
“Oh my word you look amazing!” My classmate laughed it off and came back with “What like I don’t usually?” She was giving a presentation in class and so was dressed in nice dress slacks and dress shirt with hair and makeup done very nice.
Considering her usual sans-makeup and t-shirt and jeans look, the change was drastic. On the other hand, her partner, also dressed very professionally and nice, got very little comments because she dresses up a little bit more usually anyway.
It got me thinking about the different standards of dress you find on a college campus, especially a community college.
Not only do you have varying ages, but also various cultures and styles as well.
Currently where I am sitting I can see a young man dressed in jeans and hoodie, a young lady in nice khaki dress slacks and an emerald green tank with white jacket, and a young lady in makeup to the max and very nice dress, almost cocktail like. Personally I usually wear a denim skirt with some type of casual shirt (think in between t-shirt and dress shirt) with boots and hair either in a bun or a ball cap.
Some say that it’s just school so dress as comfortably as possible to allow yourself to concentrate on the schoolwork. Other say though that you never know who you may meet and want to impress.
What is your usual dress for “just going to class?” What reaction do you get if you “change it up” like my classmate did for her presentation?
guest
I go to one of those annoying & very elite high schools where you do not have a uniform… but in a way you do. They require you to dress professionally and that means no exceptions. No studs on your pants, no jeans, no hoodies, no printed t-shirts, (for guys) a sweater vest & dress shirt + slacks & dress shoes for 7 out of the 9 months in school. (for girls) dress pants, skirts that are at least as long as where your knees are, dress shirt or blouse, cardigans, flats (NO SNEAKERS!), and you can only wear open toe shoes & capris for two months out of the nine.
So yeh… its alright I guess…? At least they’re preparing us for the future unlike some kids going to school with a (TOO) mini skirt & a tank top with all of their stuff hanging out.
guest
i wear an uniform to school blah.
however on civies i tend to grab whatever is closest to me – b/c it’s spring i’ll most likely end up wearing a random shirt + shorts next civies
magnolia / 1369 posts
I usually wear normal clothes. I like to wear jeans and a cute top with flats but right now I only have one pair of jeans.
So lately I’ve been wearing my jean skirt with cute tops or my dresses (which are cute and casual.)
I hate it when girls come in looking over the top pretty. Like they have dresses that look like they should be going out somewhere and bright red pumps and their hair is all done and make up and shit.
I understand if you want to look nice in a business sense, but to look like you’re gonna go out partying or something along those lines, just way too over the top.
guest
Right now I’m taking classes at a community college. On days that I don’t have to go to work right after class, I usually wear jeans and a t-shirt. Otherwise, I dress up for the office. People compliment me on my dresses sometimes. A lot of them, especially people who sit nearby me in my classes, know that I have to dress up for work. Still, I definitely feel like I stick out when I walk around campus all dressed up.
guest
Jeans and a t-shirt. I’m so boring. haha
Maybe moving and going to college will have me turn over a new leaf. But I doubt it.
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I usually wear jeans and a cute top, but during finals week.. It was jeans and a t-shirt, hair thrown up. It really just depends on how much time/energy I have to put together something nice.
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I usually wear jeans and a tshirt, maybe a hoodie if it’s cold out. But one day last week I decided to switch it up a little and wear a skirt. & everyone was asking me why i was wearing one.. x) while my friend who usually dresses up a little more was wearing one too, & no one commented on her outfit. aha.
guest
Ugh, dress code…
Solid-colored button-downs, solid-colored sweaters, solid colored skirt or slacks, closed-toed and -heeled shoes, no boots or sneakers. Same for boys, but they have to wear ties, too. Not much room for interpretation.
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i usually just wear wahtever i feel like. sometimes dresses, sometimes jeans ans t-shirt/tank top.
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I dress however I want- no standard just for school look! Today I wore opaque Hue gray tights with my mom’s Boss beige pooofy bubble skirt, white Juicy t-shirt and a silence + noise oversized vest on sale from UO :3 Oh, and white flats that are almost falling apart
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Usually, I wear really cute jeans :3 with a fancier top and lots of layers + accessories. Now that summer’s here, I have to start simplifying since my school has on A/C.. fml.
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I usually wear just jeans and a t-shirt.
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i go to a school that requires a uniform, so i’m dressed pretty uncomfortably each day…when i go to college, though, i doubt i’ll wear sweats and a t-shirt every day, though i’d love to, since i concentrate best in neat and coordinated clothing, hahaha
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I can’t believe you can wear ball caps. I’m in one of the most informal programs at college, and we are told it is disrespectful to wear ball caps in the classroom.
