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9 College Trends Not for the Real World As Told By Friends

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Wisconsin chapter.

College is beautiful thing. Not having to go to class for 8 hours a day, choosing your classes based on time, and so much more freedom than you could’ve ever imagined. College is a bubble, and even though we’re learning about the real world, it seems as if it’s as far from the real world as one could get. In what world is it acceptable to wear leggings as pants? College. Here are some current fashion trends that we will sadly have to leave behind when we enter the **cringe** real world.

1. Leggings as Pants.

Leggings aren’t meant to be worn has pants, but that’s never stopped me (or the millions of other college girls across the country). Leggings are pants. Leggings are life. Leggings are suitable for every single day of the week.  Sadly, once we enter the real world we will reluctantly have to trade our leggings in for some real pants.

2. Yoga Pants

Yoga pants are basically leggings on steroids. These are just as comfortable, but are actually socially acceptable pants. The sad thing is that when it comes to the real world, I don’t think your boss would appreciate you showing up in Lululemon five days a week. Save your Lululemon for your grown up yoga class.

3. The ‘I just rolled out of bed look’

This is a trend seen all across campus, especially in the early mornings. This outfit accompanies any college girl staple: the leggings or yoga pants. 8ams are tough. All we want is to roll back in bed and will probably roll back into bed once class in over. What better outfit than an oversized sweatshirt and leggings? While this may work now, showing up for your 9-5 looking like you have full intentions to go back to bed isn’t the best idea in the world.

4. Birks with Socks

I don’t understand this concept. I get that you love your Birkenstocks and want your money’s worth for the shoes, but does it really pay to wear them when it’s cold out? My other question is do your socks really keep your feet that warm? Unless you’re working somewhere where Birkenstocks are a suggested footwear, I don’t think you’ll ever get away with wearing Birkenstocks in a professional environment, let alone paired with socks.

5. Crop Tops

Thank the 90s for this trend coming back. It’s the perfect staple for going out, and crop tops are the answer to any summer outfit. Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone will take you seriously at work if you show up in a crop top.

6. Uggs

Uggs are a staple, especially on this campus. What else can keep your feet warm in these terrible Madison winters? Unfortunately, Uggs won’t fly at your real world job, you’ll just have to shove your feet into fuzzy socks into your cute but uncomfortable professional shoes.

7. Wearing an outfit more than one day a week.

So if I wear this to my Monday class, I get by with wearing it to my Tuesday class because I don’t see any of the same people, right? This is common logic. Laundry is hard, as is picking out outfits. Unfortunately at a real job, you see the same people five days a week, so this logic doesn’t fly.

8. Converse with EVERYTHING.

Converse are the college girl staple. Can’t figure out what shoes to wear with your jeans? Converse. Can’t figure out what to wear with your leggings? Converse. Can’t figure out what to wear with your dress? Converse. Sadly, I don’t think Converse work in a professional environment, save them when you feel like reminiscing on your glory college days.

9. Hat Hair

No, I’m not talking about how flat your hair gets after wearing a hat all day. I’m talking about the real reason why you’re wearing that hat. Washing your hair every day is a lot of work, and the easy solution is to cover up your unsightly hair with a hat. Unfortunately, no professional environment is going to allow you to wear a hat when your hair hasn’t been washed in a couple (okay, few) days and you’ll be forced to wash it **shudder** more frequently.

Embrace in this comfy trends now, pretty soon you’ll be trading in your leggings for professional work clothes.

Hi, I'm Abby Coppens, a junior at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. I'm pursuing a degree in Economics and Retail. In my free time, I really enjoying hanging out with my friends and family, doing homework, biking, and reading. I'm the biggest friends fanatic on the planet. Go Badgers!
Madison is a senior at the University of Wisconsin pursuing a major in English Literature with minors in Entrepreneurship and Digital Media Studies. Post college, Madison plans to complete her dreams of being the next Anna Wintour. In her free time, Madison enjoys listening to Eric Hutchinson, eating dark chocolate, and FaceTiming her puppies back home. When she isn't online shopping, or watching YouTube bloggers (ie Fleur DeForce), Madison loves exploring the vast UW Campus and all it has to offer! She is very excited to take this next step in her collegiette career as Campus Correspondent and Editor-in-Chief for HC Wisco. On Wisconsin!