Story by: Madeleine Matherne

MONTEVALLO, Ala. – If you’re a college student, you might find yourself wearing lots of different hats – and outfits. You may start your day in a T-shirt and comfy pair of sweatpants or leggings for your early morning classes. Then, change into a work uniform to head to your job, or athletic clothing to hit the gym or go to practice. Later in the evening, you might put on that formal outfit you curated for weeks for a special event.

Then one day, an event finally leaves you stumped. Your professor assigns a presentation, and you’re required to dress “professionally” to present. 

What exactly IS professional attire? Where can you find an appropriate outfit that isn’t uncomfortable, but still polished and put together? Will anything you already have in your closet work?

Maggie Cummings, a sophomore at the University of Montevallo, frequently finds herself in situations where she has to dress professionally. As Panhellenic President, a participant in Model United Nations, and a political science major, she frequently attends conferences, meetings, and networking events. 

“We want to make sure that we are presenting ourselves very professionally, and as someone who is interested in law, they dress very professionally as well, so it’s important for all of us to make sure we are dressing professionally as college students.” says Cummings.

It’s never too early to start building a professional wardrobe, even before you start applying for jobs or internships. By knowing what to look for and keeping an eye out, you can assemble a high quality collection that will help you stay put together, comfortable, and ready for anything. 

Shopping secondhand is always a great way to find quality pieces on a college budget. Websites like Poshmark and Depop are the perfect place to look for professional outfits without the high price tag. If there’s a particular item you’re looking for, you can reverse-search the image on Google to find an exact style number or product name, then search for it on a resale site, helping you get the look you want for a fraction of the price. And of course, you can’t forget thrifting! 

Tailoring and fit is another important part of building a post-grad wardrobe. Investing in a few quality pieces and having them altered to fit well is better than buying a bunch of inexpensive pieces that don’t fit right and will wear out quickly. 

Instead of buying coordinated outfits that only match each other, consider building a capsule wardrobe. Find neutral, classic pieces that you can mix and match to get the most wear. 

“I would recommend getting a nice pair of business pants”, says Cummings. “They are great, they’re a staple to your wardrobe, I have black and grey. It matches with pretty much everything, and it just works for me.”

You might still be planning study dates and heading to intramurals, but that doesn’t mean you have to be confused about what business attire really means! By staying on the lookout for the perfect blazer or sheath dress, you can slowly build your wardrobe over the course of your time in college, and always be ready when an event calls for professional attire!