Campus fashion – it’s difficult to define what it is, how we define it and who determines it. What girls are wearing to class today is very different from what they were wearing in the 1950s.
The days of poodle skirts and pink ascots are over. Today we have made room for a new era of campus fashion.
I caught up with sophomore Emma Peters to get her take on campus fashion and what she enjoys wearing to class.
She is wearing army green textured leggings, a white graphic tee with black, block lettering and a black distressed washed jean jacket.
“I like to look presentable for class if possible,” Peters said. “I like to wear things that are comfortable yet in style. I am a big fan of fashion leggings that I can wear with sweaters and tops. It makes class more comfortable, but I still look presentable.”
If you take a walk down North Jordan during peak class times, you will see many similar outfits — leggings; oversized sorority or fraternity t-shirt; and most likely black Nikes, white Adidas Superstars or black, quilted Steve Madden slip-ons.
This outfit has become the quintessential sorority-girl-going-to-class outfit, but what about the girls who enjoy looking nice in class? Some girls prefer jeans and riding boots to leggings and sneakers.
Peters’ style is one I think a lot of girls can relate to — they do not want to look like they simply rolled out of bed but do not feel obliged to put on a full face of makeup and their Sunday best.
Apparel merchandising professor Mary Embry said she agrees.
“I would rather have my students be comfortable for class rather than dressed to the nines and all they can focus on is how uncomfortable they are and not the material that is being taught,” she said. “I think you can still be stylish for class, but also comfortable at the same time.”
Now this begs the question – is the look-good-feel-good mantra an ideal of the past or is the key to “dress for success” to get those tight skinny jeans on at 7:30 in the morning?
If style is defined as expressing yourself through what you wear — if you feel good in a big t-shirt and leggings — then you are essentially dressing for your own success.
One thing that makes fashion distinct is it is subjective.
A comfortable outfit to class for one person could be a scrubbing day for someone else.
In regards to how we define and who determines campus fashion, it is up to you.
The student body has defined what campus fashion is and is not by what the majority wears to class; however, like with anything, there will always be outliers who push the limits and shake things up.
sbunes@indiana.edu
@sambunesIDS
