doesn’t take that much extra time!! It helps me to resist the urge to take daytime naps or feel like I just crawled out of bed, and more importantly, it makes me feel BETTER about myself. I have to say though, that facebook hate group is pretty discouraging, but I will try to ignore it and keep looking fabulous ;)
As a college student going to UC Berkeley (and from NorCal, no less!), I’d say that we have a very different idea of what’s appropriate and what’s not. I think here, it’s completely normal to see students in sweatpants, but it’s also completely normal to see truly grungy outfits. I know that most fashion experts advise against flip-flops, but as one person I knew commented about Cal students, “It’s flip-flop country here.” Much as the rest of the fashion world wouldn’t like it, I really believe that we have different aesthetics here with our “chill” atmosphere.
That having been said, I believe that when showing up to class, you should be clean, presentable, and if you can manage it or have time, cute and updated. The outfits you posted here are great - not ostentatious, but cute and presentable. Personally, I don’t mind seeing people show to class in jeans, sneakers/Converse shoes (we do SO much walking here!!) and a jacket or blazer, so long as it’s neat. I really think that’s the most important part of dressing - but that holds true no matter where you are.
It’s okay to wear wear sweatpants to class, but of course, it depends on how you will carry it during class hours.
Skinny jeans would do for me. I always wear that style since high school.
And it looks good to me because I’m not so tall and not so petite.
Confidence is the answer to everything.
Couldn’t agree more. Casual little dresses are ALWAYS the way to go when you’re feeling too lazy to put together a whole outfit - hence the reason I own like a billion :)
Sweats are never, ever NOT a no-no. With the exception of the gym and being sick of course.
I believe that if we are going to pay the amount of money that we do to go to university, we have the right to wear whatever we want to class, be it haut couture or yoga pants and a hoodie. I think that wearing pajamas to class is inappropriate, but I see nothing wrong with sweats, especially at 8:30 on a Monday morning in a class you really didn’t want to go to. I had mono this year and just didn’t have the energy to plan out an outfit like I did the year before. I lived out of my sweats. There is nothing wrong with being extra-comfortable on days that you really need it.
That having been said, I agree that *always* dressing down for class shows a lack of respect for the professor and for the other students. On presentation days or to a meeting with your professor, you should always dress up. And one should make as much of an effort as possible to look presentable no matter where they go, if for no other reason than because it’s fun.
I really enjoyed this post, but I had to open up an Internet Explorer Window to view it. The images in the posts never work in Firefox. I just wanted you to be aware of that because though I love your blog, I prefer Firefox browser. Keep up the good work anywho. :-)
Kayla: that’s funny, because I use Firefox and the images work just fine. Maybe it’s a reloading thing or…I’m really not quite sure what!
Ugh! We had so many girls wearing sweats to school in HS, and they thought they were so cool, with their cup of Dunkin’, chewing gum, a huge sweatshirt on.
See, I think the roll-out-of-bed look doesn’t mean sweats. It’s more, if I may refer to “Gossip Girl,” the Serena type of look. Just the effortless casualness look.
I’d be interested to see what the general consensus is on hair, though, whether it really is okay to come in with wet hair, because I never would in HS, although many girls did. #1 it makes you sick (at least it creates a higher risk) and #2 it’s messy, at least for me.
Sweatpants are for sick days, thanks. Not for going to class.
My idea of bumming it is a hoodie, jeans, and funky sneakers. No way in hell am I walking out of my apartment in sweatpants, sorry!
And I must say, I LOVE that first outfit! Skirts aren’t very practical for me (campus is SUPER windy), but that first one, LOVE!
Oh yes, I hate to see girls dressed from head to toe in A&F AE or Hollister sweats. It’s so unoriginal.
There are so many pretty clothes out there that it’s a waste not to use them.
My school is seriously called the fashion college r professors even say it how sad is that. I love my sweats pants maybe its just me I went to private school for 4yrs and I’m use to a uniform in the morning I change my mind at least 5 times and sometimes I really wanna stand out I know school is place to get an education but I’m at the fashion capital of the world ny
Sweat pants or Pj bottoms and uggs dont cut it for me. .And getting too dressed up (like going to a party etc, is a no-no either)
Why have to buy clothes if all you want to wear to college is sweats/Pajamas and ugg boots? In college, it is our turn to experiment what goes well and what doesn’t, that’s why there is no excuse to go shopping!
