Finals week is almost upon us, collegiettes—and with finals week comes endless cups of coffee, bags under our eyes, and tons of stress—but this doesn’t mean your style has to suffer! It can be tempting to spend the week in your snuggly, lived-in college sweatshirt, so why not keep your style game going strong (while staying totally comfy) by styling it to look just as chic as you have all semester? With just a few simple tricks, you can amp up any of your basic college sweatshirts—below, we show you how!
1. Dress it up with a skirt
Thought you couldn’t wear your favorite sweatshirt and still look super put-together? Wrong—your college sweatshirt can look just as chic as a sophisticated fall sweater! The trick to making this look work is to go for a skirt that has a no-nonsense, simple shape. We like a neutral grey plaid to compliment a colorful school sweatshirt. To up the comfort factor, add tights layered with snuggly knit socks and a beanie on top to finish the look.
Black Check Mini Skirt ($47 at River Island)
Hailey Jeans Co Combat Boots ($44.99 at Target)
Waffle Knit Beanie ($6.80 at Forever 21)
Classic Opaque Tights ($5.90 at Forever 21)
Shimmery Cable Knit Boot Socks ($12.95 at American Eagle)
2. Trade sweats for boyfriend jeans
During finals week, you’ll want to throw on a comfy pair of sweatpants with your sweatshirt—but why not stay just as comfortable with the effortless-chic look of distressed boyfriend jeans instead? Add layers to the top of the outfit by throwing on a checked menswear-style shirt underneath your crewneck college sweatshirt for the perfect preppy-chic look. Top it off with a simple black statement necklace and Chelsea boots to dress it up, and you’re ready to take on even the toughest of finals in style.
Flannel Ex-Boyfriend Shirt in Buffalo Check ($80 at Madewell)
Kia Ribbon Tie Statement Necklace ($10 at Boohoo)
Dylan Ripped Boyfriend Jeans ($58.98 at Missguided)
ASOS ROAR Chelsea Ankle Boots ($72.01 at ASOS)
3. Layer it up
Create the perfect casual-chic vibe by topping your sweatshirt with a leather jacket. Leather (or faux leather!) is the perfect way to add a touch of luxe to a simple sweatshirt. Have a chilly walk to your exams or to the library? A chunky knit infinity scarf is a great way to keep warm and add to the layered look. Keep it casual in grey distressed skinnies and classic high top sneakers for a look that is effortless and easy to throw on.
Quilted Vegan Leather Moto Jacket ($100 at American Eagle)
Topshop Moto Jamie Ripped High Rise Ankle Jeans ($70 at Nordstrom)
Aerie Open Knit Circle Scarf ($29.95 at American Eagle)
Converse Chuck Taylor Classic ($55 at Converse)
With a few simple tricks, you can stay chic and enjoy the comfort of your coziest sweatshirt!