Without further ado, we present the men’s packing list:
- Denim: For a more versatile look, go for darker washes.
- Sport shirts: Casualize them by rolling the sleeves up, just so. But please don’t pop the collar. Stripes are flattering but also very common. For a sport shirt with more personality, try a patterned shirt.
- Cargo pants/shorts: Casual bottoms provide a great foundation to the college man’s wardrobe. You can get away with wearing more dressy tops (e.g. sport shirts) without overstyling your outfit.
- Khakis: Look for flat-front pants in a color that flatters your skin tone. Generally, I find that sand colored khakis flatter more than the yellowed variety.
- Corduroy: Look for corduroy with a medium-size wale, as it’ll be more versatile over time.
- Sandals or flip flops: especially if you live on the West Coast.
- Polo shirts: For a more distinctive take on this collegiate classic, try an eye-catching color and/or a slimmer fit.
- T-Shirts: But beware of the career fair t-shirt…it’ll peg you as anti-fashion, and not in a trendy way.
- Sweaters: Have a few on hand in both crewneck and v-neck styles. For a more fashion forward look, go for a zip up.
- Casual Jacket: Try an interesting cut in a versatile color. One of my current favorites is a bomber-style jacket in black nylon.
- Overcoat: Especially in colder climates.
- Sneakers: If you’re not an athlete, look for sport sneakers with style, such as Adidas’ classic Samba shoe.
- A great-looking messenger bag or backpack.
- Blazer, Dress Shirts, Ties, Slacks and Formal Shoes: Have a couple of sets on hand for the social occasions that will inevitably arise—dorm dances, dates, and the like. Make sure to have more than one set of dress shirts and ties so that you won’t be “the guy with one set of clothes†when you review photos of your college life.
- A few good-looking pairs of PJs for when you roll out of bed and head straight to class.
August 23rd, 2005
Your best bet for collegiate style: combine style with casual comfort by looking for special pieces in established categories like denim, knit shirts, and the like. The key is to purchase versatile pieces that will take you from your dorm to class to social events.
But what should you be packing for school? Look no further, and check back tomorrow for the men’s packing list!
- Denim: A variety in different fits, washes, and colors will do you well. They’re a fashion staple for college and beyond.
- Knits: Knits are great for fitted casual tops, sweaters, and even skirts and dresses. Look for fashion forward cuts with interesting detailing. Cropped sweaters are and will be hot for Fall 05.
- Tank Tops/T-Shirts: Great for casual days, and you can dress them up or down depending on the situation. Look for fitted cuts in fashion forward colors, such as teal, white, and leafy green. Layered tees were very Summer 2004—to update the layered look, try mixing two knits with different textures.
- Camisoles: Perfect for dressing up jeans during the day, and they’re party-friendly as well.
- Flowy tops: For going out at night. One extremely common fashion formula: Flowy top + Jeans + Heels.
- Lightweight jacket(s): Cropped blazers, bomber jackets, etc.
- Overcoat: Especially in colder climates.
- Casual pants: Corduroy, cargo pants, cropped pants, etc. From Bermudas to Clamdiggers, cropped pants are not only fashion-forward, but also easily adaptable to a casual college wardrobe.
- Skirts: Mini, A-line, and Full skirts are preferred to the restrictive and formal pencil skirt. Many are found in casual fabrics, such as cotton or denim.
- Sundresses: A perfect daytime look. Wear with casual shoes so as to not overdress.
- Casual shoes: Chic sandals that are both flattering and walking-friendly. Stylish sneakers. Flip flops. Lots of flats.
- A few pairs of dressy shoes for going out.
- A great-looking messenger bag or backpack.
- Formal dresses: A few formal dresses for events like dorm dances and dates. Have one long dress and at least two shorter dresses.
- A few good-looking pairs of PJs for when get lazy and wear them to class.
August 22nd, 2005
More than anything, college style is all about looking good without looking like you’re trying too hard. And let’s be realistic–chances are, you won’t be going heavy on the Edwardian fashion or rock rebel chic clothes.
Luckily, collegiate fashion is In. Think preppy collared shirts, vests, and cardigans–and sporty chic track jackets, polos, and henley shirts.
What should you be wearing for a fresh, collegiate look? Whether or not you’ll be attending classes this fall, Style Intelligence Report has the answer for you:
Men
- Sports-inspired items, like track jackets,
- Patterned sport shirts,
- Cardigans,
- Knit ties,
- Fitted polos,
- T-shirts over polo shirts (or sport shirts), and
- Denim, as usual.
Women
- Cropped anything: blazers, sweaters, and pants,
- Henley shirts (a casual nod to Nautical fashion),
- Cardigan sweaters,
- Vests,
- Premium denim: as the prices rise, the popularity of status denim only increases,
- Oversized sunglasses with square-shaped frames,
- Plaid and Tweed, and
- Sports-inspired items (e.g. track jackets, tennis tank tops).
For more information, check back next week for our back-to-school packing list. We’ll drill down on Exactly what you’ll want to have hanging in your closets.
August 15th, 2005