So on top of that, dress and leggings are the norm for me, or jeans, shirt and cardigan as well, or a casual skirt instead, but presentation wise, its good to dress a little professionally or neatly. :)
I think its always important to look your best. One of my friends went to Clemson for a year and left because of the way the other girls treated her. She is a huge fan of the sundresses and delicate sandals and would spend a reasonable (but not insane) amount of time getting ready. Well when the other girls showed up to class they all had sweatpants on and they made fun of her. So she actually LEFT CLEMSON to go to the College of Charleston. I mean, we both love Charleston because we’ve lived there our whole lives, but to leave a top southern school to go somewhere else just because of fashion zombies making fun of you…that’s dumb. Girls should be proud of their clothes and take pride in how they walk out of their dorm!
Also, I dress up for everything. I always walk out of the house in a skirt or dress and heels. Anthropologie is my lifeline for clothes.
oh may i add to my previous post, i feel that sweats/pj bottoms and uggs look VERY untidy in my opinion. I make an effort to look good or even decent, even though i may only be there for a few hours…. clothes can express yourself :)
Thank you! It is so refreshing to hear that someone actually believes in the ‘look good, feel good, do good’ philosophy. I don’t know about you, but I tend to feel gross and surprisingly uncomfortable when I wear my lounge apparel in public. When I feel clean and put together I am confident that I can take on anything.
I think some people are misinterpreting the spirit of that facebook group. There is a big difference between looking neat and tidy for class versus looking like you’re ready for a photo shoot. One thing to keep in mind when getting ready is the context of the environment. While sweatpants and pajamas don’t belong in the classroom, neither do cocktail dresses and heels.
You know, my french teacher told my class “You do better on exams when you’re dressed up” and it is true. I have never ever worn sweatpants or a baggy sweatshirt to class (cute fitted ones, occasionally.) Coincidentally, I once had a dream that I wore the gigantic school sweats/sweatshirt combo to school - and in my dream I felt so gross!
I believe this all depends on the school you attend. I also go to UC Berkeley and there is a wide range of fashion on campus. Plenty of people wear clothes similar to your two outfits but there are also lots of people in sweats and Uggs. Personally, I am not against the sweats look even though I love fashion. When it is cold and rainy, as it often is, I care about comfort first. Plus as an athlete it just doesn’t make sense to dress up constantly when I have to hit the gym and go to practice daily. Fashion is fun but when you’re a student practicality is key. Wear what suits your lifestyle and keep in mind the setting you will be in. The most ridiculous outfit I’ve ever seen was not pjs or sweats but a girl in an itty bitty skirt and thigh high stiletto boots. She looked good but completely out of place.
Having read this article, and all the comments on it, I have a question for you all…
Would it be appropriate for a girl to wear clean and colourful sweat pants on a day that they were almost too sick to concentrate? You know, those days where you can’t afford to miss a class but you’re so sick the world is spinning? Would it be okay to then wear sweats?
Wait! Sorry! My question was already answered in another article!
Tee hee, me and my bad memory!
I’m heading back to college after being out of high school for about 10 years, I’ve learned in everyday life that dressing the part can get you the part!! I agree that you shouldn’t over due it to the point that it looks like you are obsessed with your appearance but spending some time on your self in the morning and putting some thought into your outfit can do a world of difference for you mood and self esteem :)
I’m loving outift #1 it is going to be my inspiration when out shopping for some key back to school outfits!!
* and if by chance I am having one of those icky days you will be sure that my sweats will be clean and my hair will be done!!
Hey, I dunno how relevant this is, but I’m an aussie college (Uni, here) student and I don’t see a problem with CLEAN sweatpants (or trackies, as we’d call em) to uni, if paired with a sporty-casual shoe and a tee with a cardi. That having been said, I wear jeans every single day of my life with white sports casuals and a colourful cardi.
Though I absolutely detest those fluro trackies and Ugg boots. And girls who wear black tights and clingy little dresses with heeled boots to uni at 8am in hailstone weather. It’s a balance, I think :-D
I TOTALLY agree and sweat- pants are comfortable but save them for the times when you are just lounging around the dorm. I LOVE the sundress outfit you showed i think it is sofisticated, cute, and very presentable and its definetley what kinds of things i like to see people wearing on college campus’.
