Moving out from the city and heading upstate to Binghamton may crush your fashionista hearts, but prepare to be pleasantly surprised. While winter has everybody grabbing heavy winter jackets and comfortable sweaters, the warmer weather seen in the beginning of the fall and at the end of spring leaves cuter fashion options open. With all the confusion about what to pack and what not to pack, it’s good to know the facts before you arrive in August.

1. Don’t forget your bathing suit!

While first instinct is to grab a jacket when heading up to Binghamton first semester, it’s actually unnecessary until Thanksgiving comes along. The first few months are full of sunshine and warm weather, so prepare to pack your shorts and tanks. Short flowery minis and the popular maxi dresses can be spotted among those who seem to have rolled out of bed in their pajamas.

With warmer months, having at least one bathing suit at hand is also a good idea, as many students lay out on the campus green to catch some rays in between classes. And if you have access to a car, other places to tan are just a short drive away (see our ‘Where to guide’).

2. The perfect pair of boots

As the fall months approach, it’s harder to get into those cute outfits that just seemed to pull themselves together when it was warmer out. While the task seems impossible, the best way to stay in style at Binghamton seems to be the right pair of boots. With new UGG styles, it’s easy to keep your feet warm while still looking great. Sarah Brovda, a sophomore majoring in English with a concentration in rhetoric, explains that while UGGs may seem horrible at first, they’re completely worth it.

‘UGGs are a lifesaver in the winter, they keep you warm and are so comfortable,’ Brovda explained.

Other shoe brands, such as the well-known Frye, allow a range of boot styles that match with anything. Pair a cute pair of boots with leggings or your most comfortable jeans and you’ll feel good, and look good for class.

3. Two words: rain gear

While snow still allows some comfort, without the proper rain boots and rain parka, good luck getting to class with any part of you and your books staying dry. While rain attire is not always the most fashionable, Hunter rain boots spotted on celebrities like Mary-Kate Olsen and Kate Moss make it more appealing to sport rain boots out on those rainy days. Kim DeAngelo, a junior majoring in human development, explains that without her Hunter rain boots, she would never make it to class on those rainy days.

‘They keep my feet warm and dry, and don’t look as bad as you might think,’ DeAngelo said.

Other companies like Target offer a variety of cute rain boots online for a lower price if you don’t want to dish out a little extra cash for designer boots.

4. The LBD (little black dress)

While winter months may make dressing for class harder, don’t forget a cute black dress and high heels for those nights in Downtown Binghamton. No matter how cold it is, the low-key bars are packed with people looking like they’re getting dressed for New York City. While not everyone is dressed to impress, in upstate New York it’s nice to feel good once in a while when going out on the ‘town.’

5. The right pants and sweater

Dressing in colder weather, you want to be comfortable when you’re running around campus and going to class. While jeans aren’t always the most comfortable option, new jean leggings allow you to feel comfortable and look cute at the same time. It is also important to make sure you pack a good pair of sweatpants for those days when you actually need to just lounge around. Also, make sure you pack that comfy sweater to keep warm on those bone-chilling days.