You’ve been waiting for this day your whole life. You’re finally a freshman in college! And now, you’re probably wondering what to wear on the first day of freshman year. Well, we’ve got you covered. We’ve put together a list of things that will make your first day of college (and every other day) a lot easier. Welcome to your first day of freshman year! The first day of high school is a momentous occasion. It’s the beginning of so many things: new classes, new teachers, new friends, and… new clothes. What should you wear? What’s appropriate for school? How do you look cute without breaking the dress code? We’ve got answers for all these questions and more.
What to Wear on the First day of Freshman Year
Welcome back, freshmen!
It’s that time of year again: you’re about to start your first year of college. The excitement and anticipation is real, but so is the stress. How are you going to survive this whole thing?
Well, we’ve got some words of wisdom for you: when it comes to dressing for success in college, less is more. That’s right—less clothes on your body means less stress on your mind. So let’s get down to business: what should you wear on your first day?
I’m going to be honest with you: I was terrified of freshman year.
I mean, it’s scary to start over in a new place. And when you’re a freshman, you’re supposed to be all fresh-faced and wide-eyed and full of wonder, right? But what if you don’t feel like that? What if your first day at college is just another day at school where you’re trying not to get called on in class? What if the only thing that feels different is the smell of pot in the bathroom?
Well, I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be like that! You can make this year count for something—for yourself, for your friends (if they’re going), and for future generations who will look back on our time in college with envy because we had such an amazing time together.
Here are nine items to wear on your first day of high school that will make you look like the coolest teenager in the hallways.
- Varsity Jacket. …
- Denim Midi Skirt. …
- All White Sneakers. …
- Simple Skater Dress. …
- Cut-Out Ankle Boots. …
- Faux Leather Backpack. …
- Peasant Tops. …
- Maxi Tunic.
Summer is coming to an end, which means back to school sales are popping up left and right. Of course, this means most students are probably trying to figure out the “what to wear on your first day of high school” question. I mean, first impressions are highly important. Therefore, your first day of school outfit has to be flawless.
I know I was not the only high schooler who had my first day of school look laid out the night before to ensure I looked my best. I knew going in that my first day of high school could potentially set my reputation within those halls for the four years to come. I wore a red top with bootcut denim jeans, adorable white Converse, and a Louis Vuitton backpack. Mind you, I went to high school in Chicago so my school was basically a fashion show every day since it was a big city. Senior year, I was voted Best Dressed and I swear I owe that to my first day of school attire from freshman year and beyond.
Whether you’re entering your freshman or senior year, first day of school outfits are one of the most important looks of your academic career. Luckily, there are countless options to choose from, including cool sneakers to bold tops.
Here are nine items to wear on your first day of high school that will make you look like the coolest teenager in the hallways.
- Varsity Jacket
You don’t need to be a cheerleader, a track star, or on any sports aficionado for that matter to rock a varsity jacket. This snake print one will certainly have people envious of your closet as you strut the hallways on the first day. Plus, you can tie the jacket around your waist when you get hot for a cool, vintage look.
- Denim Midi Skirt
In my experience, the first day of school seems to be when many students break out their classic denim jeans. Switch things up a bit by donning a denim midi skirt instead. Denim skirts are super trendy right now and this one is a flashback to the ’90s. Plus, the skirt is mid-length so no chance of breaking your high school’s strict dress code.
- All White Sneakers
A fresh pair of all white sneakers is always the best. Since many people will be donning white high tops on their first day, opt for these Nike Roshe’s instead to stand out from the other high schoolers. These sneakers are some of the coolest Nike’s to date, if you ask me. Plus, they will make you feel like you are walking on clouds. Your feet will thank you and you’ll definitely receive tons of compliments along the way.
- Simple Skater Dress
Skater dresses are arguably the comfiest dresses you can wear, which is why they are on my back to school attire list. This beautiful blue number is quite adorable with its three-quarter sleeves that’ll keep your arms warm when your classroom is blasting the air conditioning. The flare detailing on the skirt of the dress will also make your hips look luscious, which IMO is always great.
