As a freshman in college, your first week is all about impressions. You wake up an hour (or more) before your first class just so you can do your hair and makeup and pick out a nice outfit. After about a week or two of that, most people decide that it is time to set your alarm for a half hour before class, brush your hair, and throw on some sweats. At least, that’s how I am.

That’s not the case for most people at my college. I attend a small town college right outside of Boston called Lasell College. Although we are not actually a fashion school, fashion is a huge part of the school. I, myself, am a fashion major along with a majority of the school. This means that when you are walking to your early morning classes in your baggy sweatpants and old boots, you will be walking next to people who are dressed up and ready for people to complement their very fashionable outfits.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with wanting to wake up early and look nice. I actually admire people that can do that. One thing I notice, though, is you are more likely to be stared at in a disgusted way when you are dressed down. While walking down the street, bundled up in my big sweatshirt (and no makeup), I notice that people stare and almost look down on me for it. I mean, it does make sense, we do attend a “fashion school.”

Don’t get me wrong, there are times that I decide to wake up early and look presentable. I pick out my best outfit and even throw on some heels if I’m feeling up to it. Even with a fashionable outfit, I still feel eyes on me (it’s better like this though because they are less judgmental). The difference between the eyes is this: the judgmental eyes are looking at your face to see who exactly it is that dares dress like he/she just woke up in a fashionable school. The other eyes are looking at your whole outfit. The people behind the eyes need to decide if they will tell their friends to look at how nice that persons outfit is or if they’ll say how much they hate it.

I love my fashionable school. I love that I can dress up whenever I want and people won’t ask why I decided to look nice that day. The only thing I don’t like is that I feel judged for wearing what I want to wear. But I have learned to just ignore the stares and keep on walking.

My advice to people that feel the same way is this: don’t worry about what other people think about what you wear. The great thing about fashion is that it is your choice, and as long as you are happy and comfortable in what you are wearing, that is all that matters.