One thing we get asked probably more than anything else is what you should wear to class in college.
So what do you wear to class, what don’t you wear, what constitutes “dressing up” and what doesn’t?
We have answers to these questions and more, as college students who love fashion but still have to roll out of bed and make it to class on time.
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Table of Contents
The “Dressing Up For Class” Debate
If you haven’t heard about this before, here’s the basic argument:
Some people think that because you’re in college and no one is telling you what to wear, you should use the opportunity to dress sloppy and not care about what you wear.
They claim that baggy pajamas are easier to put on and more comfy than regular clothes. They will ask questions like: “Most college students are hungover every morning, so why should we bother to change out of our PJ’s to make it to class?”
From our personal observations, these are usually the people who drag themselves to class and immediately fall asleep, snoring loudly enough that they eventually wake themselves up. They generally have no idea what’s going on and believe that “just showing up” is good enough.
Here’s why their argument is ridiculous:
First of all, pajamas that really shouldn’t be worn in public aren’t any easier to put on than a clean pair of jeans and a cute top – or even athleisure joggers and a cropped hoodie.
Second of all, if you’re too hungover to function, you don’t belong in class and should really just stay home.
Third, these people are obviously insecure about how they look, and trying to make those who put effort into looking good feel bad about it.
Why You Should Get Dressed For Class
We’re not saying that you should spend 5 hours getting ready every morning or that fashion should be more important than anything else. But we do think that looking nice is important.
Here are some reasons why you SHOULD get “dressed up” for class – even if that just means jeans and a tee or some cute joggers and a fashion sneaker.
Showing respect for your professor
Showing up to class in your pajamas not only makes you look like you don’t care, but it’s also disrespectful to your professor. They dress nicely for class to show that they take their job seriously. When you dress like you’re ready to fall asleep, it says that you could not care less. This is disrespectful to your prof.
Making it easier to focus
We don’t know about all of you, but we don’t feel very productive when we’re wearing PJ’s. Pajamas are good for a few things – sleeping, watching TV, and lounging around. When you’re dressed a little nicer, you’re not going to be tempted to fall back asleep or space out during lecture. (We talked more about how well this works in our realistic college outfits blog post.)
Looking good
Okay, this is an obvious reason not to wear the clothes you slept in. PJ’s aren’t always the cutest. We love our oversized sorority graphic tees and sweat shorts for wearing around the dorm, to the gym, or even to a final if we’ve been up all night studying… but never for a day of classes.
If you love fashion, you should wear your fabulous clothes! Wear something unique and have fun with fashion. Why bother having amazing clothes if you aren’t going to wear them?
What to Wear to Class
Even if you only have a few minutes to get ready, it’s not difficult to wear something cute and comfortable to class. Below, we’ve created some super cute and comfy options.
Here are some examples of outfits to wear to class:
Note: Check out this post and this post for more tips on what to wear in college. For STEM majors, see What to Wear to Lab.
Outfit #1 – Comfy & Cozy Outfit
Products: Top, Pants, Sneakers, Socks, Scrunchie
This outfit is perfect if you are looking for something comfy to wear to class while also making sure that you look super cute!
Joggers have become a very trendy fashion item recently, and they are ideal for wearing to class because they’re the comfiest pants you own while still looking stylish. And let’s be honest, in 2023, it’s all about comfort first.
Just grab some classic grey joggers and pair them with any colorful shirt or accessories you have on hand. This cute purple tank top and velvet scrunchie are ideal ways to add some color to your look.
Related reading: Jogger Pants Outfits: How to Style Jogger Pants for Any Occasion
Outfit #2 – Girly Skirt Outfit
Products: Top, Skirt, Cardigan, Sneakers, Hair Clips, Necklace
If you are looking for a more girly outfit to wear to class, this look is for you!
This outfit pairs a cute high-waisted blue skirt and white crop top with a matching cami. This tennis skirt look is very popular — we’re seeing ’90s throwbacks all over campus right now in a little nod to films like Clueless.
However, unlike Cher in Clueless, we’re pairing our outfit with classic Nike Air Force 1s instead of heels. They’re our favorite fashion sneaker right now — they’re all over every fashion Instagram account but they’re also insanely comfortable and can be paired with absolutely everything.
Also, you can spice up the look by adding fun accessories that are trendy as well as girly, such as a butterfly necklace and hair clips. I love these white ones to match the outfit.
Outfit #3 – Pink Sporty Outfit
Products: Tank, Leggings, Sneakers, Jacket, Headband
Being on campus all day or having to go to multiple classes, can make it seem like you are already getting a workout with all the walking you have to do.
So why not rock a sporty outfit for class? Often times, athletic outfits may not seem the most fashionable, but you can add color to your outfit to win some extra fashion girl points.
This outfit combines a cute pink tank top with white leggings and a matching athletic jacket. It is also paired with a wrap-around headband, which is a trendy hair accessory. We finished the look with matching sneakers to make your athletic outfit look cute for class.
RELATED READING: Cute College Outfits: 10 Looks to Get You Back-to-School Ready
What to Wear in College? It’s All About the Basics
At the end of the day, if you have most of the wardrobe essentials for college girls, then you’re basically good to go when it comes to getting dressed for class.
