Why You Should Dress Up For Class

So, I get it, it’s an 8 a.m. class and you’re rolling out of bed at 7:45, so you naturally throw on whatever and leave.

But how does that make you feel? How does it really make you feel?

In this instance, you’re using fashion purely for function; you have to go to class, and to do that, you must be dressed. But wearing that hoodie and those sweatpants might leave you feeling sluggish, like you're still half-asleep or haven’t fully shown up.

Dressing up for class would eliminate all of this.

Fashion is often used as a tool. Sometimes it is a tool to make us feel better, one to make us stand out, or fit in, one to tell others who we are before we ever open our mouths.

Firstly, if you dress up, it forces you to get out of bed at least an hour before your class begins. This will set you up for a successful day of classes because you won’t risk leaving your notes at your apartment or forgetting to bring your lab goggles for biology.

Secondly, it garners positive attention from your peers and professors. Dressing up often makes you stand out because hardly anyone does. It implies that you are professional and feel the need to express that beyond just your grades, but into your fashion sense. It also leads to a lot of compliments every day, which is just an added bonus.

Lastly, it makes you feel good about yourself. In the scenario I created earlier, the mystery student feels sluggish and sleepy in class due to just waking up and throwing on a sweat set, but if they took the time to really think about their outfit, their brain would already be out of the sleep mindset and into the school one.

This may not be very convincing, but coming from someone who has earned the title of ‘chronically overdressed,’ I promise it really does make an impact. It is especially fun when someone asks what my major is, and after I answer, they respond with, ‘I could tell from your outfit.”

Also, remember that people have different definitions of dressing up; it could be something as simple as jeans, a white t-shirt, and ballet flats, or something as complex as three-inch heels, knee-high socks, a blouse, a plaid skirt, and a beret. Fashion has so many levels, which is incredible, as we can all participate as we see fit.

As summer winds down and the semester gets nearer, maybe pack a few extra cute blouses, you won’t regret it.