Fashion meets function

After a morning tennis workout and a shower with Justin Bieber cooing in the background, Erika Hall decided it was time to get dressed for the day.

A lot went into selecting the black Banana Republic skinny dress pants and white sleeveless blouse from The Limited the IU junior chose to wear. For Hall, it’s the right combination of femininity and confidence. (Bonus: The sleeveless blouse allows Hall to show off her guns from working out this past summer.)

Part of it is because she wants to go to law school. Another part is because it was the day of her Cox Scholarship ceremony. And another part is due to her position as lectures director for Union Board. Hall said she takes all three very seriously.

But more than anything, Hall’s style of dress is the product of her southern upbringing. As a native of Fort Mill, S.C., there was no such thing as leaving the house without a Polo and Sperrys.

“You just didn’t look bad where I’m from,” Hall said. “There was no question that you’d be seen when you left the house each day, so you were expected to look your best.”
At IU, the culture lends one to believe that girls are to wear leggings and American Apparel.

After some dirty looks for her preppy, conservative appearance, Hall tried on an overpriced, oversized T-shirt freshman year.

“It just wasn’t me,” she said while conditioning her hair. “I found that being myself is enough. I don’t have to respond to how people judge me for the way I dress.”
And while brands such as J.Crew and Banana Republic neatly line her closet, Hall said it isn’t all about the branding.  She said she thought it was important to wear whatever makes you feel good.

“I love to bargain shop for the looks I enjoy most,” Hall said. “There’s no point in paying $300 for a sundress if you don’t have to.”

Margaret Fette, a visiting lecturer in the Department of Apparel Merchandising, has a different point of view. Call her old school, but the grunge of the youth these days is none too appealing to her, mainly because of extremes in fashion. There’s chic and couture, and there’s hipster and hot mess, but there’s seemingly no innovative way to merge the two in a way that makes sense.

In terms of dressing to impress, especially for interviews in jobs or internships, a key piece of her advice is this: The person sitting across the desk from you with the fountain pen and paper is more than likely older than you.

Translation — your version of what’s casual isn’t always appropriate, Fette said.
Fette runs a local business specializing in custom alterations called The Tailored Fit. You wouldn’t believe the lack of fashion utility that walks through my doors, Fette laughed.

Aside from potential employees occasionally blurting out personal business in an interview, fashion faux pas really shock her. 

“All I’m going to say is that deep plunging necklines and short skirts are not flattering on everyone,” she said. “Unless you are a six-pound mannequin, it’s not flattering to most people.”