In extreme cases, there are excuses for illogical fashion choices.
Raj Sidhu, a second-year physiological science student, gave one example: “My roommate once went to 8 a.m. class in a shower robe because the fire alarm went off at 7:30. He went in a shower robe with a laptop.”
However, these situations are rare.
In my world, UCLA has a school uniform: sweats. I can count on one hand the number of times I have worn something other than sweats to class this quarter. All this is to say: I am no fashion guru. Far from it. And the following is not meant to be a high judgment of what is and is not fashionable.
I’m all for taking risks with fashion, even when others ““ and by others I mean people who don’t wear sweats every day ““ wear something I don’t necessarily like. I usually think they can pull it off as long as they have the right attitude. That being said, there are fashion choices on this campus that just straight up don’t make sense.
The biggest fashion horror is hands down Uggs and mini skirts. It’s been said before, but clearly no one listened, and I can’t just let it go.
If it is hot enough to wear a mini skirt, then it is not cold enough to wear Ugg boots. And vice versa. Clunking along in those big boots while your legs are shuffling in a short skirt is not the least bit flattering. I don’t care if they are comfy. Wear them inside or out to the grocery store. Or I guess, if you really can’t resist, with jeans. But I’m just going to lay it out there and say the combination of Uggs and skirts is ridiculous.
After talking to my friends and floormates about my Uggs-and-skirts pet peeve ““ which is up at the top of my list along with people who talk on their cell phone while in a restroom stall ““ we came up with a list of other illogical fashion statements seen around campus. Here are a few:
Gel used to make hair look messed up. If you want your hair to look messy, why not leave it messy instead of wasting 10 minutes and 50 cents of product?
Heavy makeup and match-y outfits to the gym. Let’s be real, you can only look so sexy sweating and working out. Attempting to compensate is just awkward.
PINK sweatpants. This is simply a mystery to me ““ the sweatpants say “Pink” but often have no speck of the color pink on them. You’re flaunting the fact that you spent $40 on sweatpants everyone else already has and wearing them as if they are a serious statement of style. Nope, they’re just sweatpants, and you could have gotten a different pair for half the price.
Cut-off shirts and sunglasses indoors. These are grouped together because the same type of guy is usually guilty of rockin’ both these styles. Get over yourself, bro. Your arms aren’t that great, and you’re not too cool to make eye contact with the other people in the room.
High heels when it’s raining. Talk about a safety hazard. Bruin Walk is steep and slippery. Come on, people.
Speaking of heels, here’s a crazy high-fashion issue: people getting dressed up for early class. I have, no joke, seen girls with dresses, heels and full hair and makeup sauntering to class at 8 a.m. There is no way that is worth it. You don’t need to try so hard. The lone exception would be a walk-of-shame situation. In this case, I admire the fact that you’re up going to your early class and will overlook your eyeliner and heels from the previous night.
“I always think it’s crazy when I see girls, and sometimes boys, who are all dressed up and fancy while going to an early morning class. There’s no need to look like you’re going to a fashion show when you walk into your 9 a.m. lecture. It’s like, “˜Don’t you have better things to do? Like sleep?’ I guess as long as they don’t judge me for rolling up in sweats, we can still get along,” said Emily McManus, a second-year geography student.
We can get away with making the aforementioned whack fashion decisions because the vicious cycle of style makes everyone participate and promotes acceptance of bizarre trends. But if you really think about them, they just don’t make sense.
I strongly believe it is much more legit to throw on sweats as opposed to busting out outfits that aren’t logical. So tomorrow morning, try that.
But for goodness sake, girls, please don’t wear Uggs with your pajama pants.
If you think sweats are sexy then e-mail abricklin@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.