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Sometimes I’ll put real effort into what I wear and I notice that I act more confidently which gives me a better reaction from people even if they don’t notice what I’m wearing. It’s a good feeling. What you wear can really affect your mood, I believe.
orchid / 160 posts
Just about everyone at my college wears sweatpants & t-shirts. Nobody really gets dressed up to go class. I like to wear jeans & t-shirts usually. Or just shorts & a t-shirt if its nice out. I don’t care to get really dressed up if I’m just going to sit there for an hour.
guest
school uniform…
guest
depends on how I feel. Today I wore a t-shirt dress and sandals, but I was just running errands and reading in a coffee shop. If I am just going to the graduate student office, I wear similar clothing most of the time. I dress nicer for class and even nicer for presentations.
guest
sweatpants and a t shirt.
shorts and a tank top if it’s warmer.
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I try to dress nicely enough so that I don’t feel like absolute poo, but casually enough so that I can move as I please and be comfortable. If I do “change it up” (which is usually only for special occasions) , then my friends do casually comment on the difference, but it’s not a shower of compliments.
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rofl i don’t dress an differently for presentations than for classes..:X well..it depends on the presentation…i’ve never had to present at a formal event!…yet. so everyday I’m in jeans and t-shirts or sweatpants and t-shirts ’cause they’re comfy :3 every once in a while, I’ll dress a little nicer…depends on whether I feel like it or not @_@
sunflower / 490 posts
i wear tshirt and jeans most of the time
sometimes i’d like to play it up a bit
and i’d get complimented, which i like
guest
Sometimes I feel like throwing on an graphic tee underneath a sleeveless long zip-up hoodie, jeans and flats to school. Sometimes when I feel like it, I’ll put on a shirt with ruffles, jeans tucked inside a pair of lightweight boots and go to school with it. There’s no normal for me…it just depends on my mood and the weather, haha.
When I do show up at school with makeup and a skirt, I do get asked why I’m so dressed-up. I just shrug and say, “I just felt like it.”
guest
When i wear sweats to school, I usually just fall asleep in class because it’s too comfortable.
I like to dress up for school but not TOO much. It keeps me awake. XD
guest
My usual “school dress” is mainly jeans pants/shorts depending on the weather and a nice top. Sometimes I wear tank-tops, sleeveless shirts and other times just t-shirts. I try to make it as comfortable as possible, but still presentable (never pajamas…and I do see people wearing them). I would wear dresses or skirts (I like them), but I go to school right after work, so it’s inconvenient. Typically, I try to look a little nicer or cuter when I see my boyfriend, but otherwise, comfort matters more to me. Oh, and no make-up. I’m just the natural girl (maybe a little lip-gloss now and then).
rose / 948 posts
my college is jeans + shirts for the younger guys or casual business attire for the other guys. For girls its t-shirt + jeans or pretty dresses. Not much of a variation, it’s a private university, and the ages are all pretty much the same.
x
dahlia / 2942 posts
Jeans + t-shirt or dressier top. I mix it up by wearing kitten heels, doing my hair, or wearing something really fancy. I think full makeup and hair and heels is too much.
guest
i’m a tee-shirt & jeans type of girl.
let’s just say people ask me “what’s the occasion?” if i accessorize w/ a necklace or something.
i’m too laid back
guest
Usually, it’s jeans/sweats and a t-shirt
)
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Mine varies. Today I wore a white cami tucked into a high waisted boho style brown skirt, which I sinched with a skinny, braided, dark red belt. Over that I wore my denim jacket, and on my feet: a subtle pair of white gladiator sandals.
I’m known as the fashionable hippie of my school. People always tell me “you’re so lucky you can pull that off!” However, three years ago, i was just another jean and abercrombie polo wearing chick. I really believe that most people can pull off most items, they just need to be daring!
sunflower / 317 posts
I usually wear jeans and a solid color t-shirt.
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i wear watever i feel like
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Good question! I usually don’t think about it so much because I just wear what I feel like wearing on that day. Usually, it’s something really casual and comfortable. I like to be able to move around and not care about what people think of me (which is hard because in high school, people have tendency of judging others alot!).
But the most important thing for me is to have fun with what I wear. I’m still young and soooo bored at school, so I try out all kinds of different styles from tree-huger-junky to cute-floral-chic. . Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but it’s okay!
cherry blossom / 25 posts
Jeans and some sort of cotton shirt, usually layered. Leather jacket.
And I’m pretty sure nobody would notice if I were to change it up–my campus has over 45,000 students, and since I don’t spend much time there, I don’t have any friends that would notice a change.
tulip / 17 posts
Typically, jeans or dress pants with a flowy tunic, shirtdress, or babydoll top. Sometimes I go with a short dress & jeans or a full-length skirt and blouse for a dressier look. My shoes are always flats or sneaks, I’d probably kill myself trying to navigate school (or anywhere else, for that matter) in heels. For accessories, I like to throw on a long necklace, funky belt, neckscarf, or thick bangles.
