Going to uni as a "mature" student - what on earth shall I wear ??

[whatohwhattowear]

Please help me !

I'm late 20s and off to uni in a few weeks and I have no idea what to wear. I am studying "farming" (I don't want to use the proper name as I don't want to be on the google searches !) alongside business. I just don't know how to balance "I'm serious about my studies/hire me when I'm qualified" look with "I'm not a tutor". I had a nosey on open days and it's a lot of skinny jeans and wax jackets, but I can't wear that all the time. I'm about a size 16 at the moment which doesn't help ,also I have to dress somewhat modestly (ie leggings with any dresses and at least t shirt length sleeves). However I am worried I'll go slip down the "Boden dress /leggings/hunter welly" slippery slope ....

I never know who's going to suddenly turn up so I have to at least have a nod towards looking a little professional I guess (think multinational companies and what not) but I could also end up at any given moment on a farm/on a tractor.

Please help me

[CoolToned]

wax jackets?

[whatohwhattowear]

Yeh you know like Barbour jackets.

[vitaminC]

I became a mature student in my late 30s and also wondered how to dress. I left a corporate career and it took me quite a while to get used to casual wear every day.
These days I tend to dress fairly similarly to the other students but I buy slightly more expensive versions in better quality fabrics, as I can no longer get away with cheaper items - i just look scruffy.

[CoolToned]

I'm a mature student right now, in my late 30s. Basically I wear jeans, sneakers, t-shirt, and a jacket/down jacket/parka depending on the weather.

[TheDropBear]

Casual stuff, unless it's a specific event your lecturers won't care what you wear.
Most of the year will probably be in jeans and hoodies.

[titchy]

You'll impress no-one if you wear inappropriate clothing for the occasion - you want to be able to demonstrate your awareness and flexibility to cover every eventuality, so given that you could be expected to jump on a tractor at any given moment jeans and suitable footwear.

[Pisssssedofff]

Why would potential employers suddenly turn up and expect you dressed professionally ? I met my last employer on a train whilst dressed as a fairy - me and Santa - him, we swapped business cards, I started in the new year

[IAmAPaleontologist]

I spent my degree as a mature student in jeans or shift dresses with opaque tights. Just my normal clothes. Tbh my main concern was earring stuff that would stay comfortable for a day in lectures. I wore jeans less and less as it went on because bending over the stupid tiny desks all day with a jeans waist band quickly becomes uncomfortable.

[whatohwhattowear]

Not exactly professionally but I don't think I'd be taken very seriously if I'm there in juicy couture and uggs, however comfy. I'm trying to think of a good balance. Jeans aren't very comfy atm (I put on weight which I'm losing) and I get bad muffin top. Blazers would be good but I don't think they suit my size either ? For the boys it's easy - they all wear cords and checked shirts