Are you’re wondering what to wear in college? Don’t worry I’ve got you covered with college guy outfits you’ll actually want to wear.
As a recent college graduate, I know how guys in college dress all year round. Oftentimes, students will express themselves through their clothing.
What Should Guys Wear in College?
Black jeans, a white shirt and white sneakers is a great base for a college outfit for guys. Layer the outfit with a sherpa, bomber or varsity jacket to level up the look. Adding accessories to the outfit by wearing a watch, sunglasses and a chain will complete the outfit.
In this post, I share 10 outfit ideas for college guys and style mistakes to avoid.
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10 Outfit Ideas for College Guys
Here are 10 outfit ideas that male college students are actually wearing. We go through common guy’s outfits and how to dress on special occasions.
1. Casual Outfit
Most students dress casually in college. Jeans, a white or black shirt and white shoes will be the base for most college guy outfits. Layering this outfit will make it look a lot better.
Some students wear ripped jeans, loose fitting jeans or fitted jeans. Unless there’s a dress code at your college, it really comes down to your own personal style and preference.
Layering this outfit with a flannel, hoodie, crewneck, sweater or jacket will make it look a lot better. If you don’t want to get your white shoes, dirty swap them for some black sneakers.
Accessorize this outfit with a gold or silver chain and a simple watch.
2. Trendy Outfit
An outfit that is really trendy for college students right now, is a graphic t-shirt, ripped jeans and some sneakers. This outfit can be layered with an oversized hoodie and you’ll be wearing the latest styles.
Trendy sneakers that college students are wearing:
- Nike Air Force 1’s
- Nike Blazers
- Nike Dunks
In the last year, Nike has been dominating the shoe game and they are being worn by literally everyone around campus.
This is a very common outfit in college and will have you fitting in with the crowd. If you want to stand out more, go with another outfit idea.
3. Skater Outfit
The skater look has made a comeback in the last couple years. On social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, the skater aesthetic has become super popular.
Wearing a beanie, a long sleeve sweater with a t-shirt on top of it, Vans or Nike Blazers and loose fitting jeans will complete this look.
When it comes to accessorizing, wearing silver rings and silver chains will complete this aesthetic.
The skater look will have you standing out, and if it’s executed properly it can look super cool. Many people dress very similarly in college – having a distinctive style like the skater look will be unique.
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4. Comfortable Fit
The comfortable look is my personal favourite. I mean, who doesn’t love to be comfortable when they’re sitting in a college lecture?
Sweatpants and a hoodie will complete this look. Throw in some comfortable shoes like Yeezy’s or Air Force 1’s and you’ll be looking stylish and comfortable.
It’s pretty trendy in college to wear a matching sweater with the same colour sweatpants and white shoes. You can find this outfit at fast fashion stores like H&M and Uniqlo.
If you like a slimmer look, go for some athleisure sweatpants. They will be tighter and give a sharper look.
5. Hypebeast Look
If you like to flex, then you are going to want to try the hypebeast look. Wearing hype brands like Bape, Supreme, Palm Angels and Off-White will have you looking like a hypebeast.
When I was in college, hypebeast clothing was super popular. Thursday’s would be called “Hype Thursday’s”. Every student that was into hype brands would show off their outfits on Thursday’s.
Wearing hype shoes like Jordan 1’s, Nike Dunks and Yeezy’s with clothes from any hype retailer will have you looking like a hypebeast.
6. Game Day Outfit
If you’re looking for a college game day outfit, wear some khakis and support your college by wearing a jersey. If you don’t have access to a jersey, wear your teams colours.
If you go to a school where game days are a big deal, other students will be wearing game day outfits as well.
College game days are a fun way to show school pride and attending the games will be a blast.
7. Fall Outfit
Over the last year, it has become super popular to wear plaid or sherpa jackets to college during Fall. Fall is a good time to show off your nice jackets and boots.
Some boots, jeans and a plaid sweater will make a super nice fall outfit.
