You can't help but stare as she walks by you. She's either wearing every "look" you've seen in this month's Vogue or whatever has trickled down the New York Fashion Week runways to the Corner. Every piece of clothing on her body screams, "trend: This semester, and this semester only!"
Yes, she looks cute, but the clothes arranged on her body are either a motley assortment of what the magazines have told her to wear, what the designers have put on the runway or what seemingly "everyone" at the University is wearing (or, EEK! all of the above).
Example #1, Head to Toe: Blow-dried hair, Gucci aviators, perfectly manicured nails, a tiny shirt paired with a pleated mini skirt, coach logo slides and the newest Louis Vuitton bag.
Is that what I saw in this month's "Bazaar" or did I see an actual University student wearing that ensemble on the way to class? Believe it or not, both. This girl was carrying her books in her hands and had her pencils balanced on the books, as if she's just too cool for a tote bag or backpack.
Example #2, Head to Toe: Every single thing he's wearing is from Abercrombie. There's the khaki cargo pocket shorts with the A&F logo t-shirt and flip-flops, topped off with a seashell necklace (not actually from the beach, but made in some Abercrombie factory) and a visor, with (what else?) "Abercrombie, Est. 1892" emblazoned on the front.
This boy looks cute, but he's wearing all of one brand -- the same brand that a lot of people on Grounds wear. I guess it's fine if he doesn't really know or feel like putting together his own outfit, but this is a little much, in my opinion.
Example #3: Whether it's a group of girls or a group of guys, they all are walking together, and they all look exactly the same. I think it's true that we like to hang out with people that are similar to us; it makes us feel more comfortable and it's more often that we gravitate toward people that are like us. This doesn't, however, mean we have to be wearing the exact same outfit as the person next to us, only in a different color. This doesn't mean we have to be wearing the same Abercrombie shorts only in a different shade of brown, the same Polo button-up in a different pastel color or the same "it" bag of the season.
You may be confused by what message I'm trying to relay amid my examples of magazine fashion victims and University reality.
I think it's best to go with the realm called "somewhere in between."
I hope what you wear is somewhere in between what you feel is stylish, what you feel comfortable in and what you feel you would wear regardless of the time or the place or who you're surrounded by.
I hope you wear those huge pearl earrings and that string of pearls because you think they're pretty or because putting them on makes you feel good. I hope you wear that pair of Abercrombie shorts, flipped-up collar or American Eagle visor because it's what you would wear back home -- not because you feel like everyone here (or everyone in the magazines, for that matter) is wearing this stuff.
I hope you buy an outfit because you feel it's flattering and that it would go with a lot of the old favorites you have in your closet right now -- not because the salesperson told you it was the "new thing," the editor of the magazine printed "must have" next to it or because your best friend said "everyone has this, you need to get it."
Fashion is "whatever." You can use your clothes to express yourself, you can experiment with fashion as a hobby, you can be a slave to fashion (as long as you are because you want to be) or you can just wear clothes because you need something to cover your body.
If you feel comfortable in what you're wearing (even if it's not what "everyone" else wears), then go for it! Fashion is supposed to be fun -- it's not about piling together as many labels as you can. It's not about wearing as many trends as you can possibly fit into one outfit. It's not about wearing something because you feel like you won't fit in if you don't.
Before I end my philosophical rambling, I'll sum it all up. Mixing trendy pieces with old favorites is what fashion is all about. As soon as you start to get serious and up-tight about what you're wearing, onlookers can tell.
So loosen up, put on whatever and strut your stuff, because looking different and taking a risk is better than playing it safe and looking like every kid in your 12:00 class.
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