It feels like just yesterday that I couldn’t fit all of my clothes into the dresser or closet in my small freshman dorm. I brought countless outfits, but in reality, I didn’t need half of them.

I had no idea what to expect from college or what I would be doing in my free time, so my solution was to pack everything “just in case.” Instead of wearing all those outfits, I ended up with a cramped dorm room and a need to do laundry multiple times a week.

Don’t get me wrong — fashion is alive and well in these hills, but you may not wear as many certain clothes as you think you will. As a freshman, you will most likely have classes at different times every day of the week, so you will want to be comfortable.

With that being said, you don’t need to sacrifice cuteness for comfort. Athleisure is the most common form of clothing that you will wear on a daily basis, so prioritize leggings, athletic shorts, tennis skirts and practical tops over jeans and blouses.

Above all else, the most important thing you will need is a comfy pair of shoes. The most popular on campus are currently On Running and Hoka, with other casual sneaker brands appearing as well.

It’s also important to remember to bring some fun outfits for Greek life functions, football games and other social occasions. A great tip I can offer you is to pack staple items that you can rearrange into multiple outfits.

Another thing to bear in mind is that popular choices for many functions are Clemson colors or cute pieces of clothing that sport tigers. There’s no need to overpack when you’ll most likely end up buying plenty of apparel in Tigertown to support your new favorite team!

When you are struggling to zip up your suitcase before move-in day, avoid packing all of your dress clothes and fancy shoes. Everyone has their own style that they want to bring to Clemson, but chances are you’ll end up reaching for leggings and a sweatshirt most days and finding success in these hills in your comfiest athletic shoes.