Purge. Store. Take. A Failproof Guide to Packing for Fall Semester
“What is that?”
My new roommate stared at the ensembles I had laid out on my twin bed. “Why did you have a sheer, bubble gum pink, apron blouse with a matching skirt?”
I looked at the scratchy blouse. “Well, what if some event comes up and I want to wear this and I don’t have it with me?”
“You don’t own jeans!”
Unfortunately, that dialogue is based on a very real, harrowing story. I brought nothing to college but four suitcases of “special occasion” outfits that I never wore. I wish someone had sat me down while I was packing at home and told me to put down the sequin Ugg boots and pick up a pack of tank tops.
So take everything out of your closet. Yes, everything. No stone left unturned– we’re going to sort through it, together.
Pile 1: The heavy hitters.
The clothes you wear on rotation. This is all the stuff that’s for sure for sure coming with you: Favorite jeans, hoodies, athletic wear. College is 90% casual wear. Think about what you want to wear from your 8AM class until you finish your essay at 11:59PM.
Pile 2: You just need ONE
Is it going to be rainy in August-November in your school’s city? Pack one rain jacket and one pair of rainboots. Is it going to be snowy? Pack one big coat and one set of gloves. Are you pledging a sorority or fraternity? Pack one suit for Monday Night Dinners; or pack one dress for pref and one cardigan for chapter. You’re going to school, not a remote, deserted island. If you find that you’re wearing your rain jacket non-stop for the first few weeks and you miss your other one, just call home and ask someone to ship it!
Pile 3: The things you can call home for.
A nice dress that you maybe wanna wear to an event or a formal. Your snow boots that you may need if you do a cabin weekend with friends. You’re not going to wear these on a weekly basis at school. You may never need them. But just in case, keep them readily accessible so your parents or siblings can find them easily and mail them out to you.
Pile 4: The purge pile
If you haven’t worn it in a year, if it doesn’t fit right but you kept it around, if it still has the tags and you meant to return it three years ago, if you wore it to death and it’s full of holes, just get rid of it!!!!!! Your family may want some of your closet space for their storage; so it’s time to Goodwill your 6th grade Field Day T Shirt.
Pile 5: The Maybe’s and the Maybe-Spring’s.
You should be left with clothes that you like, that just may not be necessary right now. Go through this pile and try to be exacting: what can you not live without this semester? Put all of these items in one of our cute luggage sets and set it aside for when you come home for the holidays! That way you’re already packed to go back for Spring semester!
Congratulations! You did it!! Now you can look at all the things you’re bringing and be able to identify any missing pieces: basic T shirts, a cardigan, matching socks. After all, the best reward for getting rid of stuff is getting something new that you love and you’ll wear all the time!