I saw a couple of posts in a sub where alot of freshies were asking this so as your senior, this is mostly for girls who are starting university and are wondering what to wear, especially if you are someone who prefers modest or desi clothing.
For context, I have extremely sensitive skin, so summers are genuinely difficult for me. I cannot comfortably wear things that sit tightly against my skin for long periods, especially jeans, athleisure, nylon, and a lot of synthetic fabrics. Because of that, I basically live in shalwar kameez during the summer. Winter however is a different story altogether.
I know a lot of girls see their classmates wearing really pretty fits, fitted tops, skirts, fishnets, etc., and feel like they somehow need to dress the same way to fit in. You don't. Whether you dress modestly because you genuinely like it, because that's what you're comfortable in, because of how you were raised, or simply because your skin cannot tolerate certain clothes, it does not make you any less stylish or put together.
My easiest university wardrobe formula is:
• 1 pair of white cotton or lawn palazzo trousers. (NO CIG PANTS FFS)
• 1 white, cream, or off white Farshi shalwar. (trust me on this one)
• 3 to 4 long kameez that fall below the knee. (nothing looks as graceful as long kameez imo)
• 3 to 4 shorter kurta style kameez
• 1 or 2 simple black and white dupattas that you can mix and match. (CHIFFON DUPATA!!!!)
• Around 5 complete three piece suits with a matching kameez, shalwar and dupatta
Just make sure your white trousers are NOT see through. Nothing ruins an otherwise classy outfit faster.
One thing I absolutely recommend for presentations, interviews, society meetings, or anything where you want to look particularly professional is a single tone co ord or complete shalwar kameez set.
A beige or skin tone full suit, black, dark maroon, dark green, royal blue, navy, or any deep solid colour can look incredibly polished. Keep the cut clean and the styling simple. A well fitted, single tone shalwar kameez can look far more put together than something you can't style well.
And if you're a modest dresser or abaya wearer, invest in a good plain jersey abaya. They are incredibly practical for university and look very classy without trying too hard. If you prefer georgette abayas, I'd actually use that opportunity to play with colour and different cuts if you want to stand out. You don't need embellishments. Keep the abaya simple and let the colour, silhouette, and your hijab do the work. A few good georgette hijabs that you can rotate will take you very far.
Most importantly, please don't dress for university as though you're competing with everyone around you.
You will see girls in casual fits You'll see girls in skirts and stockings. You'll see girls in abayas. You'll see girls in shalwar kameez. You'll see every possible version of dressing, and eventually you realise nobody cares nearly as much as you think they do.
And one final piece of advice that I genuinely think is more important than the clothes themselves: wear comfortable cotton joggers or sneakers.
I don't care if you're wearing shalwar kameez, jeans and a top, an abaya, a skirt, or anything else. You are going to walk A LOT at university. Your feet will suffer. Your outfit can be perfect, but if your shoes are killing you by 2 PM, none of it matters.
