It might be a total amateur move, but wearing your best, most extra outfit on the first day of school has been shown to have life-changing effects—in the movies. In celebration of likely *not* having to worry about this particular problem anymore, we present 12 standout examples from fiction.
'Mean Girls'
Objectively, the plaid shirt gets a four, but the African homeschooling gets an 11.
1 of 12
'Easy A'
Going the "If you can't be popular, be notorious" route, Emma Stone's Olive references literature *and* cops one of this season's biggest trends. More like Easy A+. (Scooting away now.)
2 of 12
'Rebel Without a Cause'
Three words: Damn, James Dean.
3 of 12
'She's the Man'
If you're not wearing a wig to impersonate your twin brother Sebastian on *your* first day, you're doing it wrong, TBH.
4 of 12
'17 Again'
HA. HAHA. HAHAHAHAA. (But can't stop watching??)
5 of 12
'Grease'
Proving that no matter how much Danny Zuko a girl's had in one summer, she should always stay true to her sartorial self. *clears throat pointedly*
6 of 12
'Never Been Kissed'
On the other hand, here is one that represents the "there's always room for improvement" end of things.
7 of 12
'Dead Poets Society'
For those of us who never wore a uniform, this kind of dressing is both a dream and a nightmare. But on young Robert Sean Leonard, it's more of the former.
8 of 12
'Fast Times at Ridgemont High'
Ah, to have Spicoli's surfer-dude insouciance (without the weed hangover).
9 of 12
'Rushmore'
Red beret too or nothing. JK—eccentric high school students everywhere unite.
10 of 12
'Legally Blonde'
Love this intellectual Hugh Hefner look.
11 of 12
Everett
'Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen'
The headscarf. The Coke-bottle-cap necklace. The theatrics. Is there any other way to start at a new high school? I think not.