Why the next fashion trend should be ‘bumming it’ for college students

I’m an advocate for not giving a fuck

I don’t know about you, but I am an avid bum.

84 percent of my high school career consisted of leggings, club t-shirts and sneakers. Don’t be confused though because bumming it does not mean you’re lazy; it means you’re comfortable, time efficient and too busy to give a fuck.

Honestly, college is draining. Classes are draining. Extracurriculars are draining. The constant feeling like I should be engaging myself in cultural or intellectual activities all the time is draining.

So, the last thing on my mind is what I look like. Not that I suggest bumming it every day, but it certainly has its benefits.

Here’s a few reasons why bumming it, even if it’s only once in awhile, is more beneficial than you might think.

It saves you time and time is precious 

I’m all about cutting time from my morning routine as you can probably tell because in my opinion, there just isn’t enough time in the day to worry about your physical appearance, at least not during the school week. I get throwing on some foundation and mascara for the weekend and wearing lace-up boots instead of sneakers but it truly amazes me to see so many girls dressed to the nines for an 8am class.

There are without a doubt days when I look like a total wreck. You know that phrase people say, “You look like a hot mess?” Well I always joke in response with, “At least I’m hot,” but that is totally not applicable sometimes. At least twice a week my alarm goes off ten minutes before class starts and I roll out of bed, grab my backpack and bust my ass down Liacouras to make sure I get to class on time. I always pack my laptop and make sure my shoes are untied the night before so I can just slip into my sneakers, grab my backpack and go. I almost never worry about what I’m wearing when I go to class. Just throwing on whatever clothing my hands grab first from my wardrobe is easy and fast, and lets me sleep in for a half hour- God bless!

You’ll be saving yourself some money

Let’s face it, clothing is expensive. Remember that scene in the Lizzie McGuire Movie when Kate Sanders calls Lizzie out for wearing that blue dress twice in her life? I feel like that scene scarred some of the kids I have class with for life because there are people who come into class every day with a new pair of shoes or a brand new outfit and it truly amazes me.

I can only imagine how much money it takes to try to dress up every day. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve definitely got a few outfits in my wardrobe that are worthy of an A+ for effort but I mean, I am without a doubt an outfit repeater and I’m not afraid to say it.  A friend actually told me that during my senior year of high school people used to place bets on which shirt I’d wear each day. Yes, I wear the same seven or eight shirts every week and I own more black leggings than is probably socially acceptable, but if it’s not broken why try to fix it?

Wearing the same simple clothing gives me one less thing to think about every day. And because I’ve been wearing such similar clothing for so long, I’ve lost that feeling of pressure to buy into the latest trends. So yeah, bumming it may get a bit repetitive but as a dirt-poor college student, I’m not really worried about wearing the same clothes all the time. As long as they’re clean, they get the job done.

Leggings are so much more comfortable than jeans

This is the main reason why I am the #1 fan of bumming it; comfort is essential to my daily routine. A day spent in jeans is a day spent in hell, that’s my motto. Leggings and sweatpants are your friend, they’re on your side. They aren’t holding you back, they want you to succeed. Any clothing that stretches is your friend. I know that I can’t even try to concentrate if I’m uncomfortable. Having to worry about where I can go to discreetly pick my wedgie is such a distraction, am I right ladies?

Wearing loose t-shirts and sweatpants or leggings gives me free range to go about my day however I please; it’s one less thing standing in my way of my day reaching its full potential. Sure, some people thrive on going all out and dressing up, but I am just not one of those people and I also believe in dressing for the occasion. If you’re going out, say to Center City with a group of friends to get dinner, I totally get wanting to throw on a little more makeup than usual and some cute clothes. But during the week your main priority is class and do you really want to be focusing on how your bra straps are digging into your shoulders because you had to wear a real bra with that crop top instead of a sports bra which is undoubtedly way more comfortable? I didn’t think so.

All in all, clothing is a way to express yourself, but sometimes everyone just needs a minute to relax and be a bum. Trust me, I’ve been bumming it for years and I genuinely think it’s a huge contributing factor to my sanity every day. So don’t be afraid to throw on your favorite pair of sweats and that free Temple t-shirt you got in the beginning of the semester at Temple Fest. You can conquer the world no matter what you’re wearing, so wear what makes you happiest and make each day the best it can possibly be.

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