(Look at all that ice on their wrists. Nothing speaks more than a watch to compliment your outfit)

Reasons Why Dressing Sharp Will Improve Your Life

Let's be honest with each other, At some point in your life you probably had a wardrobe you wouldn't consider wearing at college with all the judging eyes of the university students that pass you by. Sure, most of us at some point wore the typical clothing brands and high school fads that just aren't in style anymore. Those days of proudly rocking your Aeropostale t-shirt, basketball shorts for days, or those tragic camo-colored cargo pants are long in the past. College is where you can redefine yourself not only as an individual, but also how you represent yourself through the outfits you don. It's a place where you have more freedom to express your true colors and be confident in what you have on. I'll tell you right now, I used to wear jeans with a sweatshirt all the time back in high school. Impressing others with how I dressed didn't seem important at the time, but as I entered senior year of high school I realized fashion is a beautiful expression of your identity. Not saying there's something wrong with jeans and a sweatshirt, but in college, this is the time where you prepare yourself to be a young professional, thus you must present yourself as such. I want to encourage people to invest in a sharper wardrobe not just to look good, but because it will help improve you way of life. Here are my reasons why dressing sharper will improve your lifestyle:

1. A boost in confidence

Derek Zoolander knows a thing or two about fashion, ladies and gentlemen. I mean the guy can make an undertank and mining gear look like the newest trend! But what separates the Zoolanders of the world from everyone else is he knows he's cool, regardless of what others might think. He embraces his outfit and walks with a cool, assuring strut. A well-put outfit can increase your levels of confidence and make your day more exciting. Now don't be runway-walking across campus with your shoulders swaying back and forth, but have confidence in how you look. Otherwise, it'll look like you're screaming for attention.

2. Compliments are nice, trust me

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I like the extra attention, so what? There isn't a better feeling than getting complimented on the clothes you picked for the day. Whether it's a simple "Wow, you look nice today!" or a "Hey dude I'm diggin' the fresh shirt," a compliment is a nice ego booster. Sure, you already know you look good before you walk out the door, but flattery from others just adds icing to the cake.

3. It makes you look more attractive

Let me be very clear; clothes don't make a person, however, it can enhance one. Nothing says you look dapper like a nice button down shirt with some of your favorite khakis and maybe a tie to add some flare. A simple short-sleeved shirt with a pair of shades like Ryan Gosling in the picture above can also look quite charming; the key is knowing you're already attractive, not depending on the clothes to make you attractive. You're lying if you don't want the chick across the street to check you out, vice versa. When you put on a nice outfit, getting the "Hey, you look like my future husband" stare from a block away is always a win.

4. You can diversify with colors

My favorite part about dressing sharp is you have the ability to add complimentary colors that will stand out in public. Yes, I am guilty of #4. My closet is full of every color because in my mind if there's a color for that piece, there's something you can wear it with. Being in a fraternity kind of immerses you into brighter pastels and crazy patterns, but that certainly doesn't mean you still can't rock those colors and patterns. Just make sure you know your color wheel before throwing on a bunch of colors. Nothing looks worse than wearing a bunch of colors that don't match well. Also, for the love of god, don't wear plaid on plaid... or checkered on checkered... Honestly, just make sure to distribute your solids and patterned items with each other.

5. You will look more mature

When you're dressed business casual, it kind of tells people you've got somewhere to be. Wearing a dress shirt underneath a sweater with a tie will make you look like a young professional. Truth be told, the first day of classes my freshman year at VCU, I was mistaken for the teacher in the class. My outfit resembled that of Justin Timberlake in the picture above, so I can't really blame the girl. When you dress mature, you'll be seen as more mature. Who knows, maybe your outfit will land you a job interview based on the principle that you're dressed for success.