The Styled & Organized College Capsule Wardrobe
July is the month that all new college-bound high school grads start thinking about what they need to take with them. If you are one of those new graduates, and are starting to get organized for the fall…this blog post is meant just for you! There are several categories of items that you will need to take, but one of the most important is the wardrobe. We have had fun creating what we think is the perfect college capsule wardrobe. Of course it can be tweaked here and there for each individual’s needs, as well as for seasonal needs, but this is a good place to start and can double as a checklist when you start packing in August.
Undergarments / Pajamas:
- Around 12 pairs of underwear
- Around 12 pairs for your favorite kinds of socks
- Ladies – Bras – 3 nude, 1 black, 1 colored and 2 or 3 sports bras (more if you play sports)
- 2-3 sets of thermal underwear if your school’s location is known for severe winters
- 5-7 sets of your favorite pajamas
Tops / Shirts / Dresses / Outerwear:
- 7-10 favorite t-shirts
- 3 favorite workout shirts
- 7 favorite tops (or favorite button downs for the guys)
- One white button down shirt
- 2-3 favorite sweaters
- 1-2 favorite sweatshirts
- Ladies – dresses, including: 1 LBD (“Little Black Dress”), 1 favorite professional dress in the case of a career fair, networking opportunity or job/internship interview, and 1-2 stylish “going out” dresses (but more, of course, if you are going to rush for sororities in the fall)
- 2-3 favorite cardigans/hoodies
- Gentlemen – a suit and tie (in the case of a career fair, networking opportunity or job/internship interview)
- Favorite Rain Jacket
- Favorite coat
Bottoms:
- 5 pairs of your favorite jeans/pants
- 3 pairs of your favorite shorts
- 2 pairs of sweatpants
- Ladies – 3-4 pairs of your favorite leggings and/or yoga pants
- 1 pair of basic dress pants
- Ladies – 1 versatile skirt
- 3 favorite workout bottoms (running shorts or workout pants)
Shoes
- 1 pair of tennis shoes / sneakers
- 1 pair of boots
- 1 pair of rain boots
- 1 pair of dress shoes (in the case of a career fair, networking opportunity or job/internship interview)
- 1 pair of flip flops
- 1 pair of slippers
- 1 pair of sandals
Accessories
- Backpack
- Ladies – 1 or 2 versatile handbags (maybe one bigger, one smaller)
- Scarf
- Hat
- Umbrella
- Gloves (for harsh winters)
- Ladies: A few pieces of your favorite jewelry (not the valuable pieces though)
Gathering this wardrobe together should be second nature, but a list is always helpful when faced with pairing down to fit into a small space. Remember, too, when visiting home over the holidays you can make some seasonal switch-outs.
