Congratulations! Back-to-school season is right around the corner, and your letter from Hogwarts has arrived. Maybe it’s a few years later than expected, but don’t feel bad. We can’t all be ready for a magical boarding school at age 11!

With the letter, you probably received a long list of supplies you need to purchase, like Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a wizard-appropriate pet, and, of course, a wand from Ollivanders. It’s a very thorough shopping guide, but there’s one thing you’ll find missing from it: clothes!

Now, I know what you’re going to say. Hogwarts students wear uniforms. And honestly, as uniforms go, they aren’t so bad! Those v-neck cardigans and pencil skirts are reasonably flattering.

That being said, there’s only so long you can wear the same charcoal skirts and shapeless robes as every single person you know before you start to go mad. You’ll need to find special occasions to let your personal style fly, and when they come, you’ll want to be prepared.

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Packing Tips for Hogwarts:

• Don’t worry about overpacking. Unlike basically every other dormitory in the world, Hogwarts can actually accommodate a lot of your stuff! Remember Hermione Granger’s magical Mary Poppins bag? A simple charm can help you stay organized.

• Although your letter says you can bring a cat, an owl, or a toad– and some students have even snuck in rats– the fashionable wizard or witch should ignore the rest and go for an owl. How else will get your clothing deliveries at a school with no UPS or online shopping?

• Embrace hats. You’re not a real wizard until you’ve developed an unhealthy obsession with funky hats. In the wizarding world, the more hats, the better, so don’t be shy when it comes to headgear.

Trip to Hogsmeade

Hogsmeade is a quaint village near Hogwarts, with popular and enchanting stores like Honeydukes and Zonko’s Joke Shop. With a guardian’s signature, students in their third year and above have the opportunity to leave the castle for field trips into town. First-years aren’t technically allowed to visit Hogsmeade, but neither was a permission-less Harry Potter, and that didn’t stop him.