If you plaid isn’t your thing, try wearing a sherpa jacket. Some shoes, ripped jeans, a white t-shirt and a sherpa jacket is a great fall look.
8. Summer Outfit (Shorts)
As someone who lives in a cold climate, the thought of wearing summer outfits to college brings me excitement. Being able to wear shorts, flip flops and short sleeve shirts to college is the best feeling.
A good summer outfit is a button up short sleeve collared shirt with some short shorts and sneakers. This outfit will be super stylish for summer.
Summer shoes for college guys:
- Sperrys
- Lacoste Bayliss
- Stan Smiths
These shoes will be great and comfortable for the summer.
If you are looking to accessories, a sports or smart watch, sunglasses and a chain will be a cool look for the summer.
Wondering if short shorts are in style? Check out this article: Why are Men’s Short Getting Shorter
9. Presentation Look
For presentations, you are going to want to dress business casual. Some students will wear suits and others will wear ripped jeans, but dressing business casual is the sweet spot for college presentations.
Blue chinos with a white polo shirt tucked in and brown dress shoes will look great and impress other students and the teacher.
Dressing up nicely for presentations is a great way to show off your style and to make a good impression on your teacher.
To level up this look, wear a watch with a leather strap. It will be a subtle watch that looks super sleek with this outfit.
For more presentation outfits, check out this article: How to Dress for a Presentation
10. Formal Attire
Whether it’s for an event, a party or a presentation at some point throughout college you are going to have to dress up.
Choosing a suit depends on you size and preference. Some men prefer looser fitting suits and other’s including myself prefer a slim fitting, sharper look.
If you are dressing up in formal attire remember the following:
- Match your belt and your shoe colour
- Tuck in your shirt
- Iron or dry clean your dress clothes
5. Style Mistakes College Guys Make
1. Sagging
If you’re in college and still sagging, it’s a good time to stop. Wearing pants properly will make you look more professional, sharp and mature.
Sagging your pants looks really sloppy and will not impress your teachers.
2. Wearing Two Different Shades of the Same Colour
A common mistake college students will make is wearing two different shade of the same colour.
Wearing grey on grey can look cool if they’re the same shade. If they are a different shade it will ruin your outfit and look a bit off.
It’s better to wear different colours that go together nicely. Here are some colours that look good together:
- White top and black pants
- Green top with khaki pants
- Grey top with blue jeans
Remember, white tops and black pants will go with nearly any colour.
3. Over Accessorizing
With rings and chains becoming so popular, it’s important not to over accessorize. It’s better to be subtle with your accessories than over the top.
4. Wearing too Much Cologne
In college, many guys will wear too much cologne and it’s unbearable for others. If you smell bad, it’s better to shower then attempting to cover the smell with cologne.
An appropriate amount of cologne to wear, is a single spray on your neck and both wrists. That way you will smell nice while not wearing too much cologne.
5. Not Wearing Clean Clothes
A big mistake that college guys will make is wearing dirty clothes to school. If your clothing has stains on it or if it has a smell, it’s best to wear something different.
I know that it can be hard to find the time to do the laundry in college. However, it reflects bad on you when you show up to class with dirty clothing.
If you plan your outfits in advance, then you will know what clothing has to be clean.
What Jeans do College Guys Wear?
College guys wear slim-fit or regular-fit jeans. Jeans like the Levi’s 510 and the slim tapered jean from H&M are very popular among college guys right now. Some college guys like the look of ripped jeans, while other guys in college like the look of baggy jeans. Many college guys avoid wearing skinny jeans, as they are no longer in style.
Related posts:
- What to Wear in College for Guys – The Ultimate Guide
- What to Wear to a College Party for Guys
- Do You Need a Backpack for College
Final Thoughts on College Guy Outfits that Students are Actually Wearing
If you’re going to college it’s important to know how to dress. In this post, we go over 10 outfits that college guys are currently wearing and style mistakes guys make in college.
What’s your favourite college outfit? Let me know in the comments below.