A Texas-size hair bow can really make a kindergarten girl look even smaller than her 3-foot-8-inch self. It sure did on my first day of school. Though I was raised in Colorado, my mom is all Texan, so the hair bow was my signature first day of school look. Most of us no longer wear hair bows, but the first day of school excitement still remains – even in college.

Somewhere on the road from childhood to adulthood, the signature shifted from a Texas-size hair bow to a Texas-size hobo. Either way, there is something enchanting about an outfit for the first day of school: No other outfit worn the whole year has the same energy. After a week, combating the sweatpants blues can turn into an all out war. Weeks later, you will wake up before class with enough time to get up, pull yourself out of bed and go to class exactly as you are. So what exactly is the secret of those who manage to look so sharp all the time?

Pick something that is yours. If you think of a person whose style you strive to emulate, there are always a few major staples in his or her wardrobe. One of my style role models can pull off sweats to class. She can because she never forgets to add the pieces that still make her style individual and that make her, unique. For the days when she just needs to wear sweats, she chooses styles that are still figure flattering, and have an appropriate embellishment or two to complement her choice of attire-never old high-school gym sweats. They don’t look like pajamas; instead, they look like nice leisure pants. Instead of running shoes, she couples her outfit with trendy sneakers. Artfully athletic biking-shoe styles are perfect. All of this paired with fun bangles, a tighter shirt, a tailored book bag and hair in a sleek ponytail (with a headband) not only looks great, but is a perfect example of original style.

Part of preserving that first day of school magic is choosing staples that you can wear all the time and are totally yours. Put your money where you will get the most mileage. Purses, shoes, jeans and jackets are pieces worn constantly. Spending all of your money on one shirt will make you feel phenomenal for one day, but every other day may feel as though you are lacking. School supplies fall under the same category. Even if I am not looking forward to a lecture I will still go, but pulling out a cool notepad and a colorful pen when I get there makes me instantly happier. If you have a few really great pieces that are options for almost every day, pulling yourself together is incredibly easy.

Another secret of those who seem to float along looking fantastic every week is they look great underneath and around the clothes. A haircut is one of the best back-to-school investments. You wear it every single day, so it better be darn good. Manicures and pedicures take any look to the next level, as opposed to chipped, dirty nails. Good, clean and well-kept nails make you look more sophisticated, and you have the opportunity to discover a signature nail polish color that is uniquely your own.

An individual style is the mark of a confident person. Audrey had her flats, Marilyn had her dresses and Jackie had her sunglasses. If you see a Texas-size bow on a purse, the bag may be mine. Try one on for size this semester-it will help you keep the first-day magic.