I like to dress up, but definitely not for class. I think people look ridiculous when they come to class in a skirt or pumps, unless you’re giving a presentation, there’s no need to dress like that. You go to class for 2 hours to sit and take notes nobody cares what you’re wearing. And I don’t know what kind of sweats you wear but there are a lot of cute sweats out there, and I’m not talking about af, hollister, or anything like that. You can still look presentable dressing down, just make sure the rest of you is put together…hair, makeup, etc. I love fashion, but I think it’s unnecessary to dress up for class.
haha i love the picture of the girl in the pink sweats, uggs, and north face. 95% of the girls who go to my school wear this identical outfit. they all look exactly the same. why would you wear clothes that make you look JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE? i just dont get it and personally when im walking behind one of them in their over sized uggs, dragging their feet, I’d like to punch them in the back of the head :))))
You definetly have some good points. From my personal experience at USC (Los Angeles), you just go through the day with more confidence if you make yourself pulled-together and cute. If you’re wearing sweats it really does look like you didn’t care as much when you got up that morning, unless you pump it up with more formal pieces. For example, some people get away with sleek grey yoga pants and a very pretty lose cardigan, plus their hair looks cute and they sport accessories.
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I don’t necessarily agree with dressing up for class however I certainly hate it when people stroll into 8 A.M classes wearing PJ’s. I’m 100% for comfort first, especially if it’s raining outside or you are sick, but anyone who I see wearing PJs to class I find to be dirty. And as far as Uggs go, I’d rather wear those and keep my feet warm then wear really cute boots and freeze.
Don’t get me wrong- I like fashion and wearing cute outfits- but as long as people wear clean and presentable outfits (even if they wear sweats once in awhile) I don’t see a problem.
Its really nice that there is someone who thinks just the way i do.As a young writer wanting to help my fellow nigerian student i say fashion is not all about clothings,nor what you are wearing but all about how you feel and where you are.
Sweats is nice to wear but not to all places while Pajamas is not to be worn to class thats really absurd to do.
I hope students start getting the clues to good fashion very soon
I am in complete agreement with you! UGH I study fashion merchandising and it makes me so mad when FASHION majors don’t put effort into getting dressed. Clearly no commitment to their studies.
Wow. I most certainly agree with not looking like a slob in class. When you’re just wearing wrinkled, fading sweats with a baggy T-shirt, your hair unbrushed and face unwashed, you just look lazy and ill-prepared for class. What kind of message is that sending to your professor and classmates?
To be honest, I don’t even consider the first outfit getting “dressed up.” *lol* at people who don’t even have the 5 minutes to do that.
Question:
I see alot of girls around campuses in pajamas or sweats but they also have on a ton of makeup.
How can they have time to put on makeup but not clothes?
This is ridiculous.
My professors are going to respect me more for my $40 sunglasses made in Malaysia by 15 year olds? If so, then those professors need a reality check.
Keep consuming, ladies!
Love this article.
Its not about spending money, its about showing respect for yourself and the professor (not to mention I like looking good, I feel better and enjoy the process of getting ready as well).
You don’t show up to work, or even dinner with your parents, in sweatpants, or (horrors of horrors) pajama pants. Everyone does it sometimes, its ok, and really people shouldnt be judged by it. At the same time I feel that the entire education system of College and the oppurtunity we have here should be respected. Don’t listen to headphone while the professor is lecturing, dont wear pajamas.
I’m actually shocked that anyone would wear pajamas outside the house or sweats outside the gym or when they’re not jogging. I’ve never seen anyone at uni in Europe do that, it’s completely inappropriate. Clothes project an image - realizing that is not being shallow or consumerist, it’s a fact of life that people’s perception works this way.
Looking at it that way, not taking advantage of this and projecting an image of a slob, a person who can’t be bothered to even change their underwear in the morning (if they show up in pajamas -eeeew) - is not really intelligent.
Again, it takes me twenty minutes to get ready in the morning - that includes showering, breakfast, dressing up (I lay out my clothes the night before) and doing my hair and makeup. And because I send out a visual message that I take myself seriously, for the rest of the day, I’m taken seriously at classes and internship. This is not shallow. This is giving yourself the edge in a small aspect of your life without wasting a lot of time and effort. Welcome to the real world.
The consumerist argument that Courtney brought up completely misses the point, I think. I sew my own clothes, which takes me just a couple of hours of my spare time on the weekends and I’ve built a wardrobe of high quality staples that fit perfectly and last years. I’m not a consumerist. But I do realize aesthetics is an important part of life. Big difference.
