Dressing Cute for Spring

(A Guest Blog By Zahra Ahmed)

Going to college in a city that frequently alternates between 50 degrees and rainy to 105 degrees by 10am (with not much in between), it’s very difficult to construct the perfect college wardrobe equipped to help you brave the storms, beat the heat and still look good.

Especially with the summer weather now approaching (and the repressed memories of dreaded back sweat starting to resurface) it seems impossible to look like a decently attractive human being with what limited time we have to get ready in the morning. However, with the help of a few staples, you can be out the door in no time at all.

    1) Three words: Cotton. V-neck. Tees.

      Cotton tees are to a wardrobe as nutella is to life: good with everything and never a bad idea.

      Whether you wear them with jeans for the All-American girl vibe, a maxi skirt for Boho chic, or just    a air of printed shorts, they are the most comfortable way to look put together and the easiest item to  dress up (refer to number 2).

     2) Statement necklaces

My biggest trick. Buy a bunch of statement necklaces, wear them with a plain tee and some jeans, graciously accept compliments about how fashionable you are. Simple enough. But seriously, it is so easy to dress up any outfit with a necklace and it immediately makes you look like you tried a million times harder than you did.

My favorites are from J.Crew (You can get a 15% student discount with your college ID!!!!). I always buy mine on sale from the factory store so I never pay more than $15  for them.

3) BABYDOLL DRESSES

       I am a firm believer in dresses. Why put on multiple items of clothing when you can just put on one  and look infinitely better. Babydoll dresses in particular are perfect for hot weather and great for        spending all day walking around campus. They’re loose and airy so they don’t cling to you (which    we can all appreciate when its over a hundred degrees and the sun is blaring) and can be dressed up  with sandals or dressed down with a pair of chucks.

1   4) Ankle Boots

Probably the greatest struggle for me is finding shoes that are comfortable enough to run around in through campus all day long. As comfortable as running shoes are, sometimes they just don’t cut it style-wise. Ankle boots are a great option for completing the simplest of outfits while preventing the end of the day “My feet are about to fall off and I am going to die” feeling. Try looking for a pair of leather boots with a one inch stacked heel. The leather will soften the more you wear them and mold to your feel and the chunky heel will distribute your weight over your entire foot. (Plus it’ll give you really nice calves and elongate your legs)

Those are just some of my summer essentials, but of course it is important to dress in whatever you are comfortable with—regardless of whether that’s nike shorts and chacos or wedges and a dress. Most importantly, whatever you wear, carry yourself with grace and confidence. And remember: it’s not sweat, it’s a glow.