My outfits are often ‘nice’, but I don’t actually put thought into them or feel like they require much effort. It’s simply my default style as I’m not really comfortable in t-shirts, sweats, or hoodies, even though I really like laid-back looks.
guest
when i was in high school, we didn’t have a dress code so basically it was pretty much a pair of jeans and a button up shirt or a polo shirt. i always dressed more on the preppy side.
sunflower / 353 posts
People at my school back in the U.S. don’t care about what they wear and generally go for sweats, T-shirts, polo shirts, flip-flops, etc. But in Japan it’s VERY different, people have nicknamed my school “The Catwalk” because of how stylish the students are. It kind of rubbed off on me and I’ve been dressing up a little more on occasions. But back at home I’d be “overdressed.”
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After attending community college for two years and then just recently finishing my four year degree at a state affiliated school, I can tell you that my dress got worse at the four year school!
When I went to CC, I always dressed nicely, minimum NICE jeans and a top and most people I saw dress accordingly…there wasn’t much in the line of drudgery there, once I got to my four year school, I’ll admit I started dressing worse, wearing older clothes that fit looser just so I could take that 10 minute nap between exams and labs….it was partly, I think, due to the fact that everyone went to class in pajamas or sweatpants, no hair/makeup, nothing…
hydrangea / 63 posts
i love dresses. DRESSES DRESSES DRESSES! now that summer is on its way. sundresssssssssss
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whatever i find in my closet lol
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Nowadays, college students almost look like they’re still in high school. Their wardrobe is significantly unimpressive and it seems like 90% of the girls in my college have no sense of style. But that’s probably because 90% of the world’s population is fat and humongous which means that many are unable to wear the clothing that they like which resorts to sweaters, lame jeans, tees and all that plain janes. I often wear presentable, cute clothing to anywhere I go but that’s probably because I have a lack of plain clothing. I enjoy expressing my style through what I wear and I’ve always hated to be the same as everybody else.
sunflower / 366 posts
haha. funny you mentioned community college, cause wow there are so many different ways to dress up and down. i see like people ridiculously dressed like if they were going somewhere important, yet on the other hand i see people who look like they just woke up, got out of bed and drove to school haha, and all the in between. i think i’d say sometimes i get lazy and just come in whatevers, but sometimes i semi prep to look okay. :X ehhh nothing too formal or nice though. it doesn’t really matter though haha. good days and bad days always come.
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we hav a dress code. we have to wear blue, black or khaki pants. purple, yellow, or white shirt. the shirt has to be tucked in we hav to hav a belt and we hav to wear a lanyard and id. talk about suckish.
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sweats and a tshirt
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I always wear jeans in the winter, with an either cute or classy top. In the summer I love wearing cuffed shorts with fashionable tops or pretty summer dresses.
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Skinny jeans and a tshirt. Makeup sometimes, sometimes not. Super simple.
But I love matching colors… so my shirt, undies, socks, and shoes always match.
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The most cliche way to start anything is to say, “what like i don’t usually?” when people tell you how nice your appearance is. women are bitches.
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When I was in high school, I wore all kinds of different things. Some days I would just wear jeans and a tee, or jeans and a sweater or some days I would bust out a skirt and boots, or sometimes a dress over pants. It was fun being random.
In college though, it was usually just tees and jeans.
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I wear a uniform but I don’t mind much. That way I don’t have to worry about what I’ll wear to school everyday.
guest
as for me, going to college, i normally just wear jeans, hoodies/ tee… i don’t like dressing up to college, especially just for studying…
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I dress pretty much the same no matter where I go (unless it’s a formal event): a dress, or a skirt and a shirt (something comfy but sophisticated) with either knee socks or stockings, and sometimes crinoline. I always wear make-up, but how much or what style depends entirely on my mood.
daffodil / 1579 posts
Sometimes I wear sweat pants or jeans. Like today is my last day of class before the final, so I’m gonna wear sweat pants. The professor is going over everything we’ve learned so far, basically reteaching everything so we’ll really be ready. So I want to be as comfortable as possible
On the first day of classes I do try to look nice though. I always have on makeup though.
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There are very rare days where i just go in t-shirt and jeans but i used to be an athlete and some say it looks good on me in a sporty way
??? I dont understand it much
But I like to go dressed up a bit. Mixing up a lot of my clothes and making it something new and I get complitments everyday
guest
comfortable, and fabulous.
think American Apparel mixed with a few teenage brands (Converse shoes, Forever 21 accessories, American Eagle bandeaus and comfy tees, etc.), and you’ll get: what I wear to school.
sometimes i mix it up with a few designer pieces that people give me or stuff I find thrifting.
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i wear what’s comfortable. usually jeans and a t-shirt or just a pretty top. but nothing that shows a lot of skin. sometimes i’d have to wear business casual for presentations and stuff like that too though. i never wear make up. so when i do dress up, i get lots of compliments as well
guest
i’m about to go to college, and i figure i’ll be in shorts and nice tops – general casual wear. day jersey dresses from h&m, men’s jumpers, skinnies, cardigans. i have a varied fashion sense, but then i won’t be wearing a really nice dress and heels to college. partly because my college is on top of a hill, but also because it’s really just overdressing. i dress differently, but i don’t dress ridiculously – i’m not going to be the girl who slips in the canteen because she’s wearing heels XD