It’s Monday morning (or any early morning for that matter), you get out of bed 20 minutes late, look at yourself in the mirror and think today is so not going to happen. You are feeling sleep deprived, or just plain lazy, and that cute dress with the cardigan just does not seem like it is worth wearing that day. Well no need to freak out, there are ways you can still look amazing, and still feel like you are in your comfy pajama pants!

As a college freshman, you learn very quickly what the typical college student outfit is. The first week of classes is really just an illusion of what the rest of the semester is going to be like, especially when it comes to people’s looks. First week, everyone is trying to make the best impression. Guys are walking around in their khakis or nice jeans with a nice button up shirt, and the girls are showing off their cute summer dresses, and fun floral prints, with a nice pair of flip flops or even some Sperry’s. However, after this wonderful relaxed syllabus week, people start realizing how much work the semester is going to have, and start putting a little less effort into their looks. This, my friends, is what the college look is all about: comfy, casual and practical. Let’s start with the outfit.

Outfit:

Clothing is a big factor that can affect the way someone feels for the rest of the day. When you have four finals, one paper, and two homework assignments due by the end of the week, the last thing you want to do is put on that pair of stiff, skinny jeans with that adorable, but tight blouse. The best and certainly the comfiest option is anything athletic wear. A nice graphic tee, college t-shirt or even just a flowy plain shirt or tank can offer a very simple, but relaxed top for a tough day. As far as the pants go, over-sized sweatpants or yoga pants can be extremely comfy, but may not look the best or may be too baggy, so for another snug and casual option a good pair of leggings can go a long way. Another benefit of leggings, besides just the comfort level, is how versatile they can be. There are tons of different patterned leggings,and in different lengths to accommodate for any type of weather. Finally for the shoes, you can go for just a pair of sneakers, or if you are feeling a more casual and less sporty look, a pair of vans or converse or even just a pair of flip flops can work. If you are not satisfied with the look, you can always accessorize with a scarf or add a cozy sweater or cardigan.

Hair:

When you have to wake up early to make it to your 8 am, and end up snoozing your alarm far too many times (we are all guilty of this!), you might not always have time to whip out your heated hair tools, or take time to fix up a super nice hairdo. This is when the idea of messy bun might come to mind. The word messy makes this sound like it is sloppy or hard to make look good, but messy hairdos can end up looking very “put together” in a sense and cute. They are quick and easy to do, require minimum tools (all you need is a hair tie), and most importantly are comfortable and casual. And even if you want something with much less effort, just doing a pony tail and throwing on a cap or putting on a nice headband can accomplish the same cozy look. However, if you are good at braiding and don’t mind spending an extra five minutes to do your hair, a lot of girls end up french braiding their hair. French braids offer the best way to keep those pesky flyaways off your face, and when you have a bad case of bed head, this is probably the best way to conceal it.

Makeup:

This step is completely optional, and may not be a desirable option for anyone who is in a rush, but even makeup can be done in a comfortable and light fashion. Now when it comes to lazy days, most of us ladies might not want to whip out the makeup bag and put our face on, but for those who aren’t completely confident in having a bare face there is still a way to look natural and like a Disney princess who just got out of bed. To achieve the natural look all you need to keep in mind is that a light hand can go a long way. Using a sponge to put on your foundation can help give you a very light layer that can still even out your skin tone; or you can skip foundation and stick to a very lightweight concealer and only apply to blemishes and dark circles. To finish add a peach or rosy colored blush, as it looks more natural than a pink tone. For the eyes, you can just use a light nude or white color in the inner corner of your eyes to give the illusion that you are more awake, and definitely didn’t stay up cramming for your astro exam. Now just add mascara, and you’re good to go.

Now you are ready to take on this stressful week, and still look good working through it!