Catwalking the campus

I’ve been four years out of college and I still alternately laugh and shudder each time I remember my college wardrobe. My best girl friend and I thought ourselves anti-fashion brats and worked on being clad in the antitheses of the usual college getup for girls at that time: ribbed shirt, bootleg jeans, and sandals or black square-toe boots (callously dubbed the "tweetums" look). To avoid conventional "tweetums" association, we would slink into class wearing loose logo shirts, military style polos, buckled Doc Martens, and polyester bowler shirts with ripped vintage Levi’s that belonged to our uncles back in the ’70s. We panicked at the thought of looking like every other girl on Ateneo’s Edsawalk and gave as much deliberation to unconventional dressing as we did our Philosophy orals.

My best friend and I didn’t quite know if our own unusual getups were fashionable. We were only concerned with finding our personal style and projecting a certain individualism that easily gets lost in the cattle call tendencies of a college campus. And we were also having fun, which, I believe, is the entire thrust of going to college anyway (just to make it clear, fun includes varying degrees of studying for an Accounting midterm to screaming yourself hoarse at a pep rally).

College hasn’t changed much four years later. It’s still a hub of different personalities and personas. It’s still a stage of varying options where your choices can either make you stand out or blend in. If you choose to stand out and be different, might as well start with your wardrobe. The white shirt-blue jeans getup may work, but why go for basic blah when infinite options are for grabs?

• Brighten up – Stage a counter attack on blah days by passing on neutral colors and going for bright jellybean shades. Lime greens, lemon yellows, fuchsia, bright orange and turquoise are the new neutrals and are best worn with white. Wear them on accessories as well. Brightly-colored sandals and totes can cheer up any blue jean getup.

• Experiment with layers – During my time, layers were limited to a parka or a light jacket over a top during rainy days (then the twin set, the "tweetums" crowd’s attempt at inspired dressing, came along). These days, layering invites experimenting with different styles and colors. Wear two tank tops of contrasting colors at the same time or shear off the crewneck of an old white tee and wear it over a brightly-colored tank top, or wear two bright colors together (green and pink, yellow and turquoise). Top off a basic button—down shirt with a tube top or a tank top. Make like American Idol finalist Camille Velasco and layer a short skirt over jeans. As much as possible, keep the layered look to cooler days or a day filled with airconditioned classes – sweat patches will reduce all hopes off becoming the school style-phile to rubble.

• Get short-changed – Fashion’s key pieces are getting shorter and shorter. The hottest must-have this season is the schoolboy knicker – cropped pants that end at the knee and are worn by prepschool boys over high socks and Oxford lace-ups. Borrow this academic trend and wear this school boy classic to your school girl advantage. Wear them with ballerina flats, or stilettos. The mini skirt is also getting much attention this year. Your best and most practical bet is to wear these with sneakers, else professors might call for a dress code revamp.

• Do over denims – Denim jeans are a definite must in the collegiate wardrobe. For this coming school year, ditch your basic blue jeans for something with more oomph. Leave your ol’ blue pair to ROTC classes and opt to walk the hallways wearing denims in gray, white, or faded black. Be mindful of details: a distressed finish, frayed edges, funky buttons, zippered legs, or a wide waistband can jazz up a look.

• Mix different looks – Designer Marc Jacob’s newest collection for Fall/Winter 2004 highlights a revived preppy look that mixes prep school WASP with ’80s glam rock; clean lines are paired with contemporary cuts and loud colors. This year, try to put together a more eclectic wardrobe. Mix sweet baby tops with grungy distressed jeans. Pair shabby chic accessories with sporty details. Match vintage-style printed pants with minimalist lines. Mixing and matching looks broadens your wardrobe choices and helps you realize your individual style. The college campus is one catwalk. Do your own thing.

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