Most of the time, a cute pair of jeans with a great top or a little athletic look and some accessories are all you need. If you want to wear something more interesting, though, we say go for it! We’re all in favor of showing off the clothes you love and self-expression through fashion.
Have fun with it . . . and just say “no” to pajamas!
What do you think of our guide to what to wear in college?
What do you think about the “getting dressed for class” debate? Would you wear pajamas to class, or would you never even think of it? What would a typical college outfit be for you?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments section!
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in 2008; it was completely updated and revamped in 2023 with new photos, outfit sets, and information.
I’ve frequented the halls of my high school in sweatpants many times & looking back I realize that taking a few extra minutes in the morning to throw on a cute outfit once in a while really wasn’t that bad. This coming fall, I’m going off to college & I would really like to spice up my wardrobe, not to mention the fact that I will be a Theatre major, I would really like some cute outfit suggestions.
I completely and utterly agree. Thank you for posting up this argument that I have been longing to talk about. I just don’t understand what the attraction of looking like a complete bum is. Can someone please explain? I swear that I see the majority of the people at school wear their sweatpants, Uggs, and Northface jackets everyday; Don’t forget the oh-so-chic messy side pony tails. COME ON! Most of the girls that I see wearing these crime outfits are so stunningly beautiful but don’t want to take the time to get ready in the morning, instead rolling out of bed is the easiest choice. Isn’t this a matter of personal hygiene? This awful epidemic has effected guys nearly as much as the girls. I hate seeing guys in sweats even more than I hate seeing girls in sweats. Please please please stop this nonsense and just attempt to look pretty!
Allie –
I think Zephyr is saying that there’s a fine line between dressing like you don’t care at all and dressing casually. Wearing a t-shirt and jeans is dressing casually…in my opinion, wearing sweats/pj bottoms in public is screaming to the world: I DON’T CARE ABOUT THE WAY I LOOK. It’s not about being fashion forward – it’s about showing an ounce of respect to yourself and others you engage with. It’s not that hard to put on a real pair of pants if you can throw on your sweats. And as for comfort level – there’s a time and place for that and it’s called home. When you go to class you’re not supposed to be alert, not comfortable (but at the same time not uncomfortable, like wearing a designer frock) and sweatpants just make it easier to fall asleep in your chair during a boring lecture.
I doubt that many professors “look down” on students for expressing their sense of fashion…if some girl pops into office hours in a pair of stilettos and a shi shi dress, THEN that’s maybe overkill. But most girls don’t do that. And even if they did, I’m sure they’re polite enough to not judge students if they’re dressed in something they like to wear (MOST professors, I may note.)
That is just my opinion, however.
Anyway Zephyr, great article. I used to be one such girl who would wear sweatpants and uggs to class, but not anymore! I’m going to start dressing how I want to, even if my outfits are considered too “dressy” to other people (let the haters hate…) Here wearing anything MORE than jeans tucked into boots and a basic t-shirt is considered “dressy”…Good Lord I’m going to stick out like a sore thumb lol..oh well 🙂 Channel Carrie B (from SATC) is what I always tell myself.
Mandy – I definitely don’t think that dressing well is a substitute for being intelligent, and that’s not something I would ever claim! But this is a site for girls who like fashion and who enjoy having fun with their clothes. If you don’t care about fashion, then obviously what you wear won’t be important to you.
Love this article.
Its not about spending money, its about showing respect for yourself and the professor (not to mention I like looking good, I feel better and enjoy the process of getting ready as well).
You don’t show up to work, or even dinner with your parents, in sweatpants, or (horrors of horrors) pajama pants. Everyone does it sometimes, its ok, and really people shouldnt be judged by it. At the same time I feel that the entire education system of College and the oppurtunity we have here should be respected. Don’t listen to headphone while the professor is lecturing, dont wear pajamas.
The answer is cute college sweatshirts, jeans, a girl next door pony, a little makeup, and uggs/sneakers/flip flops. You look just as dumb dressing up as you do not caring and wearing orange pants with a pink hoodie. The professor is going to be more impressed by the girl who asks intelligent questions. He doesn’t give a crap about your black tights or big bag. Smart girls stand out in college classrooms. Save your cute outfits for parties/going places with friends.
Courtney – If you read this site at all, you’d know that I do talk about buying things secondhand, and I’m not telling anyone go out and buy a whole new wardrobe in order to “feel good about their interactions.” In fact, I talk about saving money all the time too, so the whole consumerist-agenda idea is way off. I’d rather see people using what they have in new ways than buying everything new all the time.
As for the stores I linked to, I don’t know about their third-world peddling policies, but regardless, I’m not telling anyone that they have to shop there. I just use them as examples of where to get inexpensive clothes that are flattering.
And as far as respect for women goes, I’m trying to encourage more women to have respect for themselves and take care in their appearance, rather than giving off the impression “I give up.”
I’m actually shocked that anyone would wear pajamas outside the house or sweats outside the gym or when they’re not jogging. I’ve never seen anyone at uni in Europe do that, it’s completely inappropriate. Clothes project an image – realizing that is not being shallow or consumerist, it’s a fact of life that people’s perception works this way.