Thank you so much for showing women that you do NOT have to spend a fortune to look great, feel confident, and show your campus that you are serious about yourself and your classes. Thanks for all of the fabulous tips! :)
I COMPLETELY AGREE!
I think you’re missing the point. The article is shallow; it has faulty logic, and also encourages consumption via the prominent links to Am Eagle, etc. (It’s not like they posted some patterns and asked us to sew with fairly traded or self-grown material, or even to buy second hand. And yeah, you could do that yourself– and I hope everyone does.)
Ok, I’m a programmer, so here comes the pseudocode.
If _student_ wears _fashion_,
then _student_ is serious.
Else _student_ wears Uggs,
is lazy, sleeps in class.
There would be a whole lot of women who wouldn’t get caught in this “if” statement, which makes the logic faulty.
The Else portion is part of a negative stereotype that needs to be combated, not mindlessly agreed to. If you need to have a certain outfit to feel good about your interactions, then cool. I personally want to encourage women to be as natural as they please (not necessarily in the style of hippies, but w/e). I’m really not into this stereotype, or into limiting what my sisters feel comfortable doing. Also, the combination of 1) the stereotyping of female students with 2) the advertisement of third world merch peddlers makes it clear that this article completely misses ANY point at all about strengthening women by giving them the respect and solidarity they deserve.
_____________________________________
cosmeticsdatabse.org — Do YOU know what’s in that makeup? Neither does Revlon.
Courtney - If you read this site at all, you’d know that I do talk about buying things secondhand, and I’m not telling anyone go out and buy a whole new wardrobe in order to “feel good about their interactions.” In fact, I talk about saving money all the time too, so the whole consumerist-agenda idea is way off. I’d rather see people using what they have in new ways than buying everything new all the time.
As for the stores I linked to, I don’t know about their third-world peddling policies, but regardless, I’m not telling anyone that they have to shop there. I just use them as examples of where to get inexpensive clothes that are flattering.
And as far as respect for women goes, I’m trying to encourage more women to have respect for themselves and take care in their appearance, rather than giving off the impression “I give up.”
The answer is cute college sweatshirts, jeans, a girl next door pony, a little makeup, and uggs/sneakers/flip flops. You look just as dumb dressing up as you do not caring and wearing orange pants with a pink hoodie. The professor is going to be more impressed by the girl who asks intelligent questions. He doesn’t give a crap about your black tights or big bag. Smart girls stand out in college classrooms. Save your cute outfits for parties/going places with friends.
Mandy - I definitely don’t think that dressing well is a substitute for being intelligent, and that’s not something I would ever claim! But this is a site for girls who like fashion and who enjoy having fun with their clothes. If you don’t care about fashion, then obviously what you wear won’t be important to you.
I definitely think that being well dressed is not a mark of either intelligence or shallowness, but caring. Courtney, I pride myself in looking good when I show to class in the morning, but that doesn’t mean I wear 40 dollar sunglasses that I bought brand new. Actually, I lost my only pair of sunglasses ages ago, but that’s beside the point. I would say somewhere between 50 and 80 percent of my wardrobe comes from thrift stores, and the rest comes from inexpensive stores like target. Last year I spent two dollars on a dress for a semiformal occassion (which I found, of all places, at a costume sale: an adorable strapless dress that looked like it came straight out of a boutique!). I then spent less than 10 dollars on a sexy, chique little black dress from goodwill. I also own a dress by a spanish designer, also for probably 10 or 15 dollars used, that would have been between 100-200 dollars new. I enjoy finding vintage pieces, and basic tees and skirts from brands like abercrombie or h&m that would be 30 dollars new but are five bucks at amvets. I spend the most money on new, sturdy shoes, and everything else I buy as cheap as possible. I have a stylish closet with a few timeless, versatile pieces, plus some hand-me-downs from my mom that have come back in style!!
So, fashion is not necessarily about mindless consumerism. It can be an art form, it can be fun, and I love when it when I have three or more people compliment me on a special outfit. And I can safely say that I am intelligent, I have a high GPA, love reading, and enjoy debating current issues with my friends. I respect my teachers and have strong goals in life.
I think that means I deserve even more fun with clothes!
I totally agree. Especially being a student at NYU, it’s so important to look your hottest in case The Sartorialist is hanging around.