How to Look Great for Your First Day of High School

Last Updated: October 30, 2022 References Approved

You’ve finished middle school, and you’re making the leap to high school. High school can be intimidating for incoming freshmen: you’re meeting new people, getting to know new teachers, and learning how to navigate the fresh style of high school courses that move from room to room. While it might be overwhelming, you can start your high school career out with a bang by showing up looking your best and brightest. Playing to your strengths, having good hygiene, adhering to your school’s code, and making comfort a priority will have you looking great in no time.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Getting Ready for Your First Day

1
Get a good night’s sleep. Sleep is one of the best beauty treatments in the world. The night before your first day, avoid watching TV or being on a phone or computer for at least an hour before you go to bed and make sure you go to bed in comfortable clothing. This will help you get the best night of sleep you can possibly get, which will help minimize or avoid dark circles, heavy eye bags, or wan skin.^{[1]
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- If you have trouble sleeping, you can try some peppermint or jasmine tea to relax.
- Lavender oil can also help you get to sleep--and stay that way.
2
Take a shower the night or morning before. Taking a shower will make sure you are looking and smelling your best. After you’ve showered, put on lotion and deodorant to keep yourself looking and feeling fresh.
- If you are prone to night sweating or are nervous about having a bad hair day, try to shower the morning of your first day.
- Showering the night before is great if you are prone to waking up late or running behind. If you are showering in the morning, make sure to put on deodorant when you're done. You don't want to be known as a smelly person.
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3
Fix your hair. Whether your hair is short or long, style it in a way that makes you feel confident and strong. Take note of the weather, as well. If it is extremely windy outside, for instance, you might want to put your hair up. If it is due to be rainy, you may want to just let it sit naturally.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Sheila A. Anderson
Certified Image Consultant & International Branding Icon
Expert Interview. 9 August 2021.}
4
Smile at yourself and others. The last step to looking great is giving yourself a smile, and sharing that smile with your peers. A smile is the surest way to appear smart, kind, and confident, and can not only draw others to you but can also improve your mood and mental state in a matter of minutes.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Sheila A. Anderson
Certified Image Consultant & International Branding Icon
Expert Interview. 9 August 2021.}

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Playing Up Your Strengths

1
Familiarize yourself with your dress code. Most schools have simple, easy-to-follow dressing guidelines. Before you begin the process of choosing the first-day outfit, read through your school’s dress code, including its limits on hems and cuts.^{[4]
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2
Determine what clothing styles look good on you. Different clothing styles flatter various body types. Curvy girls, for instance, look great in tops and dresses with cinched waists. Boys with slim builds benefit from slim-cut pants, as baggy pants might look a bit too unkempt.^{[5]
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- Dressing for your shape can be harder for a boy. If you have broad shoulders, make sure your shirt’s shoulders fit properly. If you have wide hips, you can try a shirt with a rounded hem.
3
Choose a flattering haircut and style. Although you don’t have to get a new haircut for your transition to high school, it can be a great way to change up your look and boost your confidence.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Sheila A. Anderson
Certified Image Consultant & International Branding Icon
Expert Interview. 9 August 2021.} You can choose a cut based on your face shape, or you can talk to your stylist and ask what type of haircut would work well with your face shape, coloring, and hair texture.^{[7]
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- Even if a magazine or article says a haircut won’t look good with your face shape, don’t be afraid to experiment. Remember that hair will always grow back.
4
Wear a color that makes your skin look great. Different skin undertones work well with different colors. Cool undertones, for instance, work well with white and blue tones, while warm tones look great with darker, richer colors. Choose a shirt or dress that works well with your skin.^{[8]
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- If you love and look great in a certain color, but it doesn’t match your undertones, wear it anyway. After all, the point is to feel great.
5
Wear natural makeup, if applicable. If you wear makeup, opt for a more natural look. There is nothing wrong with dramatic makeup, but application can take quite some time and might be too much stress for your first day. Opt for a lighter eye and a natural lip.
- Although barely-there makeup is faster and easier to apply, if you do not feel comfortable without a full face of makeup, you can paint your face. Just make sure you give yourself enough time to finish your application.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Wearing a Comfortable Outfit

1
Choose an outfit you feel great in. Trendy outfits can be tempting, but don’t sacrifice comfort for the sake of looking a certain way. If you are uncomfortable, your body language will show it, and even the most trendy outfit will look out of place.^{[9]
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- An outfit you feel great in will be one that doesn’t make you feel nervous, uncomfortable, or fidgety. If you feel even slightly uncomfortable, try another outfit.
2
Try your outfit on ahead of time. In addition to laying your outfit out the night before, make sure you try your chosen outfit (or outfit candidates) on ahead of time. This will help you make a definitive decision and will reveal any problems you might have before the morning of your first day.
- You can try on multiple outfits and have two or three set aside for your first day, and decide which one you like best in the morning.
- Make sure you try on the whole outfit--shoes and everything. This will make sure you aren’t rushing to find anything in the morning.
3
Make sure there is no awkward pinching or bunching. Try on your outfit and make sure there is no bunching, pinching, or ill-fitting area. Ill-fitting areas will mean a lot of adjusting and fiddling throughout the day, which has the effect of making you look uncomfortable or like your clothes don’t fit.
- If you aren’t sure about the fit of something, ask your parents or a friend what they think.
- You can put on a mini fashion show to get the opinions of your friends and family, and get new ideas for outfits.
4
Practice moving and walking in your outfit. Provided there is no bunching or pinching, take a few laps around your room or your house in your chosen outfit. This will also help you identify any problem areas, such as pants falling down, a skirt riding up too high, or a shirt chafing your skin.
- If you know you’ll be walking to school, or have an idea of your activity level, try to mimic this activity level to make sure your clothes will last the whole day.
- This is particularly important for shoes, as you don’t want to wear shoes to school only to find that they pinch or give you blisters.

Expert Q&A

Question

What should I wear for my first day of school?

Sheila A. Anderson
Certified Image Consultant
Sheila A. Anderson is a Certified Image Consultant, International Branding Icon, and the Founder of Image Power Play, an impression management and personal branding company. With over three decades of experience, she specializes in empowering corporate professionals to raise their personal image to meet the value of their brand. Sheila is a Certified Image Consultant with The Image Resource Network and a Certified Universal Style Consultant with The Universal Style International. Sheila is a member of the C-Suite Network Advisors and the author of the book, I.C.U., The Comprehensive Guide to Breathing Life Back Into Your Personal Brand.

Sheila A. Anderson

Certified Image Consultant

Expert Answer

You should choose something you like! That's the first thing. You shouldn't wear anything you don't feel comfortable in. Beyond that, just try to choose items that fit you well that you find look good on you.
Question

How do you survive your freshman year?

Community Answer

One of the best ways to survive your freshman year is to ask for help when you need it. If you are falling behind in your classes, ask for help from your teachers. If you are nervous or unsure about making new friends, reach out to a new group of people and ask to share lunch or a work table.
Question

What if nothing looks good on me?

Community Answer

If you feel nothing looks good on you, you might need to try branching out into different cuts and styles of clothing. Visit your local clothing store and try on different types of clothing. If you need some additional help, you can ask a salesperson for a variety of clothing cuts and styles to try on.

Warnings

Don’t spend too much time or money on your first-day outfit. Instead, choose something you’ve tried on and really love.

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Don’t put too much stock in your clothing. While fashion is a great way to express yourself, it does not determine your worth.

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