As the temperature drops, with it goes a sense of fashion as stylish dresses and cute sweaters get drowned in layers needed to keep warm.
Fashion changes with the seasons. It’s not just the rules like wearing white only up until Labor Day and waiting for fall to wear burgundy. The rules do exist in the fashion industry, but most people end up wearing whatever the weather calls for and therefore changing their wardrobe with each season and the temperatures that come along with it.
“The colder it gets, the more I want to stay in bed, so my outfits tend to reflect that,” senior Brooke Auer said.
Summer is a time to show off your tanned (or burnt) skin and not worry about being too cold. As fall approaches, many walk comfortably outdoors in jeans and cute sweaters or light jean jackets over graphic tees. Then winter comes. People still want to walk in their jeans and fashionable sweaters, but this time a large, not-so-figure-flattering coat or layers are needed to keep warm.
“I dress best in spring because I’m sick of being inside all the time and I’m not hidden in coats,” junior Kelly Paul said.
Having to hide yourself in winter gear gets pretty annoying. When I get dressed in the morning and put even an ounce of effort into what I’m wearing, the last thing I want to do is cover it up.
My solution, along with many others, is simply to revert to wearing sweatshirts, leggings, comfy things and anything else the fits under the “I don’t care if this outfit is seen” category. It may not happen every day, but since getting to college, this habit has slowly become more and more common.
This is especially true in college since we are all forced to use walking as a means of transportation at one point or another. Sometimes the bus is late or it goes to the wrong place. It can also be difficult to drive from class to class due to parking lot locations, and you may not want to pay for metered parking. Therefore, there is no escaping the cold in the warmth of a vehicle with the heater on full blast.
Some of you are probably thinking about all the cute jackets you own and the adorable scarves you have to keep warm. Those are valid, to an extent. Once it gets cold enough, you won’t care if anything matches; you’ll just want to be warm. The cute outfits underneath the layers just won’t last.
Thankfully, there is hope. The fashion industry must have realized people want to be comfortable and cute, so there are a lot of items that will help solve this problem waiting to be purchased. I walked into Aerie last week and saw a cowl-neck sweater that was softer than any blanket I have ever owned. I tried it on and it didn’t even look like I was wearing a blanket.
I don’t know who comes up with this stuff, but they are getting pretty creative considering I own a pair of joggers that are made out of knitted sweater material. That’s right — sweater pants. They are the comfiest pants I own, yet I still get compliments on them. A perfect combination of comfy and cute.
Comfy and cute can also come in the form of cute athletic wear, even if you don’t go to the gym.
“I’m a huge fan of athleisure wear,” Auer said. “Being comfy and cute is the optimal combination.”
Unfortunately, sweater pants and tops that feel like blankets don’t work in every situation, but they give you a fighting chance to be the comfiest and warmest you have ever been and not look like you just rolled out of bed.
To those of you who actually have to look nice for a job or something you’re involved in, I’m rooting for you. You can do this. You probably don’t want to, but you can.
The temperature is dropping, although maybe your fashion sense hasn’t declined along with it yet. If that describes you, best of luck. We’ll see how long that lasts.
_Edited by Claire Colby |ccolby@themaneater.com_
