Have you ever walked past a fellow student, and thought, "She/he definitely dressed in the dark this morning?" Sometimes you give points for creativity, because hey, at least that person tried something different. After all, you can't deny that the quad could double as a holding ground for Ralph Lauren factory exports. Regardless, there is a fine line between creative and, well, just plain bad fashion. The student pictured here? It's hard to decide where to start.
First, the coat: good choice regarding style (corduroy, shearling-lined, leather detail), but not cut or size. It's nice to have a big coat for the winter, but not one that could fit three people inside. There are blankets for that. To find the perfect fit, make sure that the sleeves fall about an inch over your wrist so as to prevent the wind from nipping your skin. Also, when buttoned over a sweater the coat should be comfortably snug, not baggy, but also not suffocatingly small. No one wants to be the fat guy in the little coat.
Sometimes less is more, but that doesn't apply to shirts in the winter. You know a shirt is too small when it creeps above your belly button, cuts into your armpits, and bears more cleavage than a plumber's crack. Not only is the shirt too tight, it usually sports one of those false "cutesy" claims. There was a reason for retiring your "As if!" shirt after sixth grade. "Mrs. Federline?" Please, you're not fooling anyone. Granted, you're probably not trying to convince people that you're Britney, but there's really no excuse for its purchase. Not "Team Aniston/Jolie" or "Juicy Drama Queen" either. Not even if you were on a 2:30 a.m., blacked-out, online shopping spree.
We're probably going to offend a lot of people with this one, but gauchos? Come on. A cross between a billowy skirt and yoga pants? That's one of those trends made for tall, lanky New York City girls who have the fashion know-how to pull them off with pumps or high boots. Let us bring you back to earth. We're in Brunswick, Maine. Gauchos?those tight, wide-leg calf-length pants that are invading the campus?are not the most flattering fashion statement. Just assume that they're not made for you.
Speaking of which, if you're going to wear tight pants, V.P.L. alert. For those of you unfamiliar with fashion jargon, that's "visible panty lines." Cringe. Mirrors are great tools?use them! If you do a three-quarter turn and see that there is a pronounced line between butt and thigh (we're not talking about one resulting from buns of steel), then for dignity's sake, please consider the people who walk behind you. Bikini-style panties are comfortable, but the bottom line is, if you're going to wear tight pants, even to the gym, make the sacrifice. Everyone has her own preference regarding the alternatives, but some options to try are thongs, seamless boy shorts, and tangas. One note about the thong: instead of the mirror test, do the bend test. Displaying your thong to the person sitting behind you? Not hot.
Another "not hot" trend around campus these days concerns footwear, namely crocs. These are blatantly shower shoes. How else can you explain them? Now, if these shoes were void of holes, there might be some rationale behind their use...rain, snow, etc. Are the holes for ventilation? After all, rubber shoes aren't the most breathable footwear. One thing is certain: they're not constructed for aesthetics?yikes! No matter how "super comfortable" they are, leave them in the shower, locker room, or the privacy of your dorm.
We know not every day at Bowdoin is a fashion show, and there's nothing wrong with being comfortable and having your own style. But make use of the full length mirror and light bulb in your room?we're not advocating narcissism, but a little added consideration can do wonders for style.