- Cut-Out Ankle Boots
Ankle boots are some of the edgiest footwear you can sport. The cut out of these boots will keep your feet sweat-free on the first day of school while still helping you remain trendy.
- Faux Leather Backpack
Backpacks are an essential accessory for every high schooler, but they can make or break your look. A faux leather backpack like this one, however, will have everyone wanting to know all the details of your chic life.
- Peasant Tops
Peasant tops are back in vogue and I am pretty excited about it. This kind of top is great for the first day of school because of its lightweight material, which makes it easy to layer. Can we also discuss how stunning the lace detailing is?
- Maxi Tunic
Strut your high school hallways like they’re a runway with this maxi tunic. These tops are very flowy and ideal for the summer to fall transition. You will look like a gorgeous fashionista on the first day of school by wearing this top, I promise.
- Boyfriend Jeans
OK, who wants to wear constricting, tight jeans on the first day of school? I know I wouldn’t. There is a denim option that will have you looking fabulous while remaining comfortable, though. All hail the boyfriend jean. These jeans often come in a relaxed fit, but opt for a pair with distressed detailing to make them extra edgy.
With this sartorial arsenal at your disposal, all those first day of high school worries are sure to slip away.
Getting Ready for Your First Day
1
Get a good night’s sleep. Sleep is one of the best beauty treatments in the world. The night before your first day, avoid watching TV or being on a phone or computer for at least an hour before you go to bed and make sure you go to bed in comfortable clothing. This will help you get the best night of sleep you can possibly get, which will help minimize or avoid dark circles, heavy eye bags, or wan skin.[1]
If you have trouble sleeping, you can try some peppermint or jasmine tea to relax.
Lavender oil can also help you get to sleep–and stay that way.
2
Take a shower the night or morning before. Taking a shower will make sure you are looking and smelling your best. After you’ve showered, put on lotion and deodorant to keep yourself looking and feeling fresh.
If you are prone to night sweating or are nervous about having a bad hair day, try to shower the morning of your first day.
Showering the night before is great if you are prone to waking up late or running behind. If you are showering in the morning, make sure to put on deodorant when you’re done. You don’t want to be known as a smelly person.
3
Fix your hair. Whether your hair is short or long, style it in a way that makes you feel confident and strong. Take note of the weather, as well. If it is extremely windy outside, for instance, you might want to put your hair up. If it is due to be rainy, you may want to just let it sit naturally.[2]
4
Smile at yourself and others. The last step to looking great is giving yourself a smile, and sharing that smile with your peers. A smile is the surest way to appear smart, kind, and confident, and can not only draw others to you but can also improve your mood and mental state in a matter of minutes.[3]
Part
2
Playing Up Your Strengths
1
Familiarize yourself with your dress code. Most schools have simple, easy-to-follow dressing guidelines. Before you begin the process of choosing the first-day outfit, read through your school’s dress code, including its limits on hems and cuts.[4]
2
Determine what clothing styles look good on you. Different clothing styles flatter various body types. Curvy girls, for instance, look great in tops and dresses with cinched waists. Boys with slim builds benefit from slim-cut pants, as baggy pants might look a bit too unkempt.[5]
Dressing for your shape can be harder for a boy. If you have broad shoulders, make sure your shirt’s shoulders fit properly. If you have wide hips, you can try a shirt with a rounded hem.
3
Choose a flattering haircut and style. Although you don’t have to get a new haircut for your transition to high school, it can be a great way to change up your look and boost your confidence.[6] You can choose a cut based on your face shape, or you can talk to your stylist and ask what type of haircut would work well with your face shape, coloring, and hair texture.[7]
Even if a magazine or article says a haircut won’t look good with your face shape, don’t be afraid to experiment. Remember that hair will always grow back.
4
Wear a color that makes your skin look great. Different skin undertones work well with different colors. Cool undertones, for instance, work well with white and blue tones, while warm tones look great with darker, richer colors. Choose a shirt or dress that works well with your skin.[8]
If you love and look great in a certain color, but it doesn’t match your undertones, wear it anyway. After all, the point is to feel great.
