One of the first pieces of advice I was given the summer before I left for college was to not buy so many nice clothes because I'd just be wearing sweatpants and t-shirts. On my first day of college, one of my new friends laughed and told me that people could tell who the freshmen were on campus because they dressed up for the first day of classes; meanwhile, I was standing in front of her in one of my cute new shirts with my hair curled.

Can someone tell me why people think it's such a bad thing to look nice for class?

I've heard the complaint before that it takes too long to get ready in the morning (which is completely false because I can get ready in 10 minutes if I need to). I've also been told that sweatshirts and leggings are much more comfortable when you're sitting in class all day. I'm sure if I was speaking to someone stubborn, they'd have an entire list of excuses for not looking nice.

Here are the reasons I feel it's OK (and actually important) to dress up for class:

1. Dressing up shows respect.

I think this is the most significant reason you should dress up for class. You want to make a good first impression on your peers or professors. A fantastic way to do this is to look nice on the first day. Dressing up the rest of the semester shows that you actually care about your education and value the time they contribute to it. Nothing irks me more than when someone shows up to class in their pajamas with their hair matted to the back of their head. I would feel such a lack of respect if someone walked into my college classroom and I were that professor. If you have an on-campus job, it also shows your employer your dedication. These people could help you with recommendation letters or job opportunities. You need to think of professors and college employers as your interviewers at your future career and you need to make sure your image shows you are a devoted student.

2. When you look good, you feel good.

The saying is actually true. When you look your best, you feel like you can conquer anything and everyone knows that you need that feeling to get things done in the ideal way. A lot of times when you wear sweatpants, you feel like going to bed, or not even getting out of bed, for that matter. If you feel good, you can go into class ready to work. If you feel good, you're happier! This really helps in the winter when the cold, dark weather is getting you down. That depressing time can be lightened up if you dress up because you'll feel better!

3. Clothes that look good are comfortable.

Nowadays, companies are making nice clothes that are so comfortable you could probably sleep in them if you wanted. Jeggings are a great example of this. I don't even buy regular jeans anymore because my jeggings are so much more comfortable. They stretch and are softer than the normal jean fabric. What's not to like? Even leggings are OK if you dress them up and don't look like a total bum. Just plain t-shirts are great, too! You can jazz those up with a nice scarf or a necklace. So if you can wear leggings and a t-shirt and still look good, why wouldn't you do that?

Now, don't get me wrong, everyone needs a lazy day once in awhile, but that doesn't mean you should just do the bare minimum every day. It’s just as easy to pick out a shirt and a pair of pants as it is to grab a hoodie and sweats. It maybe takes 10 minutes to throw your hair in a nice braid and put on some makeup. Dressing up isn’t as much of a process as some people think. It really is this simple, so I know you can do it too!

Make a good impression for the important people in your life, feel good about yourself and what you're doing, and be comfortable while you're doing it. Dress up! I promise it's OK.