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Dos and Don'ts of College Clothing Packing
Many college kids either bring way too many unnecessary items or don't bring many key essentials. Here are some tips for packing clothes for college that can help students pack like an expert!
1. Shoes
I have seen with both women and men going to college that they do not know what shoes to bring or how many. While mostly the women bring far too many, I have seen some guys go overboard on this as well. Meanwhile, many men I see at college have two pairs of shoes and think they will work for everything.
Bringing the right amount of shoes is helpful because shoes are hard to pack and can get heavy with too many pairs. Finding the right shoes to bring is essential. You want to pack footwear that is multifunctional and comfortable. There is no reason to bring uncomfortable shoes to college if you only wear them for a few minutes at a frat party. (Frat parties are usually pretty nasty so keep your feet covered!)
For ladies, here are some examples of types of shoes to bring, why and how many:
1 pair of tennis shoes: you'll need them for something trust me. Even if you aren't sporty, there is always a chance you'll need them. It can be good motivation to walk everyday to fend off the freshman 15 and can also be good for any community work or laborious extracurricular activities.
2 pairs of flip flops (for the warmer seasons while at school): I say two because of how light and easy to pack they are. If you have sandals that you enjoy wearing, however, I would limit your flip flop amount to only one. These are good to slip on and don't take up much space.
2 pairs of everyday casual shoes: the type of shoes for this category depend on the person. If you're a sneaker or converse gal, then bring a pair. If you're a more relaxed kind of girl, bring some Toms or moccasins or Keds. Make sure these shoes are pairs that go well with many outfits, are comfortable, and aren't too bulky.
1 pair of snow shoes (if it snows where you go to school): the explanation is obvious. Sometimes they won't cancel class with snow on the ground and it's best to stay warm and fight off any colds.
2 pairs of heels: 1 pair should be a functional and respectable professional looking pair of heels for any interviews or important functions on campus. The other pair can be more of a fun, risky/edgy heel for date nights or girls' nights out. I would shy away from bringing any colorful heels unless you wear that color a LOT because otherwise it takes up room that you don't have much of. If you would like, also bring a respectable flat that can go with multiple outfits as that can be dressed up or down and gives your poor feet a break from heels and blisters.
For the men, here are examples of types of shoes to bring and why you really should have a pair with you at school, but also for later in life:
2 pairs of dress shoes: many men I know complain saying that one pair is enough. I know they're expensive but these are shoes you will probably be using a lot in college and for quite a few years afterwards at interviews or jobs. I say have two pairs because one should be black and the other brown. Black is for more formal occasions like business professional events and covers the "cool" colors, so you can wear it with grey, black, red/maroon, and some other darker colors. Brown is more for business casual events so it can be worn with khakis and most other brighter colors and of course, navy.
NOTE: Please do not wear navy blue and black together. Navy blue and grey are a better combination.
Around 2 pairs of tennis shoes: Guys usually wear tennis shoes as normal footwear but make sure at least one pair is suitable for any activity, like exercise or helping around campus or excessive walking on bigger campuses.
1 pair of everyday shoes: this could be one of your pairs of tennis shoes if you are more that kind of guy. But if you aren't this could be your moccasins, Doc Martens or any other casual, comfortable and multifunctional shoe you enjoy wearing.
1 pair of snow boots: if needed, depending on the area.
2. Professional Wear
Now this goes off of some of the ideas from above. I noted that professional footwear options are essential because college is where you are starting your career and looking good is important.
Be sure to pack some professional wear when going off to college. It will be helpful.
For ladies:
Bring 1-2 dresses that are professional and modest.
Bring 1-2 blazers that can go over most outfits to make it more business-like.
Bring some dress pants (I have a black pair and a grey pair with matching blazers for a whole suit option)
If you like skirts, bring a nice black or grey pencil skirt.
Bring somewhere between 2-5 nice blouses that can be used for business casual or professional events, depending on how often you plan on being a part of events like those.
For men:
Bring at least one full nice suit.
Bring at least 2 pairs of nice khakis and a pair of more casual khakis.
Casual button downs are your friend!! But also bring some nicer dress shirts. 2 should be enough.
And ties. You do not need a conglomeration of them, but around 5 is a good start to a nice tie collection which you will often use later in life. Make sure they vary in color but also suit your own personal style.
3. Clothes should be Multifunctional
Be sure to bring clothes that not only you'll wear more than once, but can also be used in multiple seasons and for multiple occasions.
Light layers are always good to have year round. For example:
a lightweight hoodie or sweater/cardigan
3/4 sleeve shirts
tank tops
Be sure your closet is full of a good mixture of bold, statements fun pieces and some solid basics so you're wardrobe possibilities can be endless with the different outfit combinations you can have!
Remember while packing:
EVERY ITEM SHOULD HAVE A PURPOSE!