... Okay, so I personally have been back to school for about a week. This post was supposed to come much earlier, but already I have a TON of reading to do on top of work as a TA. There's a lot more to do than I expected! But that's not what this post is about...
I like wearing lolita at least once within the first week of school. I know some people say to work up to it, and that would probably be a better option for someone in high school, but for college, I like to wear it at some point within the first week. On the first day of classes, if the weather permits. Which it might not. But if it's raining, nobody is going to be looking cute... or at the very least they'll have the "well I was cute until I forgot my umbrella" look. And not looking as cute as you could is a lot better than getting a print that bleeds wet because the wind changed. (In Galveston we get heavy wind and rain a lot... the rain blows sideways. It's not fun. I have one of those bubble umbrellas because the wind kept turning all my other ones inside out.) Also, for goodness sake double check that your rain boots don't have cracks in them before you wear cute socks with them. But that's another post entirely.
I think wearing lolita on the first day of classes gives people a heads up about what to expect. Whether you're a lifestyler, or only wear it occasionally, if your classmates and professors, not to mention others around campus, are going to be seeing you in it at all, then the first day is going to make it as least awkward as possible. Yes, you will get some stares, and maybe some harsh looks, but you'll also get a lot of compliments. You can also force people to give you space on the first day... it's a little hard to invade someone's space if that someone is wearing a petticoat. Consider wearing three if the person next to you is particularly unsavory. And as we all know, once you do something at least a few times, it becomes a habit, so if your poof is big enough, then Creeper McGee shouldn't be anywhere near you even on your non-lolita days. Use your poof wisely and intimidate people into leaving you alone (I'm kidding... mostly. Negate this with a friendly smile and taking out your headphones to invite conversation.)
Also, wearing lolita while you're figuring out your schedule and what the rooms are like is a big help for knowing when it's most feasible to wear it in the future. PLEASE DON'T WEAR LOLITA TO YOUR CHEMISTRY LAB. Do you want to spill anything in that lab on your Baby jsk? No. Definitely not. Do you have your geology lab and have to immediately after run to your biology lecture in an auditorium? Probably not a good idea to wear lolita on those days, unless you like sitting in the front. If you think that you could get away with wearing lolita to a lab, like a lab for an archaeology class or something similar, then check with the professor first. (Unless it's a Ship Building Tools class, don't wear it to those.) Or, if they have a semi-detailed schedule on their syllabus, check that. Auditorium seating would probably be okay for lolita (I've done it many times) but I'd recommend sitting in the front or on the sides, where you don't have to slide along a row of seats and knock everyone's materials off the tiny little mini-desks. If the school loves you and you have classes in normal classrooms with desks or long tables, then you should be just fine.
I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again. If you're shy, or don't have thick skin, headphones are always a good option. Just put your headphones in, hit play, and head to class. You definitely won't hear if anyone makes a nasty comment, and you'll be focused enough that you probably won't notice stares either. Plus, if you're listening to music you like, then you'll look more cheerful. I've found that cheer and poof deflect nasty stares pretty well. Your professors probably won't say anything, unless it's a compliment. They're adults, after all. And as for students? If you do happen to overhear something, staring directly at the person is at the very least going to startle them, and will usually embarrass them into silence. If they don't stop, then just remember that the bigger you are, the more intimidating you are, so if you feel safe enough (so, if you're in a classroom with other people) walking up to them and standing super close to them so you look very tall, and asking if they have a problem, should get them to leave you alone. That can be VERY hard to do if you're shy, but remember to look angry, and all you have to do is speak one sentence clearly. I haven't had to do this, though, so I can't say for sure. Just remember, if you ever feel unsafe, talk with your campus' police, or your community/residential leader/assistant if your problem is in the dorms.
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