Image via Complex Original
College is the time where most people live on their own for the first time, and have to adjust to taking care of themselves. Scary, right? This usually means a diet of buffalo chicken sandwiches, showering every other day, and dressing like you rolled out of bed four to five days a week.
While most of your college campus is getting how to be stylish all wrong. You're going to want to differentiate yourself from the bros who cut the sleeves off their shirts and walk around campus with a jug of water at all times. Your head is probably filled with images of wearing a blazer and sweater with elbow patches. And if you go to school where that's acceptable, by all means, go for it. If not, don't worry, there are still ways that you can be stylish while you get your learning in, and most of them, like your 101 class on dinosaurs, are super easy.
From not trying too hard to simply learning how to wash your clothes the right way, you can easily become the best-dressed dude on campus. If you take our advice, you'll be well on your to enjoying your sartorial trip through the best four years of your life. Here's How to Be Stylish in College.
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Break in a pair of raw denim for as long as you can.
Instead of going out and buying a pair of pre-distressed jeans—make your own. College is the time where you're finally going to have the chance to wear your pair of raw denim as much as you want. This is the time when you're going to be riding your bike to class, hiking to the top of a mountain that overlooks your school, and getting wrecked in the woods with your friends. So, do it all in your jeans.
After the first year or so, if you wash your denim on a regular basis, you'll be on your way to the coveted status of dad jeans (No, not like President Obama's jeans). People are going to ask why your indigo is hardly noticeable and why the pants fit so great. And, by the time senior year rolls around, you'll be stunting on everyone on campus with your low-key cool jawnz.
Learn how to wash your own clothes.
There's no shame in admitting it: Your mom used to do your laundry even after you turned 18. It's OK, it was the same for most of us, too. However, now you're away at school, and you're going to have to learn to do it yourself. You're probably thinking, "This isn't hard, I've got this."
But one small mistake, and your favorite chambray can shrink from a large to an extra-smedium, or you risk ruining your favorite pants. You shouldn't be afraid to wash your clothes, but do it sparingly. Just to keep your bases covered, wash everything on cold, and never throw anything other than undershirts, underwear, and socks in the dryer. Shirts and pants can be hung to dry. Plus, you'll save a few bucks on dryer cycles, which means more beer money.
Beware of Dad's hand-me-downs.
The biggest mistake a lot of college kids make is they borrow their dad's dress shirts and ties whenever they have a "formal" event. If you're going to have to dress up, just wear a simple oxford shirt and a knit or slimmer tie you can purchase from the J.Crew sale section with an additional 40 percent off. The clothes will actually fit you, and they won't go with the square-toed shoes that your pops sports to the office.
Now, if your dad is super stylish, by all means, borrow his clothes. But don't ever, ever wear a three and a half-inch wide Donald Trump tie in a silky gold with a shiny purple dress shirt. Your date might think it's cool, but is that the girl you really want to be talking to?
Don't try too hard.
If you thought it was a good idea to wear a double-breasted blazer, cropped trousers, double monks, double four-in-hand-knotted tie, and club collar shirt to class to stunt, think again. This attire is never appropriate for a college student, even as much as you want to flex your #menswear prowess. Think about it: Most of your classmates are going to show up to class in sweatpants, Jordan sandals, a shirt they haven't puked on (yet), and un-showered. All you need is a Western shirt, chinos, and pair of Nike Roshe Runs to be the most stylish dude in your class and the "Oh, he's into fashion and dresses great," from the cute girl who browses through Tumblr instead of listening to the professor.
And if you even think about wearing a suit to class, you're either going to get mistaken for the professor, or your fellow classmates think you're giving a presentation. So just keep it simple. You'll kill it in the long run.
Basics that fit well trump any trend.
It's always nice to have a statement piece you can wear to a party and hope to score the ever-present one-night-stand. Unfortunately, you can't wear that same shirt or hat three days a week; it will loose its cool factor quick.
You're better off focusing on basics such as chinos, oxford and chambray shirts, pocket tees, and crewneck sweatshirts that actually fit—maybe even a couple simple 5-panel hats. You'll be able to wear all these pieces on a daily basis, and they won't need as much care as your stand out Versace silk shirt. You'll build a uniform for yourself, and slowly fall into your own personal style. Before you know it, you'll be killing it on a daily basis without even trying.
Wear stuff you can knock around in.
College basement parties are the most disgusting places you'll ever fondly frequent in your time on this planet. Still, no one wants to dress like a scrub when they go to a party. You're not going to want to wear your Nike "Infrared" Air Max 90s to the party and have the mesh and suede stained beyond repair with puke, piss, and Pabst. But you can always wear Vans Authentics and Clarks Desert Boots and look cool. And, with a little more wear, they look even better.
Point being, you're going to need clothes that can take a beating and bounce back. Flannel shirts and denim, especially if you go to school somewhere rural, will be your best friends. And you'll still be cooler than the bros in beat running kicks and basketball shorts or frayed, bootcut jeans.
School spirit is never out of style.
Hey, you're in college. School spirit in moderation never hurt anyone. Don't go overboard and wear shirts everyday that were given out for free at a student activities center event, but you can always grab a cool sweatshirt from the school bookstore or find a vintage snapback on the Internet.
If you go to a smaller school, this will be tougher, of course. Don't fret, there's sure to be a grey crewneck Champion sweatshirt screenprinted with your school's colors across the chest. Plus, no one will ever question you for wearing this. Even once you get your diploma, if it still fits, you'll want to wear it as a badge of honor, and whenever your small-time school makes a big-time bowl game.
Learn how to dress cozy without looking lazy.
College is the one place where getting cozy is totally acceptable, and you should use to this to your full advantage. Instead of looking like a schlub in XXXL sweatpants, go for a more tailored and slim version. They'll be equally acceptable, and you'll actually want to wear them for more than your 8 a.m. class—although they're completely OK for that, too.
If sweats still aren't your thing, you can always opt for a pair of jogger pants. They serve the same purpose as their cozier cousin, but they're more durable and socially acceptable.
Take full advantage of the student discount.
Chances are, if you're a student, you're funds are going to limited. And you're going to be more focused on spending money on partying than saving up bread to cop the latest BWGH collection.
Don't let that cramp your style. There are stores such as Club Monaco and Topman that offer a student discount—making the clothes well within your splurge range. Also, the brand's clothes will keep you well-dressed but in a casual college way, and they won't go out of style by the time you graduate. That's right, that's cheaper clothes that are made well enough to last your four years, and will still get as much wear as when you first bought them. That's if you don't put on the infamous freshman 15, of course.
Above all: Don't forget to have fun.
Don't worry about style every single day. You're in college. Yes, it's cool to make sure you're well dressed and all that, but if you're more worried what you look like then what's going on that evening, you're going to miss the whole shebang.
To be honest, most of the "stylish icons" aren't looked up to just because they look cool, but it's because they lived awesome lives, too. If you're not kicking back once and a while, you're going to come off as a stiff, and that's never a good look. So, hit the books, study hard, dress steezy, and do a kegstand or two. You'll never get those years back.