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Ah, the end of summer. Now that the days are getting shorter and class is nearly in session, it’s officially time to start planning your back-to-school outfits. But unlike when you’re stocking up on textbooks or tricking out your dorm room, it’s tough to anticipate what you’ll actually need (or want) to wear during the course of a semester, let alone a full year.
It’s true that you can never go wrong with a collegiate sweatshirt and a pair of Birks. (During midterms and finals, they’re practically the uniform.) However, putting together cute and comfy outfits with limited closet space, and an even tighter budget, takes some trial and error—but you don’t have to go it alone. To help you conjure up the best college outfit ideas, we asked real college students from around the country for their top tips and picks.
From an incoming freshman to a first-year grad student, the 10 looks ahead will inspire you for every class, cram session, and party lined up this semester.
Asha Gorjala, senior at the University of Texas at Austin
Fashion merchandising major Asha Gorjala plans on creating countless outfits around an exercise dress and a matching skirt set this semester. She wears the former “to class, to the coffee shop, and to my internship” layered with a T-shirt underneath. The latter “always looks so put together and coordinated” wherever you go, and she’s also a fan of wearing each piece separately to get more use out of them.
Tamara Avinami, freshman at Indiana University
Tamara Avinami, a marketing major, says she’s always used clothes to stand out from the crowd. To keep her back-to-school outfits unique, she invested in pieces that speak to her personal style: knee-high boots, lacy tops, and statement purses, all of which she throws on when her going-out looks could use a little more personality. “Depop is my best friend when it comes to these finds,” she says, but you can also find new pieces with the same vibe.
Fatimah Muhammad, junior at Winston-Salem State University
“Confidence is everything [when it comes to] style,” North Carolina–based nursing major Fatimah Muhammad tells Glamour, so it makes sense that instead of trying to stay on trend, she recommends reaching for pieces that make you feel most like yourself. Her back-to-school closet includes midi and maxidresses for wearing out with friends, to day parties, and during formal occasions on campus. No matter what outfit she chooses, she’ll probably end up wearing Converse sneakers, since you can dress them up or down—and they’ll always be in.
Brianna Urea, junior at the University of Central Florida
Political science major and TikTok big sister Brianna Urea says that any college student can get a ton of wear out of a corset top and a pair of leather pants. While corsets lean a little trendy, they’re not going away anytime soon (just ask Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber), and she explains that the pants “elevate” everything from presentation looks to going-out ’fits. Top this outfit off with gold huggie hoops—a personal favorite of Urea’s—for a little extra polish.
Tawana Morvan, graduate student at Georgia State University
Tawana Morvan, a public health master’s student, is planning on wearing cozy cardigans and high-waist jeans this year. The tops are ideal for chilly classrooms, while the bottoms “go with so many tops” and look put together, she says—even if you barely managed to roll out of bed for your 8 a.m. class. Outside of academics, Morvan plans to wear these pieces to plenty of other campus events, like games and hangouts.
Taylor Connors, student at The New School
Fashion design student Taylor Connors is “big on vests”—by throwing the staples over tees and tanks, usually with a pair of pants, she’s gotten fall layering down to a science. And this year she’s switching out her usual sneakers for a pair of tasseled loafers. “Both of these items work well for my classes, since they are comfortable and cute,” she tells Glamour. “I also can wear them to my corporate day job and maybe even special events.”
Zaquevia Edmonds, junior at North Carolina A&T State University
“Regardless of what’s trending or in style, it’s important to wear clothing that makes you feel comfortable,” psychology major Zaquevia Edmonds says, “because when you feel good, you look good.” What makes her feel good walking around campus? She loves classic graphic tees (which can be worn with jeans, skirts, and pretty much anything else) and platform mules (which “add the perfect amount of height” and can be styled up if need be).
Hannah Wiser, sophomore at the University of Southern California
Style helps build connections on campus—just ask communications major Hannah Wiser. “At USC, one of my favorite things to do is walk around and compliment people’s outfits,” they explain. And to spark conversations this semester, they’re planning on wearing “funky pants” to pair with combat boots, jeans to paint on, and a jumpsuit that’s “the perfect mix of comfy and cute.”
Julia Crist, senior at Ball State University
Bike shorts are endlessly rewearable during spring, summer, and fall, says Julia Crist, an advertising major based in Indiana: “They’re versatile and can be styled so many ways, which is perfect for students on a budget or with limited closet space.” She recommends pairing them with an oversized tee when it’s hot or a puffy vest when it’s chilly. But most of all, she loves taking a page out of Princess Diana’s playbook: pairing her shorts with an oversized crewneck and New Balances.
Hanna Caldwell, graduate student at University of Missouri
Although Mizzou is a “fairly casual” campus, according to public health graduate student Hanna Caldwell, she’s hoping to distinguish her postgrad wardrobe from the activewear and college merch of her undergrad years. Inspired by The Nanny, Caldwell picked up a plaid miniskirt and a square-neck dress, two “effortless” finds that deliver on comfort during study sessions and look polished during presentations. (Next up on her wish list? A pair of platform Mary Janes.)
