Make a Style Statement in College

Clothes make the man.  Naked people have little or no influence on society—Mark Twain

College is definitely the place to make your style statement and you can also experiment in the process. But taking too much liberty with your dress sense puts you in bad light.

After getting used to wearing uniforms day after day for fourteen years in school, it is not easy to adopt a unique style of clothing which is fashionable and at the same time elegant. Most youngsters struggle to pretend what they are not while some sag into frump queens in the name of non-conformism. We know you are looking to have fun in college. But hopefully you won’t be sporting sweats! No matter what they believe in or disapprove of, the one thing every college kid wants to be is “cool.” Although this hallowed aspiration involves much more than ‘looking the right part,’ the right clothes help a bit!

When one says ‘right clothes,’ one does NOT mean –

• The latest in the ramps of Milan: College is not the place for playing out your gangster or ramp queen fantasies. Keep your fantasies and your life choices apart. If you are studying English in a college, there’s no function for your gangster suit, is there? Plus, it will immediately convey that you are a fake and a loser. The exact opposite of ‘cool.’ Same for you closet beauty queens. The preposterous yellow bag and butterfly Barbie pumps have to go.
• Dirty clothes and smelly body: Walking around in dirty sweat-soaked clothes from last semester is just yuk! No, it does not convey that you are too busy shuttling between beer nights, championing animal rights and classes. It just says you are dirty and you smell. People might avoid you in spite of your otherwise glitzy personality.
• Those straight stonewashed jeans you bought in Class VIII: That’s just an eyesore. Jeans are forever? Nope. Denim is, not the actual trousers.
• That haircut from your 12th birthday: Great that you topped in school, now go for a haircut. Good hair is not just about looking good, but also tells about your style and choices.

A good sartorial sense includes the following:

• Carrying the right bag: Bags speak volumes about your priorities. If you carry just your pink ID holder no one will take you seriously and behind your back your peers might take you for a dummy.  So if you have a laptop, carry a good looking bag. If that gets too costly, then jazz your simple bag up yourself. Stick badges or stickers of your choice. Or get tote bags that will carry most of your stuff. These come in great colours too. It’s mixing style with practicality.
• Wearing the right shoes: Campus life is all about strolling and going for that frequent coffee. What you need is great pair of shoes that make you look smart, trendy and does not give you corns. Try funky floaters, flat soled chappals and cool sneakers. Avoid cheap canvas shoes or osho chappals – they can hurt. High heels should be kept at bay unless you are sure to avoid loitering.
• Go ethnic: Salwars, kurtas, and sarees are totally cool in college. Don’t go for heavily embroidered ones, but the simpler kurtas. Match them with a funky nose pin, earrings and chappals and you are set for a great day in college. These are great summer wear. Occasionally go for the saree too! It is cool to opt for cotton in summer.
• Basic jeans: A pair of straight cut jeans and skinny jeans are a must for college. Invest in a brand that is comfortable and flatters your body shape. You can rotate these in the week along with your cotton pants or treggings.
• Experiment with colour: If you have gone Goth in school, now is the time to explore some colours. No one is asking you to go wild and fluorescent but try colours like red, peach, orange, blue and green in mild shades. Make sure you have the right fabric for a colour because that makes a world of difference.

Dressing up properly can not only make you popular in college but also infuse a sense of confidence which goes a long way in your development.