This past year has brought some pretty drastic changes to college student life and what college outfits girls are wearing in 2020-2021 are no different.
I know because I work at Old Navy, a magnetic hub where college girls shop for all their college outfits, and they are ALWAYS shopping in one specific section of the women’s department to buy clothes — the activewear section. When I ask at the register why they’ve picked up this or that, here is what they say:
“I’m doing college from home now, so I need something comfy.”
“I spend hours sitting at my computer so I need some comfy outfits to wear.”
Yep, casual-comfy outfits/activewear are the college outfits that are ruling the day for most college girls this year.
Here is what they are buying from the store specifically this year to make their college outfits complete:
1. Athleisure Top and Jogger Pants
Leg pain and sore muscles are real so college girls are buying up athleisure jogger pants like crazy. Athleisure jogger pants are perfect because they are both stretchy, soft, and casual but not too casual that they look like pajamas. In fact, at Old Navy, Target, and Amazon, you can find some really cute top and bottom combinations that make for a cute casual-comfy outfit.
2. A Hoodie
In college, almost every girl brings a hoodie to class because most classes on campus are very cold. And even if you are doing college from home, hoodies are still a life-saver because you’re often sitting in one place for hours at a time not moving, and not moving can easily cause you to feel a bit chilly.
3. Leggings
Tight clothes and jeans are just not cutting it anymore because of the intense hours of sitting most girls have to do to get through their online lectures and to study. That’s why leggings are replacing jeans of most college outfits this year. One popular way girls are wearing leggings in college is by wearing an oversized tunic sweatshirt over their leggings or a long shirt under a jeans jacket and leggings. If you’re thinking about buying leggings, I highly recommend you buy black leggings so you can pair them with multiple outfits.
4. Slip-On Sneakers or Running Shoes
Okay, so I lived and died by slip-on sneakers all four years of college and I highly recommend that you get them too. (See the first shoes on left in the picture above.) These are so easy to slip on when you are running late for class or are trying to make a quick run to the restaurant to get a quick bite to eat before your next class. Best yet, slip-on sneakers are ridiculously comfortable to wear and make the perfect footwear for any casual outfit.
Nevertheless, girls either love them or hate them. Just in case you’re a hater, running shoes are a great comfy and cute alternative. They provide great support for your ankles and feet and pair really well with casual/athleisure outfits.
5. High-Waisted Jeans
Now even though I said that leggings are replacing most college jeans outfits this year in terms of preference, there is one type of jeans that passes the “comfy’ test and is, therefore, a go-to bottom for college girls–High-waisted jeans!
I bought my first high-waisted jeans at American Eagle last October and I was hooked!! They are so freakin’ comfy!!!
Anyway, I digress…
This is why you should have them too: When you have a butt-gut after a really big meal, high-waisted pants provide plenty of room for your stomach even when sitting down. This feature is perfect for when you have to sit through an hour-long lecture after a huge meal. They also make our butt look really good. Like, popping good. Haha. Finally, high-waisted jeans can be paired with almost any comfy top to make the perfect college outfit.
Here is a genius video created by YouTube Star, Bethany Mota, that perfectly captures what college outfits girls are wearing to school.
Her mantra: “I don’t want to be cute unless I’m comfortable.”
Her style: easy, lazy outfits.
So there you go! Now you know what college outfits girls are wearing this year.
But wait!
Before you go, I do want to answer some questions about college outfits that come up alot in girl conversations that you may have too!
Here are my answers:
How should I dress for college?
College is not like high school. There is no “your skirt has to be 2 inches above your knee,” rule or the silly “you can’t wear a bandana” rule. You can literally wear whatever you want as long as your breast and butt aren’t hanging out. Nevertheless, you should always aim to wear something that wouldn’t be too distracting to students or your professor.
What should girls wear in college?
You can wear whatever you want, but you should aim to wear something that is casually-comfy. In college, a class can easily run more than an hour long and wearing something tight or stiff can cause a lot of discomfort after a while. Active wear, sweat-shirts with matching bottoms, leggings, and athleisure are all great options for staying comfy and stylish.
One thing I will say is don’t be afraid to wear something different or something that makes you, you!! If you want to wear a jersey with your favorite brazilian soccer team colors, do it! If you want to wear a shirt that represents your beliefs, do that too! You can start some pretty awesome conversations and make new friends just by the clothes you wear. In fact, that’s how I made many of my early friends back in my first year of college.
In the first few weeks of my Freshman year, I wore a black sweatshirt with my jamaican necklace conspiciously hanging down from my neck (because I’m super proud of my jamaican heritage) and an army green pants. One of my classmates spotted the necklace and asked if I was jamaican…and the conversation went crazy from there! It turned out that my classmate was a jamaican and we became fast friends.
What should you wear to college every day?
The one thing that you should wear or at least bring with you to college every day is a hoodie! As I mentioned above, it is cold in most college classes and can be a huge distraction if you don’t have something to keep you warm. As such, I highly recommend that you get one if you don’t have one already.
One hoodie that I recommend you getting first is your school’s hoodie. Its a great way to show your school pride, they are usually very warm, made with good quality, and its a great memento that you can keep for years to come.
Is there anything I should NOT wear to college?
This is more of my personal opinion but please DO NOT wear shorts that shows your butt cheecks. You know, the ones that you constantly have to pull down in the back because when you walk or bend down, the shorts slips up and people can see the curvy line of your cheeks — THOSE!!!
Don’t wear them. Keep them at home. They serve no stylish or functional purpose except to annoy others.
Sorry not sorry for ranting. I’m done haha.
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If you have any questions or comments about the above, please let me know in the comments below.
Other Post You Might Like to Read: Morning Routine for College Students: 9 Things Before 9 AM
Learn more about Jessica, you’re go-to-girlfriend for college advice. Feel free to email her if you have a question or just want to say hello.
