In high school, I like to think that I dressed myself okay. I wore jeans, a nice shirt, and sometimes if I was feeling it, (read: had to because of show choir), heels. I didn't dress "lazily" or "like I just rolled out of bed." I had time in the morning to do my makeup, hair, and put together an outfit that didn't make me look like a zombie from The Walking Dead. I didn't wear oversized t-shirts to school because I thought it made me look trashy.
HAHA, that all changed when I came to college. I packed nice clothes for college, but as soon as I came to college the first day of my freshman year, I realized that 98% of girls didn't dress up. They didn't judge you for dressing up, i.e. wearing booties or a casual sundress, but they just wore what they wanted to wear and what they were most comfortable in. As my freshman year wore on, I started to dress like this stereotypical "college girl" in the colored Norts, XL t-shirt, and Nike running shoes even though I had no intent on going to the gym. And you know what? I wasn't judged. I felt comfortable. I didn't worry about what people thought of me. Instead, I was worried on if I had homework due that day or had a pop quiz that day.
I read an article called "Ladies, Nike Shorts And Leggings Are For The Gym, Nowhere Else." While I agree with some of this article, I think it's totally wrong in general. Ladies, wear whatever TF you want. Feel comfortable in your 8 a.m. walk to class. If you don't want to dress up, DON'T DRESS UP. You rock that lazy chic style. To the writer of this article, a friend from my own VT community: I respect you but I don't have to dress the way you dress every day. If I want to wear my sorority date party t-shirt, pair it with some shorts or leggings, and then wear some Nikes, I should be able to. Just because I dress like this does not make me any less successful than you.
On those presentation days, exam days, career fairs, or anything required to dress business casual, I will wear a dress or skirt and dress appropriately. But if I'm just going to class, I should feel comfortable in my own clothes! Don't judge me for wearing t-shirts to class and I won't judge you for wearing booties. Or heels. Or skirts. Literally not even paying attention to what people wear to class anyway.
Ladies, when you come to college, don't feel pressured to dress up or dress down. In college, no one cares what you wear. You can wear pajamas and I won't even bat an eye. So if the writer of this article, or anyone on my college campus for that matter, sees me on campus looking like a "trashwalker" or a homeless man, just look the other way. Because I'm just doing me and looking comfortable while doing it.
