Let he who is without a pair of Uggs be the first to condemn. We’ve all seen our share of fashion no-nos – ranging from bubble shirts to crocs to those gosh-awful blue jeans with the knees cut out. However, some of us are a little too quick to hurl insults at our fellow students’ fashion faux pas. Consider this an informal appeal to the fashion cynics in all of us.
1. Leggings as pants- I get it. It’s curious to see size 2 girls wearing triple extra large T-shirts, but cut them some slack. Something has to cover their little booties in their too-tight Under Armour leggings. You can’t knock this one until you’ve tried it. It might not be the most flattering trend, but I don’t see anything wrong with college girls channeling their inner 80s athlete for their early morning walks to their 8 a.m. classes. It’s quick, it’s comfy and it’s becoming a classic faster than you can say “sorority.”
2. Wearing your boyfriend’s clothes- The walk of shame is never cool, but I will be the first to say that men’s style jeans are among the most comfy I have ever worn. Katie Holmes and Reese Witherspoon wore them, so it’s got to be acceptable, right? Boyfriend jeans have all the versatility of skinnies without the self-hatred that accompanies a freshly washed and dried pair of skinny jeans. They’re also day-to-night transitional. Wear a pair of sneakers for class, and trade them for a pair of classy black pumps for nighttime. Blazers, suspenders and bow ties are also making the transition from male staples to female statements. If you’re afraid to take the plunge and actually buy these masculine accessories, ask to play dress up in your boyfriend’s closet one afternoon. In addition to your chic new accessories, you’ll get a fun date out of the mix.
3. Bright colors- When did painting with the colors of the wind become so taboo? Wasn’t it Pocahontas’s artistic individuality that snagged John Smith? In an age where drab is the new fab, color has become a thing of the past. Anything brighter than maroon is considered childish and attention seeking, but I stand by what my mother has always told me. Wearing bright clothing enhances one’s natural coloring, while wearing 50 shades of gray does nothing but cause you to blend in with the cloudy winter skies. Brighten up the long January days with a splash of color, if only by donning a floral scarf or a neon belt.
4. Fake glasses- You know hipster glasses as a statement are over when Taylor Swift starts wearing them in her “I Knew You Were Trouble” music video, but these things are freaking adorable. Ever since Zooey Deschanel set the “adorkable” trend ablaze, it has gained speed and has found its way onto less than obscure celebrities like Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez. Honestly, can you blame angsty teenagers and quirky 20-somethings for wanting to bat their eyelashes behind a pair of these fashionable frames? Not only do they portray an appealing lifestyle, but they’re also an easy out for those of us who don’t like to wear eye makeup on a daily basis. Slip on a pair of non-prescription glasses and you immediately look in Vogue and intelligent. So, hipsters, lay off of those of us who are wearing lens-less glasses. We just want to be as cool as you.
