Head down, smeared makeup from last night, heels in hand, dressed from head to toe in oversized men’s clothes – one glance and everyone knows what you did last night. But students don’t have to fall victim to a campus-wide walk of shame, or the silent judgement that inevitably follows.  The infamous walk of shame is a phenomenon that happens to the average college lady more often than she would like to admit. It’s awkward and embarrassing, but with proper preparation and a few simple tricks, the scarlet letter effect can become a thing of the past. The typical walk of shame outfit often consists of an oversized sweatshirt and pants that are too long. It’s a dead giveaway that you weren’t at home this morning to put together a decent outfit. Work with what you wore the night before to create an ensemble, keeping the details of the previous evening under a veil of discretion. For example, I used a simple little black dress to build two passable outfits.  
First outfit: If the weather is mild, try wearing the dress from the night before as a skirt the next day by pairing a men’s shirt over it. Opt for more fitted styles, such as polos and V-necks to maintain an air of femininity. Bonus points if you can find a belt to wear with it. Pictured is a burgundy V-neck from INC for Macy’s with a thin cognac Michael Kors belt with gold accents thrown over a simple black dress with nude flats.
Second Outfit: If the weather is cooler, be prepared with leggings in your clutch. Go for a more fitted V-neck shirt with long sleeves paired over black leggings. This look is simple and chic. I would actually wear this as an outfit on any day. The look channels a laid-back vibe without making it seem like you don’t care about your appearance. The outfit in the photo was created using a dark grey long-sleeved J. Crew sweater vest with black jeggings and nude flats from Mossimo for Target. With a bit of ingenuity and preparation, the activities of the previous night can remain a mystery. Holly Golightly of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” mastered the walk of shame. The opening scene of the iconic film was just a glorified walk of shame, but she looked classy to boot. The most important part is owning it. Put your head up and smile because you had more fun than most people last night. Party on. ____ Contact Shamiyah Kelley at [email protected]