The Observer, October 12, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 7
Worst Case Scenario: Time to revamp the look
At the risk of sounding like I've watched as much Seinfeld as I actually have this past week, let's talk about the look. The college look. You know how sometimes you're just getting out of bed in the morning, and you suddenly realize that you don't have anything to wear? And then you realize that since you're a college student, you have an entirely different schedule each day, and this seriously limits the number of people that you see on two consecutive days? And then you decide that since you see very few people daily, you can wear the same thing you wore yesterday without the fear that someone will catch on? And then you realize that you could cut back on a whole lot of laundry if you just wore that outfit to bed, too? Welcome to the look.
I will not risk impugning my honor by discussing my personal experience with the look, but it is safe to say that it is time for the look to be done. You are a college student – you are sort of an adult! And you should at least sort of dress like one. Maybe it's time to rethink wearing your version of a grown-up onesie all over campus.
Here are a couple of moderately hypocritical ideas about changing the look into a look you won't be ashamed to tell your parents, grandparents, future significant others, children, and prospective employers about:
Ditch the stretchy waistbands. Stretchy waistbands are great with sweat-pants, pajama bottoms, and assorted gym-wear, and they also have the added benefit of accommodating your freshman (or upperclassman) fifteen. But you are not sweating, (except in this week's suffocating heat, which I'm sure will be a fond memory of idyllic summer soon enough) asleep in bed, or at the gym. Even if you plan on needing stretchy waistbands in the very near future, consider that what you wear does say a lot about you – and unless you're a professional athlete, your pants could be spelling out 'slouch' in a big way.
Keep your "uniform," but take it up a notch. Rather than wearing sweat pants and a T-shirt every day, consider upgrading to jeans and classier, layered T-shirts. If you're tired of the jeans and T-shirt phase, bump up to business class with slacks and a button-up shirt. If your business class look still doesn't say what you want it to, consider wearing a prom dress/tuxedo to school (or alternatively, you could get some hobbies…).
You don't have to take out (more) loans to get the look you want. Shop carefully, look for sales, and pop down to the old thrift store to find items that will spice up the ensemble. In fact, if you shop at the thrift store often enough, you may find yourself becoming something of a fashion icon.
Don't be afraid to experiment with your new look. Mix colors, styles, and textures until you find the exact look that your children will torment you about for the rest of your adult life. Because, let's face it, things can only get better from here.
