It's that time again...the weather is growing colder and students are piling into schools and post-secondary institutions worldwide. While it's hard to get psyched over the numerous essays I will shortly be writing and tutorials I shall be attending, I am certainly fawning over everything that is fall fashion, and planning my school ensembles! Here's a little guide of do's and don'ts to help you on your way to being your school's best dressed:

Sample outfit for a high school setting

HIGH SCHOOL DO'S AND DON'TS

Do: Expand your horizons beyond the standard t-shirt/jeans/hoodie uniform. Let's be real here. The chances of a hoodie and jean combo looking chic and covet-worthy are slim to none. Just because everyone else is wearing 'em doesn't mean you have to. If you don't want to stick out like a sore thumb, try a skinny trouser and blazer combo or a wider leg jean with a blouse or a cozy cardigan.

Don't: Use a handbag as a carry-all. We all did it in high school...or at least tried to. Truth is, a purse will be overflowing and snapping under the weight of several binders, notebooks, and school supplies. If backpacks aren't your style, look for an oversized tote bag with a supportive shoulder strap (support is the key ingredient, here). Also, remember that there is a such thing as a chic backpack. For reference, see The Row's $39 000 black and gold crocodile backpack. Look for something in a shiny, sleek nylon or a leather fabric that's all one colour, possibly with metallic accents. Think streamlined, albeit functional.

Do: Consider your elements. Unfortunately, in high school, you have a little less flexibility with the times of day that you have class, what classes you take (and through this, what sort of people become your peers), and where you go to school. For an example, if you start school at 8 AM, daytime sequins, heeled booties, and red lipstick may scream "morning after" more than "perfect afternoon ensemble". With that being said, be appropriate. You don't need to show up in your pyjamas, but you don't want to look like you're headed to a nightclub either. I went to school with a bunch of girls (who shall remain nameless, naturally) who would show up to English class at 10 AM in short black rayon dresses, white patent heels, and full make-up. They were also a little drunk. The whole look (and the intoxication added to this) screamed trashy.

Don't: Care what people think. High school, in a sense, revolves a great deal around conformity. You fall into a certain "category" or "clique" and adhere to their standards. Whether you're wearing a uniform of yoga pants and Abercrombie & Fitch hoodies or are smoking pot behind the back of the school, chances are, you're being labelled as something or other. I think that the one thing that kept me passionate about fashion throughout school is wearing what I liked, not what others thought looked good. Believe me, if I showed up to school in dress shorts and wool thigh-highs or a printed, high-collar button up with collar bone cut-outs, I definitely recieved a glare or two. But I never gave a damn.

Standard, more casual sample outfit for a university/college setting.

Bolder sample outfit for a university/college setting.

UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE DO'S AND DON'TS

Don't: Wear sweatpants. This is a don't that I've been guilty of committing more often than I'd like to admit. When living in a dorm (a thirty second walk from about half of my classes), it was so easy to roll out of bed in the same Roots sweats I slept in, throw my hair into a bun, brush my teeth, grab a coffee, and be out the door. One thing I noticed was that there were no more than five people rocking sweats at a time. Everyone else was all done up! I suppose that one piece of advice to take on this topic is, you never know who you're going to meet...or who you're going to run into. You tend to meet some lifelong friends in your post-secondary classes (I met my longterm boytoy at the campus cafe!), so it's best to present yourself the way you'd like to be viewed. Sweats and a messy bun can often read as sloppy. If you wanna wear something comfy and hassle-free, try a pair of leggings, loose silk pants, or a sundress!

Do: Experiment. In university/college, those once-over's that people give you in the hallways of high schools are a thing of the past. With that being said, don't be afraid to push the limits a little bit. Wear bolder make-up, pile on the edgy accessories, anything that floats your boat! Just be sure not to push it too much...you are still at school, after all!

Don't: Wear anything that isn't "you". In college or university, people have become a lot more skilled with seeing through others' exteriors. If you appear to be a total trendoid or are wearing something that doesn't match your personality whatsoever, people will probably percieve you as a fake (or a flake).

Do: Channel your inner intellectual with a geek-chic ensemble. Wingtip oxfords, horn rimmed glasses, and smart blazers look anything but cliché when worn properly. The trick is to take one "geeky" element and mix it with classic, understated pieces to avoid looking costume-y. It shouldn't have to be said, but leave the pigtails, big glasses, and schoolgirl kilts for Halloween.