10 College Wardrobe Essentials Under $100

With all the money you have to spend on tuition, textbooks, eating, and transportation, the last thing you want to worry about is what to wear on campus. As students head back to college, some for the first time, each year is an opportunity to reinvent their wardrobe—or finally get things right.

Most guys can simply stock up on highly versatile staples that can be worn in a variety of ways, which means more money for partying. While you hear a lot about investing in certain pieces and buying quality goods, the truth is looking good in college is more about wearing clothes that fit more than rocking brands with serious Internet cred. Here's how to look dope without going totally broke, check out these 10 College Wardrobe Essentials Under $100.

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Buy It Now at Gap, $90

Start the year out right by getting a pair of raw jeans early on and wearing them all semester. Gap's jeans are made from selvedge denim, which gives you those nice red lines on the sides of your cuffs, and will fade awesome and feel more comfortable with each wear.

Buy It Now at Target, $12

T-shirts are an indispensable part of the college wardrobe because they go with anything. Launder them often and restock when necessary—no one wants to be the dude in the stained white tee. Ditch the corny graphic shirts from high school and when space (and disposable income) are at a premium, having a stable of solid tees makes for a bunch of versatile clothing options.

Buy It Now at H&M, $40

No, the one you had in high school won't cut it for a college campus. Anything patched-out or super-embroidered will just look tacky. Opt for a low-key varsity that you can wear over anything. Wool and leather are classic—but costly. This nylon version from H&M layers with everything from sweaters to denim jackets, and is really cheap.

Buy It Now at J. Crew, $70

Don't throw your Js or Vans away, but a clean white pair of kicks makes any outfit look instantly fresher. Nike Killshot 2s strike the balance between sneakerhead cred and stylish clean lines. If you don't have room for all your kicks, just take the grails with you for when you need to stunt, and wear these as your go-to pair for classes.

Buy It Now at Club Monaco, $70

Unfortunately you can't rock jeans 24/7. Sometimes you'll need to look a little dressed up. Khaki is fine, but way boring. Consider dark navy pants to switch it up. They still look good with blue and white shirts, and you can wear them with jean jackets or military outerwear to give your campus kits a rugged vibe.

Buy It Now at Land's End Canvas, $39

Meet the new workhorse of your wardrobe. The solid oxford shirt can be worn as a shirt jacket over a T-shirt, with a tie under a blazer, and is easily tucked into a pair of jeans or slim chinos for an instantly dressier look. A blue and white one are necessary, but you can branch out into other colors like red and gray too.

Buy It Now at Uniqlo, $30

Instead of baggy hoodies, slim-fitting crewneck sweatshirts can be worn in more ways, and make you look less frumpy. Sure, you can throw them on over a T-shirt, but try layering them over a button down for a casual look with a little athletic inspiration thrown in.

Buy It Now at Piperlime, $75

For those few times where you can't wear sneakers, a nice pair of penny loafers will do. Easy to wear with jeans, chinos, or even a suit, they're formal enough for most collegiate soirees (let's be real: You won't be going to many black tie events quite yet), and are an easy way to step up your style in class or at a party.

Buy It Now at ASOS, $34

In between a sweater and a jacket, the cardigan can be worn over a T-shirt or buttondown with ease. It goes the extra mile and looks great under a blazer too. The trick to not looking like Bill Cosby or Mr. Rogers? Make sure it fits trim, but not extremely tight—the latter will make you look like an emo dude from 2005.

Buy It Now at Zara, $99

The navy blazer is a prep staple on college campuses, but unfortunately a lot of guys get the fit all wrong. It seems like they're wearing their dad's old blazer, the shoulders are all wonky, it's way too baggy, and it looks like there are plenty of places they'd rather be than dressed up.

Quite possibly the only tailored piece most guys will need 'til senior year (when you'll be going on job interviews, internships, etc.), the navy blazer you wear throughout your time on campus should be one that fits perfectly. We dig this slim one from Zara with details like contrast fabric under the collar and awesome elbow patches.