The right buys make college life easier

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Dorm, sweet dorm.

For all of you recent high school grads, those words are filled with anticipation. They represent freedom from mom and dad, a place to study, and on the weekends (or not), a place to party.

But right now, in these weeks before you pack up the minivan and head off to State U, there are more pressing priorities. Namely shopping.

You can’t show up empty-handed. Especially if you told your roomie that you’d bring the microwave and minifridge. Of course, what you leave home is as important as what you bring.

I have never been a minimalist – more is always more where I’m concerned. So when I showed up at college my freshman year with two packed cars in tow, I can imagine what my poor roommate was thinking: “This girl is a freak, but I can live with six teddy bears and 24 pairs of jeans if she brought a good coffeemaker and microwave.”

Time has given me perspective and, having learned from my own mistakes, I urge you to resist the homey allure of picture frames, photo albums, knickknacks and collections. You don’t need them. And by all means, leave the ferret, cat or purse-size dog at home.

For the next year, you’ll be sharing a space that’s roughly the size of a Steve Madden shoebox with at least one other person. And the closets? Well, let me just say, if you like shoes, you’re out of luck.

Economy of space is key. Those “bed risers” you see at Bed Bath & Beyond aren’t just a helpful idea, they’re a necessity. In order to cram as much stuff as you need in as little space as possible (and still enjoy your time in college), I offer the following suggestions:

. Read the student housing handbook. This way, you’ll know what you can and can’t bring. For example, some campuses have banned halogen lamps, hotplates and candles, while others have extra-long twin mattresses, which require special sheets (which are available everywhere from Filene’s to Kmart). This also will give you an idea of the furniture that’s already in your room.

. Call your roommate-to-be if you haven’t already. Figure out what he or she plans to bring in terms of the big-ticket, big-space items (dorm fridge, easy chair, microwave, TV, DVD player, stereo) and plan to bring the rest. Also, find out if your room has a phone or if you need to bring one.

. Speaking of phones, find out if your cellular plan will work in Syracuse, Burlington, Orono or wherever else you’re going. If not, plan accordingly.

. Don’t forget the essentials. I’ve made a handy checklist that you can cut out and bring with you, but if you forget it, Bed Bath & Beyond has lists available when you walk through the door.

. Aside from the essentials, bring other things that will make you feel comfortable. I couldn’t live without my “husband,” which is really a pillow with arms that lets you read in bed. I used it for years until it turned a strange shade of brown and looked like it was ready to walk off on its own. If you’re meticulous about your clothing, bring an iron and ironing board. Stock up on your favorite soda or snacks. Can’t sleep without a fan? Bring one. If there’s room and you’re an avid cyclist, bring your bike and ride to class. That way, you can sleep in an extra five minutes.

. Always consider your roommate’s comfort. This may be the first time you’ve had to share a room with someone, and cohabitation has its challenges, even if you’re rooming with your best friend. If you know you’ll be up late reading, buy a clip-on lamp so you won’t keep your roommate awake (cute lamps are available at Target, but I like the tiny Mighty Bright book light at Borders). Bring your own alarm clock and dishes (plastic is preferable) so you don’t have to borrow them. If you want to decorate, consult with your roommate – if you have similar taste, you can pick out a scheme together (I recommend Target’s dorm room decor section, which is tasteful, fun and fabulous). If she’s a Goth gal and you’re more Elle Woods, make your side of the room your own, but leave hers alone.

. Consider the bathroom situation. You can’t just leave your stuff in there, unless you want Sally from down the hall sneaking your Aveda shampoo instead of using the Suave she brought. You’ll need a caddy with drainage in the bottom, preferably made of plastic. You can find these everywhere, from Target to T.J. Maxx. If you want a deluxe model with compartments for your toothpaste, razor, toothbrush, shampoo and other toiletries, check out the tubs at Bed Bath & Beyond for $9.99. They’re huge, but they get the job done. Without question, you must bring flip-flops, because you don’t even want to know what’s on those shower floors.

. Leave anything that can’t be replaced at home. Most campuses are safe, but it’s not unheard of for people to discover their mother’s pearl earrings or their grandmother’s engagement ring are missing from their jewelry box.

. Bring your computer, but wait until you get to campus to buy school supplies. You won’t know what you need until your first week of classes.

. Take a deep breath, relax and have fun. You only have a few more weeks until classes start, and at that point, dorm d?cor will be the furthest thing from your mind.

Reader question

Dear ShopGirl,

First let me say I read your column faithfully every Saturday. Well, that and all the fliers for the upcoming sales, of course.

Now for my question. My sister-in-law and I have this problem. There must be other women who do too. Our problem is once you find jeans to fit in the hips, buttocks and thigh area, you could fit another whole person in the waist. We can’t find jeans that fit and look good. They gap out in the back too far and if you wear a belt they get that all-gathered-up look. YUCK!

We don’t want a pair of darted, high waisted jeans, and we don’t want them so low that you could potentially see where the sun doesn’t shine. We want a pair of comfortable, mid-low-rise, in-style-looking jeans. Do jean companies really think women are “BOX” built? Where are the jeans for women with a smaller waist and slightly (note the slightly) fuller hips, buttocks and thighs?

Is there hope? Help us ShopGirl!!

-“J. Lo Booty” girl

Dear J.Lo,

Thanks for reading!

I know plenty of women who have this problem, and I have a few recommendations. I’m not sure where you live, but Express (closest shop is Maine Mall) has the best-fitting jeans for women with curves – perfectly proportioned.

Several of my Bootylicious friends wear jeans from Gap and Old Navy. Calvin Klein also makes well-proportioned jeans, but you may need to wear a bigger size than usual, because they’re cut small. I’m also a big fan of a junior’s brand called Tyte. They make slightly stretchy jeans that fit like they were made just for you (and they’re not just for size zeros, either). You can find them at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls.

I hope this helps, and as always, happy shopping!

ShopGirl would love to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions by e-mail to: kandresen@bangordailynews.net, by U.S. mail to: Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402-1329, or by fax to: 941-9476. Tune in to ShopGirl at 5 p.m. Fridays on WLBZ-2.