13 Fashion Lessons I Wish Someone Had Taught Me Before College

Most college students, especially freshmen, don't need 10 pairs of heels when they head off to school. Unless you anticipate frequent formal gatherings where you'll be photographed, just rely on your oldies-but-goodies (read: comfortable, basic heels or wedges) to last you through parties, interviews, and the like.

I covered up my stomach when I was in college because I didn't have supermodel abs . . . looking back, I wish I'd just embraced by body and rocked whichever swimsuit I wanted! Stressing over body image is no way to live, especially when you're at your physical peak.

If I had to venture a guess, I'd say that the top costumes in college are cat, Playboy bunny, and Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's. These are easy to throw together with stuff in the average student's closet, so try to think outside the box if you love Halloween!

Binge-drinking and dancing in a tight body-con dress is not easy or flattering, folks. If I could go back in time, I'd tell my college self to buy a skater skirt and crop top for party nights . . . they'd look better in photos, and I'd be way more comfortable when having fun!

One of my jobs in college was at a used clothing store, and I thank my lucky stars that I discovered it during such formative shopping years. Rather than pack up all of their clothes and lugging them home, many students (especially fashionistas) prefer selling their goods to used clothing stores in exchange for cash.

If you can uncover your local thrift store gem, you're likely to find barely worn items at a fraction of their original price. Plus, if you're an experimental dresser like me, thrift stores will help you get your "fake glasses and cutout shoulders" fashion phase out of the way without bankrupting yourself.

This sounds like a stereotype, but it's true: nobody cares what you look like during finals week. Everyone is so focused on their own grades that they barely pay you any mind, much less what you're wearing!

Whether you're riding a bike between classes or just trying to minimize laundry, rompers are a godsend to college students. They feel like pajamas but they look like normal clothes! Just don't wear them for a night of drinking . . . going to the bathroom in a romper is difficult enough while sober.

If you're living in a traditional dorm, especially a shared one, your closet space will be limited. Bring the clothes you think you'll need (plus emergency jackets, etc.) until the next vacation, then swap them out for next season's styles when you go home.

From running between lectures to bar crawls, you'll have plenty of need for comfortable shoes during your university years. Luckily, sneakers are much more stylish now than they were when I was in school. Athleisure is a student's dream come true!

Everybody busts out their sweats (or leggings-as-pants) at some point during college. Avoid my mistake and invest in some stylish ones that won't pop up to haunt you in your Facebook memories.

My freshman year, I was roped in when I found a pair of "comfortable nude wedges" for under $15 through a Facebook ad . . . imagine my surprise when they arrived and towered over five inches! Definitely not the shoes I'd had in mind. Don't be fooled by false advertising and shadily affordable prices just because you're broke — that's how you end up getting burned.

The first rain of every school year is always a fun one, because so many students are ill-prepared for storms. Get yourself an umbrella, rain boots, and a decent jacket — you'll thank yourself later!

If you're not the sort of person who will wear their college mascot regularly, don't spend hundreds of dollars on university apparel. Instead, try finding clothes in your school colors and wearing them to school events; it's cheaper and you can wear them outside of school!