big sister blog

i never was a serial overpacker, but for some reason i felt the need to bring every single piece of clothing that i owned to college. when my mom saw the final product, she almost passed out. i just wanted to make sure that i had something to wear for every single possible occasion, even though we were in the peak of covid and barely able leave our dorms (didn’t know that until i got there, but thats a story for another day). but after two years, i finally realized that there are really only a few staple pieces that you need, while the rest goes nearly untouched. here’s another big sister guide that’ll hopefully prevent you from making the same disastrous mistake that i made for four semesters straight. though it looks overwhelming, this list is guaranteed to save lots of time, space and effort. i realize that not everyone goes to schools in the same region as mine, so if there’s something that doesn’t apply to you, kindly skip passed it! 

bottoms:

one pair of leather pants

leather pants are extremely trendy and versatile. if you get the right pair, you can dress them up or down, depending on the occasion. i have the abercrombie ones and they are god-sent. they come in both regular and curve love styles and the material is extremely flattering and comfortable. i’ve gone full days of wearing them without any complaints, which is very rare for me because i hate dressing up and being uncomfy. i’ll pair them with a sweater vest for a presentation, a bodysuit for a nice dinner, or a crop top when i go out. the aritzia melina pants are also a fan-favorite. but overall, the brand doesn’t matter, just pick the pair that best suits you and run because these are definitely a staple for college and beyond. 

2-3 pairs of jeans (one with rips, one without, and one black pair)

jeans are a typical staple, but where i went wrong is that i purchased every style of jean humanly possible and brought them. there is just no reason why you need more than 2-3 pairs of jeans, especially if you invest in a few pairs that are comfortable and flattering. so if you’re going crazy trying to choose which pairs to bring out of your collection, just pick one pair of ripped, one pair of non-ripped, and one black pair that you feel best in. i personally love good american and have put on lots of my friends to them (the 90s relaxed ones are so flattering). i also have one pair of black baggy jeansfrom princess polly that are so flattering and easy to throw on for class or for a casual going out outfit. i’ve always found it extremely difficult to buy jeans for my body type, but these brands, along with abercrombie and free people, have been my favorites for a long time. 

1-2 pairs of trousers 

if you know me, you know i will take any opportunity to be comfy, no matter what the occasion is. so, with it being a very busy year full of jobs, internships and presentations, i had to get nice clothes to wear. funny story: a few days before my internship, i realized i had absolutely nothing to wear and amazon prime’d two pairs of trousers, not expecting much but just needing to improvise for a few days. long story short, they turned out amazing and i bought them in so many more colors. not only are they so comfy, but they look professional and are able to be paired with so many different things to make such cool outfits. the princess polly archer pants are very similar and a little better in quality, while also coming in petite and tall sizing. as long as you have a few basic colors, you can pair them with almost anything!

1-2 pairs of funky pants 

this trend might be slowly going out of style, but girls at my school go crazy for funky pants. whether it is crazy cut-outs, parachutes, or cargos, you’ll always see people wearing them. i’m a huge fan of cargos and have a few pairs from garage (they are just so cute). again, you really don’t need more than 2-3 pairs, but it just gives you another option to spice up your fit whenever you get sick of jeans. 

tops:

basics 

a couple of plain, fitted baby tees and long sleeves to wear to class will go a very long way, and are so effortlessly cute. i recently bought a bunch from aritzia (the babaton and tna ones) and i am a very loyal skims fan, especially the “cotton jersey” collection (i’ve linked the cutest royal blue color for spring). get basics in a variety of colors and you’ll be set for all 4 years, guaranteed.

a few sweaters

i have invested in about three cute, quality sweaters, so that i have the option whenever i have a special occasion or presentation. they’re always good to have, especially if you go to school somewhere that gets cold. when i am looking for them i’ll usually stop at rumored (cute, affordable vintage pieces), h&m and abercrombie. i recently came across rumored and have discovered a new passion for knit pieces, as their stuff is absolutely adorable and hard to resist (this specific sweater is adorable to dress up or down!!!). cardigans are also very versatile piece, as you can put them on top of just about anything (i’ve linked another one from rumored because i am obssesed)!

cute tailgate tops (if you go to a sports school) 

i’m not sure if the whole college bed extravaganza is still a big thing, i really hope its not. once you’re actually a college student, you’ll realize that most of the merch you get gifted beforehand will probably not ever be worn. it’s just… cheugy. don’t get me wrong, i definitely have a few pieces with my school’s logo that i do wear, but 80% of the things i bought when i was overjoyed to finally be committed have not been touched. if you go to a school that has tailgates, just buy a few cute versatile tops that align with your team’s colors. obviously some things will have logos and mascots and that is fine, but having a few tops that are your colors will be so helpful and save you lots of time and money in the long-run. 

