There’s nothing quite as therapeutic as going out on a Friday night after a rough week of classes: your ladies by your side, your hair bouncing around you in a mess of curls, the past week’s struggles nothing but a distant memory.

You’re ready to dance all that stress away, regardless of whether your moves are more Carlton from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” than Beyoncé during the 2013 Super Bowl.

You just can’t shake it like that, and you’ve come to accept it. But this is your night. Hey, you might even want to put on some lipstick and opt for real pants instead of your usual leggings look. You’re ready to kill it.

And you might as well look dang good doing it.

Here’s the real beauty of living in a college town: If there’s ever a time in your life to be bold in your fashion choices, a Friday night in a college town is it. There’s something about wanting to face all the potential of the night in style that makes even the most skeptical girls trade sweatpants for mini skirts and hoodies for crop tops. It’s a weekly Christmas miracle!

But if you’re looking for some variation from the typical exposed belly and dangerously short skirt look, step outside of your “going out” comfort zones and into my laboratory.

The key to making a really fabulous “going out” ensemble is having a few key go-to pieces. For me, it’s a pair of high-waisted pants that hit perfectly on the waistline with combat boots for when I’m feeling edgy, white Converse high-tops for when I’m feeling spunky, a flattering white tank top or a beaded headband.

By having a few staple pieces, you can then proceed to pair those with almost anything else in your wardrobe to transform them into different looks.

For example, I can take my combat boots and pair them with leather pants and a fringe top for a daring, saucy look or pair them with a flouncy patterned dress and classic jewelry for something more fun and flirty. I can wear my beaded headband over soft curls with a peplum blouse for a delicate feminine look or wear it hippie-style with a flowy, high-waisted skirt for something more bohemian.

If you have those go-to pieces, not only does it make putting an outfit together significantly easier, but it also gives you infinite possibilities to complete whatever look you might be going for later that night.

Also, don’t be afraid to gain inspiration from your girl friends. My friends and I went shopping one day specifically to buy “going out” clothes, and not only was it the most fun we’d had all weekend (hello, trying on leather shirts), but we also helped each other decide what looked best for each of our body types.

My one friend coerced me into trying a fringe tank top with an open back that I wouldn’t typically pick out for myself, and it’s now one of my absolute favorite tops. It makes me feel sassy and suave, and this, my friends, is an unbeatable combination.

Going out is meant to be fun, and dressing for the occasion plays a huge part in that. It’s the perfect excuse to try out that form-fitting dress you’ve been itching to wear, those sexy heels you haven’t worn since senior prom or that sheer blouse that shows a subtle slip of skin.

It’s the time to be bold, confident and maybe even a little bit wild in your fashion choices.

So put on that daring outfit and do that makeup that you didn’t think anyone outside of a Maybelline ad could pull off because, in the words of the fabulous Fergie, “a little party never killed nobody.”