5
Wear natural makeup, if applicable. If you wear makeup, opt for a more natural look. There is nothing wrong with dramatic makeup, but application can take quite some time and might be too much stress for your first day. Opt for a lighter eye and a natural lip.
Although barely-there makeup is faster and easier to apply, if you do not feel comfortable without a full face of makeup, you can paint your face. Just make sure you give yourself enough time to finish your application.
Part
3
Wearing a Comfortable Outfit
1
Choose an outfit you feel great in. Trendy outfits can be tempting, but don’t sacrifice comfort for the sake of looking a certain way. If you are uncomfortable, your body language will show it, and even the most trendy outfit will look out of place.[9]
An outfit you feel great in will be one that doesn’t make you feel nervous, uncomfortable, or fidgety. If you feel even slightly uncomfortable, try another outfit.
2
Try your outfit on ahead of time. In addition to laying your outfit out the night before, make sure you try your chosen outfit (or outfit candidates) on ahead of time. This will help you make a definitive decision and will reveal any problems you might have before the morning of your first day.
You can try on multiple outfits and have two or three set aside for your first day, and decide which one you like best in the morning.
Make sure you try on the whole outfit–shoes and everything. This will make sure you aren’t rushing to find anything in the morning.
3
Make sure there is no awkward pinching or bunching. Try on your outfit and make sure there is no bunching, pinching, or ill-fitting area. Ill-fitting areas will mean a lot of adjusting and fiddling throughout the day, which has the effect of making you look uncomfortable or like your clothes don’t fit.
If you aren’t sure about the fit of something, ask your parents or a friend what they think.
You can put on a mini fashion show to get the opinions of your friends and family, and get new ideas for outfits.
4
Practice moving and walking in your outfit. Provided there is no bunching or pinching, take a few laps around your room or your house in your chosen outfit. This will also help you identify any problem areas, such as pants falling down, a skirt riding up too high, or a shirt chafing your skin.
If you know you’ll be walking to school, or have an idea of your activity level, try to mimic this activity level to make sure your clothes will last the whole day.
This is particularly important for shoes, as you don’t want to wear shoes to school only to find that they pinch or give you blisters.
What to Wear on the First Day of Work
When you’re about to start a new job, there are a lot of things on your mind. You’re probably wondering what to wear, if your resume is up-to-date, and whether or not you remembered to put on deodorant this morning.
But there’s one thing that you might be overlooking: how to make a good first impression. It’s true that how you dress won’t influence your salary or job title (at least, not directly), but it can definitely affect how comfortable you feel in your new work environment.
So whether you’re starting a new job at a Fortune 500 company or an internship at the local coffee shop, here are some tips for what to wear on the first day of work:
1) Dress for success! For men, that means wearing something professional but still fun—maybe a button-up shirt with some nice pants or even a tie if it’s appropriate for the industry. For women, it means finding something that feels like an extension of who you are without looking too casual or too formal (unless that’s what they want).
2) Put together something that makes sense but doesn’t look too much like what everyone else will be wearing—you want them to remember who YOU are!
If you’re new to the workforce, or just starting a new job, it can be hard to know what to wear.
You want to look professional, but you also want to feel comfortable and confident. And if you’re still trying to figure out your style and how it fits with your work environment—or even if you just haven’t found a uniform that works for you—it can be overwhelming.
We’ve got some tips for what to wear on your first day at work, so that when you walk through the door and start making friends with your coworkers, they won’t be wondering if they should have worn something different too!
Every first day of work is a little different. You might be nervous about making a good impression, or you might be excited to get started on your new job. Maybe you’re even both at the same time.
Whatever your feelings are, it’s important to remember that the way you present yourself can make all the difference in how people perceive you. If you want to make an amazing first impression, here are some tips for what to wear on your first day of work:
The first day of a new job is always nerve-wracking. You want to make a good first impression, but you also don’t want to look ridiculous—and that means it can be hard to know exactly what to wear.
You want to dress professionally, but not too professionally—you don’t want to come off as stiff or uptight. And you definitely don’t want to show up in your everyday clothes, because everyone else probably showed up in their everyday clothes too!
