Set Your Style From the Start

The first day of school can be brutal. Not only do you have to deal with new teachers, unfamiliar faces and a schedule from hell, but you then have to worry about how you present yourself. Yeah, we know … it sounds pretty materialistic. But unfortunately, our society is based on first impressions, which means your attitude and your appearance. Harsh, but fair.

So before you hit the hallways of the unknown, let’s worry about the things we can control. First, your look. A lot of people go back-to-school shopping and select really great fall clothes. That’s great, but technically you start school in the summer season, so wearing a bulky sweater that you love on the first day is not only out of season, but it's going to be pretty uncomfortable, too. You’ll be sweating enough on your first day that you don’t need the help of a bulky sweater anyway. No one likes swamp pits.

Now, you want to pick an outfit that represents your personality and is memorable … but in a good way. Remember, you will be making first impressions on people, so you want to be in an outfit that is vibrant, representative of you and comfortable. If you are not comfortable in the outfit, your attitude will reflect that. Spend some time looking through your summer wardrobe and pick an outfit that you love and wear often. Spice it up with different shoes or new accessories to make it appear a little different from how you normally wear it. We can guarantee that if you feel good in it, that feeling will shine through in your attitude. And THAT is the most important thing when making a first impression.

Now, about that attitude. If you look good, you’ll feel good and that will come out when you interact with people. Make sure that you have enough time in the morning to start your day off right and not be stressed. Have a good breakfast and put yourself in the right frame of mind. You want to be awake, engaging and happy when you met new people. If you seem tired, people may read that as disinterest in them and what they are saying. So, get a good night's sleep and be ready to tackle anything that comes your way.

And if something does go wrong, shake it off and move on. Nothing can be worse than falling down the main staircase in a denim skirt on your first day of high school. Trust us, we’ve been there. So be fashionable, comfortable and ready to meet new people with your shining personality.