Hi readers,
Are you wondering what college students wear on a daily basis? What are some closet essentials? When coming to college, I was worried about having too many clothes and not having enough at the same time. Here are some things I brought/wish I had that are important.
- Merch!! Amherst College merch is so cute–you have to cop. Don’t worry, when you enroll at Amherst, they will send you a free class of [insert class year] hoodie! There are also a lot of opportunities to win or get free merch at Amherst during the school year. I love wearing merch to games and Amherst events to show my support.
- Formal attire. Plenty of banquets, formals, ceremonies, and awards occur throughout the year. You will want something nice to wear to these events, like a long dress or a suit.
- Jeans without rips. If you plan to take courses with labs, you’ll need a good pair of jeans with no holes/rips. Professors usually dissuade students from wearing leggings, thin pants, and bottoms with ankles exposed. So, jeans are generally the way to go! They also look more “put together” in my opinion.
- Long-sleeved shirts. Some classes and study spaces can be warm, especially in the winter. I prefer wearing long-sleeved shirts over hoodies because I get too hot in my hoodie. Plus, you can always wear a jacket over your long-sleeve shirt if you ever feel cold in class. Wearing light sweaters is also a good idea!
- Various shoes: running/athletic shoes, shower shoes, two pairs of casual shoes, one pair of formal shoes, snow boots, rain boots, and one pair of old shoes you don’t mind getting dirty.
- Jackets! Bring one light coat for warmer weather and one puffer jacket for colder weather. It’s also smart to invest in a raincoat. I wish I had one at Amherst! Even with an umbrella, I always manage to get soaked.
- Athletic clothes. Even if you don’t think you’ll use the gym at Amherst, I would bring athletic garments if you want to join a wellness class like Zumba at Amherst one day.
- Pajamas for warm weather. The dorms are SUPER HOT, even in the winter. I brought fluffy pajamas and never wore them. Instead, I wore a t-shirt and shorts at night. I recommend bringing pajama sets with short sleeves and shorts over warm pajamas so you don’t feel too hot in the dorms.
You should bring many other clothing items to Amherst College, like sweatpants, basic t-shirts, summer tops, etc. Freshman dorm rooms are usually big enough to store many clothes, so don’t worry about overpacking! You’re given a drawer and a closet to put clothes in. In my dorm in Appleton, I have six big drawers to store clothes!! Also, remember that College is a great time to explore new styles. Bring various clothes to find a style you love and feel comfortable in! At Amherst, some students wear blouses and dress pants to class while others opt for comfortable sweatpants and hoodies. I wear whatever I am in the mood for daily, whether a long dress or a groutfit.
If you have any questions about what articles of clothing to bring to college or anything else, reach out to me at ipatel28@amherst.edu.