One of the hardest things to adjust to freshman year is, undoubtedly, dorm living — and (ew) shared bathrooms. While the bathrooms I frequented in Clara Dickson some years ago were pleasantly clean, you still couldn’t have paid me to shower without some protection between my feet and the shower tiles. Thus, for once, cheap rubber flip flops became a new wardrobe staple. My flops of choice? Personalized, bejeweled white Havaianas, weighing in at a cool $98 back in 2006. They lasted about three weeks before gathering enough soap residue to force their retirement. The replacement, $18 plain Havaianas, lasted about as long before the thong came apart from the sole. — $18 to $98

I soon learned that when it came to showering, fashion didn’t matter much — and besides, my towels were fabulous. I switched to a pair of Old Navy classic flip flops. Available in myriad colors and sizes, I stocked up while they were still available (stores usually run out around September, so hurry!). While the new flops still required monthly-ish replacement due to my rather stringent foot hygiene rules, they were a lot cheaper than my prior choices. And let’s be honest, crystal-initialed flip flops belong on a 13 year old, not an otherwise nude college student in the shower. — $5

The Verdict: Obviously Old Navy flops are the best bet.

One of the products that I use daily, but often give very little thought to, is a book bag. While I reluctantly retired my classic L.L. Bean backpack after high school (an older, wiser, but misinformed friend told me that “no college girls carry backpacks”), I debated very little over my first college book bag. A classic Vineyard Vines tote, it had sailboats on the silk trim and a durable canvas exterior, and it fit my books and laptop like a charm. Three years later, Vineyard Vines totes are a dime a dozen on the Arts Quad, and my collection has been retired to backup duty. — $95

My new choice is a throwback to my high school days, when a small CK Bradley tote served as a carryall. Up in Ithaca, I need a bigger bag, but the CK Bradley large tote does the trick with books and notebooks. Much more unique, and much less likely to be spotted on the arm of one of the many girls in Psych 101, CK Bradley’s totes are just as preppy as Vineyard Vines, and CK Bradley has the advantage of being older, less mainstream and overall better than Vineyard Vines (though I love them both dearly). Guys, it’s okay for you to stick to a backpack. They really are still cool. — $91

The Verdict:  Sure, you can Cornell Card the Cornell VV tote, but go with a CK Bradley tote — you’ll thank me when you see the 46 other VV totes in your largest lecture.