First Day Tips For High School Freshman, Part 1: Back To School Style

I went to a very small and nerdy middle school and felt like everyone in my freshman class already knew each other by the time school started. So how did I go from unknown dork to Prom Queen? I’ll tell you in this three part series.

First up, STYLE! Time for an upgrade, darlings.

Selena has gone from a totally a basic b*tch so fierce and fashionable.

Ninety percent of communication—and therefore 90% of the impression you give off—is non-verbal, meaning body language and looks tell people more about you than anything you’re going to say. That means you want a killer first day outfit. But this does NOT mean the trendiest outfit you can find! It’s natural to latch onto trendy clothes thinking that they make you socially “safe”—if you’re wearing something a magazine says is cool, then you are automatically cool too, right? WRONG. And here’s why.

1. Trends Aren’t Flattering

WTF IS EVEN HAPPENING HERE? So much ugly. Avoid ANYTHING described as “festival style”!

Do you know who the biggest consumer group in the world is? Asians. So, clothes are cut for their bodies—flat fannies, small breasts, shorter arms, narrow hips and shoulders. I am built like a Kardashian, not an Asian, so most “trendy” clothes look just terrible on me. So unless you’re a tiny Asian girl—or a long willowy model type like Kendall Jenner, because models can wear anything—avoid styles that are ultra trendy, aka ones that are new this year.

2. Trends Make You Blend In

Which one will a boy notice? NONE of them.

If you want to be popular in high school, you need to stand out and be a leader. Ironically, to truly stand out is to be comfortable in your skin, and that happens when you discover your own personal style and put your own spin on it! Wearing the same thing everyone else is may seem like a sure way to make you popular but the opposite is true.

3. The Trendiest Girl Is Always The Weakest

I think I’ve made my point.

There’s a difference between being fashionable and trendy. Fashionable means you pick and choose from trends and tweak them to suit your personal vibe and style—you don’t change your style to suit trends. A girl who relentlessly chases trends does so because she doesn’t feel confident enough to just be in her own skin and let her personality speak for itself. And girls like that will never be popular because that lack of confidence is SO apparent.

4. Boys Don’t Understand Trends

She may as well be wearing an electrified fence.

Like, at all. I’ve polled a lot of guys of all ages and NOT ONE like the high-waisted shorts trend. Not one. NONE. Unfortunately, fashion honchos don’t make clothes that are attractive to the opposite sex. So it’s up to you to ignore trendy clothes and do you.

So what should you wear? Follow these steps…

1. Figure Out Your Style

Taylor has a signature style but still finds a way to put a trendy spin on it!

As an OC girl, my style is breezy, preppy with some surfer girl thrown in. I like bright colors, prints and gold. Living in New York City, that’s not always the “cool” choice in a sea of black-clad fashionistas. But I don’t care because I’m comfortable with what I’m wearing.

Don’t know your vibe? Sit and think of some adjectives that entice you. For me, it’s “sparkling” (not sparkly, note), “refreshing,” “world traveler,” “chic,”

 2. Figure Out Your Body

OK so Sofia Vergara isn’t a teenager, but she DOES know what silhouettes and styles work on her body–and she sticks to them. And while it may sound like it’d look boring, it clearly isn’t!

Girls carry their weight in one of three places: tummy (apple shape), lower body (pear shape) and upper arms/back (rectangle or triangle shape). Here’s how to dress each one…

• Apple Shape

Kate Upton’s dress is wisely loose around the middle and short to show off legs.

I’m an apple shape which means I show off my legs and hide my tummy. That means shorts + peasant blouses, skinny jeans + loose patterned tops, and very short trapeze dresses. High-waist shorts, crop tops, jumpsuits and knee-length anything do NOT work for this shape. Not at all.

•  Pear Shape

Kim Kardashian draws attention to her little middle and therefore creates a coveted hourglass shape.

Your waist is smaller than your hips, so show that off while hiding thighs. Stick to full skirts + tight shirts, lined maxi dresses (unlined or cheap cotton ones will stick to cellulite) that are fitted at the waist, and anything fitted/belted/banded at the waist or draws attention to your middle. Avoid shorts, clingy skirts, ankle boots AT ALL COSTS and skinny jeans (bootcut shapes will balance out hips and legs).

• Rectangle/Triangle Shape

Hilary’s red pants draws the eye down from her upper arms since that’s where she gains weight and makes her look curvier, ditto with the blousy white shirt.

Your shoulders may be as wide as your hips and your waistline lacks definition, so interesting silhouettes (low necklines, tulips skirts, peplum tops, etc) are your friend! Avoid things that are too clingy and solid colored since you’ll end up looking like a giant rectangle.

Fuse The Two!

Lauren Conrad always looks fashion forward but never like she’s trying too hard.

Find clothes that nail your vibe AND flatter your body! Warning: you probably won’t amass as many garments as the trend-chasing chick, but you’ll look awesome in everything you wear! If your clothes feel less exciting than the trendy ones your friends are buying (and looking terrible in, mark my words) jazz things up with jewelry/shoes/bags and hair accessories that go with your style. Bonus: it’s cheaper!

Next in the series, I’ll tell you how to ACT your first day of school to ensure you turn heads and make friends with all the right people! In the meantime find me on Instagram andTwitter @ShallonXO!