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Maturing Your Wardrobe: From Frat to Bar Outfits

Going out in college is so different from going out post-grad. You’re not getting an afters list or drinking a questionable blue punch served to you by pledges. You are more mature now, and you go to the bars. While you may have gone to bars in college, the clothes you wear to go out are different once you graduate. You are no longer reaching for the tiniest of tops to pair with your go-to pair of jeans and frat shoes. The top was the main focus, but now it has expanded beyond that, with so many people putting together cute but comfy outfits instead. 


In college, it was all about the going-out tops. Having a plethora of tops that you could wear with any pair of jeans was the norm. Personally, I had a going-out top bin that my friends and I would go through to find what we were wearing for the night. From tiny, nonexistent tops to corsets and everything in between, it seemed like the top options were endless while rotating one or two different pairs of pants. While this is still a good baseline for a bar outfit, the options have expanded, and now, there are so many other details that go into the perfect going-out outfit. 



Depending on the season, bar style changes. I describe it as the spring and fall are skirt and jean seasons, winter is the leather pants season, and the summer is dress season. During the skirt and jean seasons, the outdoor part of the bar is starting to open, but it still may be too chilly to just wear a skirt and a top. To go with your outfit, I would recommend layering with a jacket. Wearing a jacket to the frats in college is not the norm. You never want to lose it because while it may be below freezing outside, it is like a sauna inside, but investing in a jacket for the bar will not only add depth to your outfit, but you will be able to wear it to go out in the winter as well. Leather jackets are trendy right now, and every popular website carries them. 


Jacket outfits I have worn out


While there are all of these added details to the perfect bar outfits, the main component remains the same, which top you choose to wear. Basics are in style right now. A solid color top that you can wear time and time again is always worth investing in. But it does not have to be a plain black T-shirt. You can get a shirt in any color that has cut-outs, is cropped, or just has a special element that dresses the outfit up. 



As it gets warmer out, my current favorite is the backless tops that are trending right now. They come in long-sleeve and short-sleeve versions and are comfortable while adding flare to an outfit. Depending on the color, you can wear it as a matching set with a mini skirt, which is also currently in style. It makes it look like you put so much time and effort into your look when in reality, the top and bottom just match. If you are looking for matching sets to wear out, specifically in the summertime, the best places to look are Edikted and Princess Polly. These websites carry endless options where the top and the bottoms can be worn together, or you can mix and match to make the outfit look more casual.  


Another trend to go into your bar wardrobe is cargo pants. These bottoms come in so many colors, and they are lightweight. They match most tops, whether they be fitted or loose, and can be worn in any bar or club atmosphere. If you are looking for a more form-fitting pant to wear out, I recommend leather pants. They dress up any outfit and, again, match most tops. Usually, they are warm and perfect for the wintertime. These pants are so versatile, making them a crucial element of the post-grad closet. 



There is no need to get rid of every single top that you wore to the frats in college. You may be staring at your bin of going out tops and wondering what to do with them, thinking you can no longer wear them to the bar, but that is not the case. It is just about dressing them up, making the tops look more mature and wearable in this new era of your life. My biggest tip: ditch the frat shoes and get a pair of black boots instead. If you are short, they will add a few inches, but regardless, they dress up your outfit ten times more than those dirty Converse you started wearing out when you were 18.

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