Today I went to Husky Fest, and I finally gave in at the student bookstore. I dropped $158 on an XL quarter-zip sweater I’d been eyeing for weeks, plus a pair of joggers that fit right. As soon as I got home, I quickly realized I liked the zip-up way more than the sweats. The sweats are going back, $70 refund coming soon. But the quarter-zip?
That’s staying.
Why I Chose the Quarter-Zip Over the Sweats
Yeah, I know it’s steep. But something hit me today.
As you know, I’m an investor. I write about finance. And yeah, I know this is the same kind of quarter-zip that all the finance bros wear, the ones heading to the office or hitting the golf course. But I realized I don’t want that version.
I want mine.
This is my version of that crisp, put-together uniform. But instead of buttoned-up meetings and boardrooms, I wear mine when I’m deep in study mode, writing articles, or just sitting in the quiet doing the real work. This isn’t about trying to look like I’m “on”, it’s about feeling like I’m grounded. Tuned in. Present.
This UW quarter-zip is my thinking armor. My “building an empire from my desk” layer. It will be the one I reach for when I need to reset, focus, and move with intention. I’m creating a space. A mindset. A ritual that says: “I’m calm. I’m ready. I’m building.”
Finding My Fit: The XL Debate
I’ll be honest, at first, I debated whether I should exchange it for a more snug fit. I kept thinking maybe I needed it to fit tighter, hug in the right spots, look sharper, like the version in my head of how I thought it was “supposed” to fit when heading to campus or the library to get work done. But the more I wore this oversized one, the more it started to feel right.
After all deep down I have always disliked the idea of wearing clothing that made me uncomfortable in that fake or stiff sense where I look professional but the life is sucked out of me. Especially when thinking about working in the finance field, if I ever go that route, even as a psychology major.
So I chose the XL with comfort as the purpose.
The Quarter-Zip Is More Than Just Clothes
And because it’s UW-branded, it hits even deeper. I didn’t just buy a random $82 sweatshirt. I bought a symbol of where I am, where I’ve been, and where I’m headed.
There was a moment I had to remind myself of something important:
That I didn’t waste money. I made a meaningful investment in my own peace, focus, and energy. And it’s already paying off. When I’m writing, studying, working on my site, or just trying to calm my anxiety, this is what I want to be wearing.
For the first time in a long time, the spending side, won over the let’s invest that amount into 7 shares of Kenvue for the investment fund side of me. If you remember awhile back I wrote about a vintage UW jacket at a thrift store I found after visiting a local bakery.
The XL is staying, and it will be my cocoon. My home base. The thing I throw on when I need to pull myself back together or refill my tank. If it brings me peace and helps me feel more like myself, that’s priceless.
This Is My New Work-From-Home Uniform
Later down the line, I’ll probably grab a smaller size. Something more fitted, more styled for stepping outside. But for now? This is the one. This is what fits my life, my grind, and the season I’m in.
This isn’t just loungewear.
This is gear for the grind.
My studio uniform. My reading robe. My money-making hoodie in disguise.
And when I’m stepping out, hitting a study group, a coffee shop, or just feeling a little sharper, that’s when the next one will have its moment.
Cocoon at home. Confidence outside.
I Didn’t Just Buy a Sweater, It’s Bigger Than That
And the best part? I didn’t just buy a piece of fabric. I bought a feeling. I bought a safe space disguised as a quarter-zip. And I’m letting it be exactly that.
I’ve even thought about gently shrinking it, just enough to snug up the sleeves and neck without losing the length or softness I love. And honestly? It’s already earned its price.
I studied in it. I worked on my site in it. I showed up for myself in it.
This isn’t just loungewear, it’s gear for the grind. It makes me feel calm, productive, and grounded. That’s not guilt. That’s value.
I don’t need every piece of clothing to be for “going out” to justify it. Sometimes, the stuff I wear in my sacred space, my creative zone, my sanctuary, is the most important.
And let’s be real again, the world is full of overpriced, uncomfortable clothes that make people feel stiff or fake. But I found something that makes me feel at peace. If this sweater helps me push my website forward, keep up with school, and regulate my anxiety while looking just put-together enough to feel like good, even if it never leaves the house, that’s a power move.
Because oftentimes than not this is where my empire is being built.
Perhaps, I have a future in copywriting after writing this?
The Broke College Student 
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