College students are pros at dressing “comfy, but cute” with the latest college and teen fashion trends. Now that summer is over, it’s time to get back into the routine of having endless amounts of work, cramming for tests and throwing on whatever feels the most comfortable for class. With this handy guide, you can stay up to date on the trendiest outfits on campus right now.
Illustration by: Jake Thrasher
- Comfort Colors T-shirts
Are you tired of wearing boring, basic colored T-shirts? Comfort Colors T-shirts might change the game for you. Comfort Colors has revolutionized the college T-shirt with its soft color palettes and wearable-right-out-of-the-box feel. You’ll find yourself stocking up on these at almost every event you attend in college, but oddly enough, you’ll still want more. Call it a blessing and curse.
It may seem like the color is “washed-out,” but that’s the best part. When you wear these shirts, all the pictures you take on your Polaroid camera will have that authentic “indie, faded, vintage Americana” feel. You can snag some bonus style points if you manage to get ahold of shirts for events you never attended.
- Asics shoes
It’s entirely possible this trend began when someone mistook my dad for Christian Louboutin (yes, they’re both bald and have jawlines that could cut glass, but still). Asics shoes are popping up all over campus, but not on the middle-aged men you’d expect to be wearing them. These brightly colored, aesthetically “pleasing” and podiatrist-approved tennis shoes will keep your friends close and your overall foot health closer. They range from $50 to $100, so they might break the bank, but an empty checking account is a small price to pay for being able to match your dad on “take your kid to work day.”
- Lululemon shorts
When life gives you lemons, turn them into an athletic apparel line. This classy clothing line is certain to make you the center of attention when you’re finishing up a rigorous stroll through the Grove or talking to your friends at the gym. Are its clothes functional? Sure. But who would want to exercise when you look this good? It may cost you an arm and a leg, but this athleisure wear will make your remaining arm and leg the talk of the town.
- Flannels
Once the hallowed uniform of the humble lumberjack, this button-up bundle of scratchy goodness has become a symbol of the rise of hipster culture in America, the perfect complement to your knit beanie, skinny jeans and Starbucks caramel macchiato. As soon as the temperature gets below 85 degrees, you’ll see droves of students donning these shirts, wiping away their sweat and pasting on a smile to show how happy they are for being so fashion-forward.
- Confidence
Dress with confidence. Nothing looks better on a person than confidence, except maybe well-fitting business-casual attire or an authentic replica of the original Superman costume. Building confidence is the ultimate key to back-to-school fashion. It’s important, especially in college, to love yourself and be who you are. Lots of people seem to give into conformity and blend into the crowd, and while that works for synchronized swimmers and undercover secret agents, you can’t expect to rock any boats if you don’t make some waves. You could buy all these trendy items and still not feel confident. Find things that speak to you, and wear things that make you feel like Tobey Maguire walking down the street in Spider-Man 3.
