5 Fashion Tips Every College Student Needs To Know

Note: This post was sponsored by Kohl's. Thanks for supporting the brands that make The Happy Arkansan possible.

When I was in college, one of my favorite parts of back to school was shopping for new clothes. I grew into my own fashion-wise in college, and I loved putting together outfits that were unique to me. Today I've partnered up with Kohl's to share a few outfits that are perfect for back to school as well as five fashion tips I think all college students need to know. I know you will love the adorable outfits I picked.

I got to style some excellent pieces from Kohl's SO line today. Kohl's is running a fantastic back to school promotion right now. During this promotion, you can save $10 off your purchase of $50 at Kohl's from 8/2-8/18. You can use this promotion to save money on the same SO items I am sharing in today's post. Using this sale is a fantastic way to stretch your back to school budget further. There is so much to buy to get ready for back to school, so this is the perfect way to spend your money wisely.

1. Dresses Are The Ultimate Lazy Day Outfit

Hear me out. I already know what you're thinking. Dresses can't be the ultimate lazy day outfit; it's a dress. When I was in college, I didn't gravitate toward leggings and an oversized shirt. I gravitated towards dresses. Dresses are a single piece of clothing that is usually very comfortable to wear. You can slide it on in the morning without thinking and quickly look more put together than you ever thought possible.

Kohl's has a ton of cute dresses in the SO line, including the one I have on. Here's what I love about this dress:

• It's just the right length. I'm about 5'7″ for reference. I find that this dress hit at precisely the right point. I didn't have to tug or pull at it.
• The ruffle details are so cute, and they had a sense of style to this dress that typical t-shirt dresses don't have.
• It's yellow, which just so happens to be my power color.

I threw this dress on with a cute pair of shoes and a headband from SO. I honestly couldn't fail. If you want to look instantly put together without the effort, dresses are your best bet.

2. Shoes Can Make Or Break Your Outfit And Comfort

I am all about comfort, and I felt the same way on campus. When I was in college, I walked a ton on campus. For three of the four years I was in college, I lived close to my school or on campus. I am not a fan of heels or wedges or trying to be too fancy. There are so many fun sneakers or flats to wear that won't hurt your ankle or feet at the end of the day.

I purchased these adorable black, sparkly mules from the SO line at Kohl's. They went perfectly with both of the outfits I am sharing today. Getting a neutral shoe is perfect for college when you only have so much space for new shoes. SO has a ton of shoes in their collection, but I knew I wanted these mules when I saw them.

So, if you want to be fancy and wear wedges on campus, come prepared with a pair of flats too. You never know when you might need them on campus.

3. If You Love It, Buy It In Various Colors

If I've learned anything from my sister, it's the art of buying things in multiple colors. This dress from Kohl's comes in olive, mustard stripe (what I have), red stripe, and navy stripe. It's such a cute dress that I want to get it in another color for the fall. The shirt I got from Kohl's also comes in multiple colors, although white seemed more appropriate here. If you like it, investing in it more than once will never be an issue. It's so hard to find cute items you love, so don't hesitate to get more of what makes you happy.

4. If All Else Fails, Add Layers

Layers can do so much for an outfit. They can make your outfit more weather appropriate or change up the style of what you are wearing. I cannot wait to style my pinafore with a cute long sleeve t-shirt in the fall, maybe something leopard print to give it a new style? You can add leggings to a dress or use it a shirt by tucking it into your favorite maxi skirt. The possibilities are endless when it comes to layering.

5. Patterns Are Perfect For Mixing

I am not going to lie, I haven't been the best at pattern mixing, but give it a try. College is the perfect time to experiment. You never know what kinds of styles you'll create. Don't shy away from patterns, in the yellow dress outfit I used an adorable black and white polka dot headband to contrast the yellow striped dress. They worked so well together even if you might think the combo wouldn't work. Polka dots and stripes are some of the easiest patterns to mix, so if you are nervous, start there.

Conclusion

College is an amazing time to experiment and test what you like fashion-wise. I hope you enjoyed these tips as you start the process of going back to school. These are all tips I used in college and even today a few years out. Again, a huge thank you to Kohl's for sponsoring today's post. If you are looking for back to school clothes, check out their back to school promo. From 8/2-8/18 you can get $10 off $50. Stretch your back to school shopping budget by stopping at Kohl's for some adorable outfits, including ones form SO.