So how do you know what’s appropriate for the first day of your new job? Here are some tips:
1) Choose an outfit that makes you feel confident and comfortable. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on a new suit (unless your company has a dress code), but choose something that makes you feel like yourself. If that means wearing jeans, do it! If it means wearing heels, go for it!
2) Make sure your outfit is appropriate for the weather conditions at the workplace (and any special events). For example, if it’s raining outside and everyone else comes in with umbrellas and rain boots on, you might want to bring along an umbrella too so that people don’t think badly of you for showing up unprepared for inclement
What to wear on the first day of your new job
- Formal business attire. If you know your new company’s established dress code requires employees to dress in business attire, choose clothing that falls under the formal business attire category. …
- Suits. …
- Blazers. …
- Tops. …
- Dress slacks. …
- Ties. …
- Dress shoes. …
- Business casual attire.
What to Wear on Your First Day of Work
As you prepare for your first day at your new job, you need to decide what to wear. Knowing what to wear on your first day of work can help you feel more comfortable when you arrive and confident when meeting new people. In this article, we discuss what to wear on your first day at a new job to make a positive impression with your new coworkers.
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Why is appearance important on the first day of work?
Your appearance on your first day of work at a new job is important because it is your first opportunity to make a positive impression on your new colleagues. You want your appearance on your first day of work to tell your new colleagues that you are professional and able to perform the work the company hired you to do.
What you wear on the first day of work is also important because it impacts how comfortable and confident you look and feel. The more comfortable and confident that you feel, the more likely you will be able to focus on learning your new role and performing your best.
What to wear on the first day of your new job
What you choose to wear on the first day of your new job may vary based on the type of work you will perform and the environment you will work in. It is important for you to wear clothing that, at a minimum, fits into the company’s established dress code. This list can help you decide what to wear on your first day of work:
- Formal business attire
If you know your new company’s established dress code requires employees to dress in business attire, choose clothing that falls under the formal business attire category. If you are not sure what your new company’s established dress code is, it is also usually best to choose clothing from the formal business attire category. It is always better to be over-dressed on your first day than it is to be under-dressed. Formal business attire includes:
Suits
Formal business suits typically include two pieces made of matching material intended to be worn together. Business suits usually comprise either trousers and a suit jacket or a skirt and suit jacket. Some suits include a formal business dress and suit jacket.
Blazers
Blazers are like a suit jacket but have a slightly more casual cut than a suit jacket. You can usually identify a blazer by its naval-style metal buttons.
Tops
Formal business tops typically include solid-colored, button-down dress shirts with a collar.
Dress slacks
Dress slacks are pants made of a smooth, wool knit or blended material. Dress slacks are like formal suit trousers but have a more casual cut and trim.
Ties
You can wear a tie when dressing in formal business attire such as a suit. You may wear a tie with dress slacks and a formal business top with or without a blazer.
Dress shoes
Dress shoes are closed-toed shoes that are not a sneaker or a boot. Dress shoes for formal business attire are typically made of black or brown leather and a high-polish. Some dress shoes may have a high heel but are usually made of the same black or brown leather and high-polish as other dress shoes.
Related: How to Succeed in Your New Job: The First Week, Month and 90 Days
- Business casual attire
Some companies encourage their employees to dress more comfortably and establish their dress code under the category of business casual attire. The clothing appropriate for a business casual workplace can vary based on your employer’s specific guidelines. Typically, the following clothing types are appropriate for your first day of work in a company with a business casual attire dress code:
Polo shirts
Polo shirts have a collar and a neckline with three buttons. Polo shirts are usually short-sleeved but can also be long-sleeved and may or may not have a pocket on one side of the chest on the front of the shirt.
Blouses
Blouses are loose-fitting tops. They usually gather at the waist or hips and hang loosely around the other upper part of your torso.
Dress shoes
For business casual attire, you can wear the same dress shoes you would wear for formal business attire. It may also be appropriate to wear slightly more casual dress shoes such as flats or leather boots.
Dark denim
If the company you are working for allows employees to wear jeans and you want to wear jeans, consider choosing dark-colored denim.