a few staple hoodies

this is pretty self-explanatory, as everyone needs at least one solid go-to hoodie. i’m very passionate about this, but i promise there’s no reason to fill every inch of space with them. you also do not have to spend hundreds of dollars on the ones you see on your fyp. take this as you will, but amazon. has. everything. no one really knows the difference between an $150 hoodie and a $40 one. obviously its okay to splurge every now and then, but hoodies take up lots of valuable space in the tiny college living closets, so you really don’t need more than about five! abercrombie has the comfiest hoodies that are affordable when compared to the ones from high-end brands.

going out tops 

this will probably save you the most money. if you have about 10 basic, reliable going out tops, you will be set. i know its easy to get caught up in trends and quickly buy a million things from shein and amazon, but most of the time, trends fade and become corny within a few months. basic pieces will never fail you. skims bodysuits from the “fits everybody” collection are my personal faves that never let me down. they come in every color and style you could think of and you don’t need to wear a bra with them! tiger mist, princess polly, and, garage are also reliable places to get classy, high-quality and unique tops for going out. 

one heavier jacket (for schools in colder regions)

i made the mistake of purchasing a very expensive winter coat that was extremely uncomfortable and, as a result, collected dust. but, if there is one thing you’re going to buy from aritzia, it is the superpuff (if you live somewhere cold). for nearly a quarter of the price, this is the most warm, comfy, and cute jacket i’ve ever purchased. they come in a million different colors, along with a variety of lengths for (literally) whatever you desire. i have the regular length one in red and its my favorite thing on this planet. in fact, it’s actually the one thing that makes me excited for the brutal winters here. 

one “fratcket”

obviously this is only if this applies to you, but this is something i wish i knew before i lost multiple of my nice jackets. my advice is to buy a very cheap zip-up to bring out, but for schools with brutal winters, like mine, i have purchased a cheap puffer jacket from zara that does the job, but also wouldn’t be the end of the world if i lost it as it was fairly cheap. you can also definitely find cheap winter jackets from target, h&m, and of course, amazon. 

shoes:

one pair of workout shoes

even if you’re someone who thinks you’ll never do an ounce of physical activity, you’re probably wrong and underestimating yourself. having gyms that are so easily accessible makes it almost impossible to never step foot into one. my friends peer pressured me into going one day and it ended up being the best thing for me. i bought a cutesy pair of hoka’s that make running on the treadmill so much more comfortable and enjoyable. but even if you don’t become a gym rat, just going on walks around campus is just as good, and you’ll need a nice pair of running shoes for that. 

one pair of everyday sneakers 

even if you don’t go to a school with a huge campus, you’re definitely doing some kind of walking when you go to class. therefore, having one staple pair of sneakers that you can just slip on everyday is definitely a useful investment. my go-to pair is the new balance 530s, which i quite literally wear every day and are a super cute way to elevate any outfit. i also recently bought the adidas campus 00s, which are super cute as well. streetwear has become a huge trend and therefore, using sneakers to dress outfits up or down is very “in.” hence, having at least one staple pair of cool, everyday shoes is definitely a good investment.

one pair of cheap sneakers

it’s inevitable that your shoes will get trashed when you go out, whether it’s at tailgates, bars, or frat houses. make sure you bring a cheap and versatile pair of shoes that you don’t mind having to most likely throw out at the end of your 4 years (if not at the end of one year). i had a pair of white nike air forces and eventually moved on from those with a cute pair of white, platform rebook sneakers.

one pair of dress shoes

one pair of doc martens is also a very useful college investment. i recognize they cost a pretty penny, but anything that is versatile is worth it, in my opinion. i’ve had my docs for years now and get so much use out of them, whether its going out or dressing professionally for an interview or presentation. i also get so many compliments, especially from millennials who used to wear them when they were younger. if you’re going to choose one shoe from this list, i’d definitely recommend getting a pair of these.

a pair of warm boots (for schools in colder regions) 

my ugg platform mini’s do my feet wonders when winter comes around. just please, do not wear them without socks. with socks and the water-proof spray, they single-handedly get me through syracuse winters. not only are they back in and so adorable, they are also worth the investment because they are so warm. but as always, there are many dupes for uggs, so any kind of warm and fuzzy boot that you can get your hands on will be your best friend. 

slip-ons for easy access 😉you’re always going to need a pair of slip-on shoes that you can just step into when you’re rushing to pick up a package or grubhub order. the amazon cloud slides are so comfy (and a yeezy dupe), but any pair of slippers, flip flops, or slides works, as well.