Looking at it that way, not taking advantage of this and projecting an image of a slob, a person who can’t be bothered to even change their underwear in the morning (if they show up in pajamas -eeeew) – is not really intelligent.
Again, it takes me twenty minutes to get ready in the morning – that includes showering, breakfast, dressing up (I lay out my clothes the night before) and doing my hair and makeup. And because I send out a visual message that I take myself seriously, for the rest of the day, I’m taken seriously at classes and internship. This is not shallow. This is giving yourself the edge in a small aspect of your life without wasting a lot of time and effort. Welcome to the real world.
The consumerist argument that Courtney brought up completely misses the point, I think. I sew my own clothes, which takes me just a couple of hours of my spare time on the weekends and I’ve built a wardrobe of high quality staples that fit perfectly and last years. I’m not a consumerist. But I do realize aesthetics is an important part of life. Big difference.
I think you’re missing the point. The article is shallow; it has faulty logic, and also encourages consumption via the prominent links to Am Eagle, etc. (It’s not like they posted some patterns and asked us to sew with fairly traded or self-grown material, or even to buy second hand. And yeah, you could do that yourself– and I hope everyone does.)
Ok, I’m a programmer, so here comes the pseudocode.
If _student_ wears _fashion_,
then _student_ is serious.
Else _student_ wears Uggs,
is lazy, sleeps in class.
There would be a whole lot of women who wouldn’t get caught in this “if” statement, which makes the logic faulty.
The Else portion is part of a negative stereotype that needs to be combated, not mindlessly agreed to. If you need to have a certain outfit to feel good about your interactions, then cool. I personally want to encourage women to be as natural as they please (not necessarily in the style of hippies, but w/e). I’m really not into this stereotype, or into limiting what my sisters feel comfortable doing. Also, the combination of 1) the stereotyping of female students with 2) the advertisement of third world merch peddlers makes it clear that this article completely misses ANY point at all about strengthening women by giving them the respect and solidarity they deserve.
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I definitely think that being well dressed is not a mark of either intelligence or shallowness, but caring. Courtney, I pride myself in looking good when I show to class in the morning, but that doesn’t mean I wear 40 dollar sunglasses that I bought brand new. Actually, I lost my only pair of sunglasses ages ago, but that’s beside the point. I would say somewhere between 50 and 80 percent of my wardrobe comes from thrift stores, and the rest comes from inexpensive stores like target. Last year I spent two dollars on a dress for a semiformal occassion (which I found, of all places, at a costume sale: an adorable strapless dress that looked like it came straight out of a boutique!). I then spent less than 10 dollars on a sexy, chique little black dress from goodwill. I also own a dress by a spanish designer, also for probably 10 or 15 dollars used, that would have been between 100-200 dollars new. I enjoy finding vintage pieces, and basic tees and skirts from brands like abercrombie or h&m that would be 30 dollars new but are five bucks at amvets. I spend the most money on new, sturdy shoes, and everything else I buy as cheap as possible. I have a stylish closet with a few timeless, versatile pieces, plus some hand-me-downs from my mom that have come back in style!!
So, fashion is not necessarily about mindless consumerism. It can be an art form, it can be fun, and I love when it when I have three or more people compliment me on a special outfit. And I can safely say that I am intelligent, I have a high GPA, love reading, and enjoy debating current issues with my friends. I respect my teachers and have strong goals in life.
I think that means I deserve even more fun with clothes!
I totally agree. Especially being a student at NYU, it’s so important to look your hottest in case The Sartorialist is hanging around.
I think dressing good, is not a matter of being a showoff or consuerism, it in all matters boosts yuor confident, regardless of how confident you are naturally and earns youlots of respect, dressing good doesnt mean wearing your 100dollar gucci dress and 6inch pump, it just means looking descentand presentable in all manners, and wearing pjs to class just show a careless slobby, unserious student, on the other side its not all about what people think about yo…but as i said its all about earning yourself a little respect, and dressing for the right place…try earning yourself respect, it always feels good 🙂
Anyway the first outfit, is totally beat up and right, the second looks good on those very hot andhumid summer days :-), save your pjs for bed and slobby trackies for the gym, or anight watching the notebook with your girlfriends
cute sweats look good though
if someones gonna say I don’t care about my education just because the way I LOOK in the morning? Give me a break!
This is the article that I found via a Google search during my first year of university (10 years ago – ah!) that ultimately led me to follow this blog, find the world of blogging, and start my own blog! I love seeing it again, sort of coming full circle. Thanks for revamping it!
Wow i find this article bogus. im in medical school and i wear sweats everyday..at least im getting the grades! isnt that what matters?
Obviously a lot of controversy over this article.. in my opinion this one’s a little unrealistic. For one thing, sweats and Uggs or tennis shoes are much more comfortable than jeans and flats and when you’re walking a mile or so to get to class that matters! Almost all of my flats give me blisters if I walk as much as I have to to get from one side of campus to another. I’d like to argue you can look just as cute in some Juicy or Victoria secret sweats.