Style has become a force to be reckoned with on IU's campus, and this year is no exception. Students from all over the country have adopted fashionable styles that are fit for any college student, but are distinctive to IU. This semester new styles have been established such as the Vera Bradley bag, while other pieces like the UGG boots remain a staple among students at IU. \nIU continues to remain a fashionable college according to Women's Wear Daily. Though college is a place to study and receive a higher education, many students are getting an education in fashion and designer \nlabels.\n"I think it has a lot to do with how IU is. Students are very stylish," said junior Ruthie Riechard. "My designer quotient has gone up. Before I came here, I did not know anything about designer labels; now I have four pairs of designer jeans, a Coach bag and a Vera Bradley bag." \nVera Bradley bags have become an overnight phenomenon on campus with students having multiple bags in various colors. Women sport the bags on the weekends, and during the week the bags double as book bags.\n"I am very into totes, and it carries a lot," said junior Carrie Neilson. "It's pretty versatile."\nThe paisley bags with a different paisley-patterned trim at the top are made in Indiana and can be seen all over campus. Now they can be found at the Indiana Memorial Union Bookstore. \n"I noticed students wearing them and being a husband, father and grandfather, I was alerted to it," said Paul Hazel, bookstore director.\nThe bookstore sells the bags in a small space on the second floor. It began selling the bags in October and the store just received the spring stock last week. \n"We try to listen to the students," Hazel said. "We had some requests and Vera Bradley came up with a college bookstore program, and fortunately they sell well." \nHazel said the fact that the bags are made in Indiana definitely had an influence on his decision to stock the bags. Though the bags sell well, Hazel finds the recent phenomenon ironic. \n"They are expensive as are other name brand bags," he said. "That's interesting being a bookstore director and getting complaints about the price of textbooks. Anytime we are told we have to buy something, there is some resistance. When you are told you need a $98 Vera Bradley, you're going to buy it."
Oversized totes have become popular on campus because of their stylish look and their size. Junior Victoria Benincasa carries a pink Longchamps bag and rocks a Juicy Couture bomber with a fur trim hood, Chanel glasses and UGGs. She said she prefers the look of a tote. \n"I always carry a shoulder bag," Benincasa said. "It has the functionality of a backpack, but it has a more chic look."\nThe look Benincasa is talking about is considered by some to be a city look inspired mainly by the runways of New York and the students from New York who attend IU. The look is composed of suede or furry boots, designer sunglasses and bomber coats with fur trim around the hood. \n"It's definitely a New York, East Coast look," said sophomore Laura Sweitzwer, who is from Westchester, N.Y. Sweitzwer, who stunts in a Michael Kors bomber coat with fur trim around the hood, UGGs and Gucci glasses, prefers her hometown look.\n"I wanted a puffy coat with fur on the hood," she said. "I have a pair of short UGGs, but I wanted tall ones with fur on the outside." \nThough the look can be expensive, many other women not from the East Coast are also adopting it and other urban-inspired looks. Junior Kristen Ratliff, who sports a corduroy coat from Aeropostale, boots from 5.7.9 and a Dooney & Bourke purse, said comfort and femininity influence her look. \n"Even when I dress casual, I try to put a feminine touch on it," she said. "That's why I like this blouse -- it's ultra feminine. If I wasn't going to school to be a doctor, I would definitely do something in fashion." \nWomen on campus aren't the only ones catching the urban fashion bug. Now men are also in the game. \nMen can be seen on campus sporting down vests, collared shirts and jeans, along with the "no name hat." \n"I don't know what the hat is called," sophomore Chirag Patel said. "All I know is I have 10 of them in different colors." \nThe hat resembles a beenie with a brim and has popped up on men all over campus. It is worn with a preppy or hip-hop look and for many, every day of the week. \n"My favorite color is the black because it goes with anything," he said. "I would describe my style as metrosexual; at least that's what my friends say." \nJunior Derrin Granger said he doesn't know how the hat became so popular. \n"I seen Nas wear one and Jay-Z wear one," he said. "But I don't wear one because they wore one. I like the way they look." \nThough IU students have defended their style, one can only think about what will be adopted for spring. If the past predicts the future, it is certain to be unique, stylish and distinctive to IU.