Dress slacks
When dressing for a business casual dress code, you can wear the same type of dress slacks you would wear for a formal business attire dress code.
Research the dress code
When you go to your interview, pay attention to what the people in the office are wearing. This can help you determine what type of clothing is appropriate for the company. You can also directly ask the interviewer or hiring manager what their dress code policy is. Having this information before your first day can help you confidently choose your outfit for your first day of work.
Avoid new trends
Instead of choosing an outfit that follows current fashion trends, try to choose classic pieces that are always in style. The goal is to choose a look that is professional and understated.
Consider choosing pieces you already own
Many people like to buy a new outfit for their first day of work, but this is usually unnecessary. Choosing pieces of clothing that you own and have already worn can help you ensure you will feel comfortable throughout your first day of work.
To help you decide what to wear on your first day of work, we asked business leaders and HR professionals this question for their best advice. From dressing to fit the company culture to focusing on comfort and utility, there are several considerations for selecting your first day on the job outfit.
Dress to Fit Company Culture
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask
Look Clean and Well-maintained
Dress Up for Your First Day
What Helps You Work Best
Dress to Impress
Wear What Fits You and the Work Culture
Comfort, Utility, and Business Wear
Dress to Fit Company Culture
Wear clothes that align with your new company culture. What this means will vary depending on your industry and any company-specific dress code regulations there might be. If you don’t know what your company culture is like, see if you can reach out to a coworker before your first day. You can also search for company reviews online to see if anyone has talked about what to expect when it comes to dress code.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask
If you are getting ready for your first day on the job and you are having a hard time figuring out what to wear, do not be afraid to ask a team member what the typical office attire looks like. It is not at all a dumb question to ask, and in fact, it shows that you are ready and willing to be a great fit within the organization and its culture. But, you can almost never go wrong with a nice formal business top with professional pants or skirt.
Brandon Brown, Grin
Look Clean and Well-maintained
The dress code and uniforms may vary depending on the type of establishment you’re working for. Nevertheless, it’s important to make sure that whatever you wear is clean and well-maintained at the start of your shift and throughout. Always strive to look like you take pride in your appearance and care about personal hygiene. This will make a good impression on customers and your manager.
Dress Up for Your First Day
These days, wearing a suit and tie to work is not always necessary, especially if working remotely. It all depends on what industry you are in and your company’s dress code policy. More people are working from home today, and they tend to dress more casually than in the past. Still, on the first day, dress as professionally as possible, and gauge what’s appropriate from there.
What Helps You Work Best
On your first day, you should wear what helps you work best. Clothing is important, but productivity and how you see yourself is more important. Of course, you should always wear what gives a positive impression and is acceptable for your workplace, but wearing clothes that you know you are productive, confident, and able in will help lead you to success on your first day.
Dress to Impress
You were hired based on the professional impression you gave your interviewers and that’s what should carry you into your first day. If you dressed up for the interview, dress up for your first day, too. It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed when going into the office, or even just when attending your first Zoom meeting with your colleagues. If you’re overdoing it, somebody will let you know.
Wear What Fits You and the Work Culture
In all probability, you’ve visited your new workplace before for your interview. If the interview was conducted online, you might have at least noticed what your manager or the HR team was wearing. Base your outfit for your first day to work on these observations you’ve made so that you find yourself fitting into the work culture from day one. Even more important is to wear something you have worn before and are comfortable in. And despite what others may tell you, it is never a good idea to wear a newly bought attire to work on the first day. You’ll only end up worrying about your clothes throughout the day!
Comfort, Utility, and Business Wear
Generally speaking, an employee should dress clean-cut and casual for their first day of work. Specific dress codes change depending on the employer, and it can be hard to gauge what’s acceptable on the first day, so play it safe rather than sorry. The classic dark pant and dress shirt should be professional enough without being overdressed, and importantly, what you’re wearing should not be a distraction for you. Your first day of work will be stressful enough –learning names, adjusting to the office, tackling your job requirements– you don’t need to add in unnecessary worries about your outfit on top of that.
Make your clothing choice with two things in mind: being comfortable so that you can focus, and nice enough to make a positive impression on those around you.
