Lesson Two: Plan ahead

The number one thing I hear college students say is, "I don't have time to get ready in the morning." False. If you are a single adult and are only attending class 5 days a week, believe me, you have time. What these students really mean is, "I do not have the mental capacity required when I have just woken up, nor do I have the allotted 45 minutes it takes me to usually pick out an outfit."

Solution: Plan Ahead. Pick out your outfit the night before.

It is such a simple idea, but believe me, it works! If you find that in the morning it is hard to pick out an outfit other than your usual nike shorts + sperry top siders + sorority shirt that you wear every day of the year...try picking out your outfit the night before. Not only will you have the concentration necessary to coordinate your clothing, but planning an outfit is a nice way to wind down the evening and get excited about the day to come. Yeah you may have a homework due tomorrow, but at least you will be getting compliments as you are turning it in!

However the key to making this plan super efficient is to be familiar with everything in your closet; this will minimize the time it takes to find an appropriate outfit. This means you know the silhouette of every dress and top, the cut of every pant, which pants look good with which tops and shoes, what outfit is feasible to wear in different types of weather...etc. Knowing and developing your wardrobe takes time, but once you do this picking outfits in advance will become super quick, easy, and painless.

The second step to pre-selecting an outfit is of course wearing that outfit the next day, this is usually the part that takes the most commitment. But just think, (sick days aside) would you rather blend into the crowd with your tshirt and shorts, or stand out in your outfit which exudes personal style?