Fashion. It’s what we wear.
Students from all over the nation come to City College, all bringing personal fashions to add to a melting pot of style and trends.
The Santa Barbara coast calls for a laid-back yet classy taste in clothes, and judging by the look of some students, they sacrifice a week’s worth of groceries in an attempt to afford top designer attire.
While fashion bigwigs constantly redefine what’s in and what’s out, college students let freedom reign when it comes to the latest fads.
For trekking from one side of campus to the other, the first step in City College fashion is a pair of comfortable Rainbow-brand sandals. Environmentally correct and made to biodegrade if abandoned along the shore, the leather, lightweight, unisex sandal molds to your foot – allowing every step to feel like a walk on the beach. Approximate purchase price: $45.
For some, a pair of jeans and a T-shirt is sufficient for a regular day at school. New ways to wear denim are always being invented, and the trendy jeans on campus appear to be the ever-so-hip Seven jeans “For All Mankind” or a pair of boot-cut Diesel. Worn by both men and women, these denims are fit for everyday comfort.
“I bought my first pair of Diesels when two hot ladies recommended them to me,” said Anthony Hawkins, business major and Abercrombie & Fitch employee.
Sold in all different washes and styles to match any top, these jeans have a hefty price, ranging from $110-$200 – and one must not forget to accompany them with a chunky belt for ladies, or, for gentlemen, a belt buckle that makes a statement.
While Diesel and Seven jeans have been around for a while, girls are branching out to Paper Denim Jeans and Citizen-brand denim.
The new shorts for women are a loose or fitted pair of capri pants cropped at mid-calf. Student Jill White enjoys her cargo-cami capris from Abercrombie & Fitch instead of wearing shorts on a warm day.
Another alternative to shorts is a sophisticated three-quarter-length a-line skirt. A simple mini-skirt in any fabric is always a classic look as well.
Fashion repeats itself once again, and this year 80s is back. The modern, comfy look roots back to the cut-off neckline, off the shoulder, expanded boat-neck, fitted sweatshirts or tees.
One new theme this year seems to be color, and lots of it. Bright colored tops in all different cuts go with anything, and college students appear to wear color with taste.
To quote from “Legally Blonde:” “Whoever said orange is the new pink is seriously disturbed.”
Rain or shine, students are wearing trucker-style hats with a variety of logos. Von Dutch is one of the most popular brands, and hats are no longer just for boys – girls too are sporting these popular trucker hats either for fashion-value or just to cover up a bad hair day.
“I started the Von Dutch trend,” claims student Brad Jones, adding “I like my pink one the best.” The price of these fine crowns? $43-$65 and up.
Josh Opatz, a business economics major, creates his own style with his Dolce & Gabana sunglasses, a trucker hat, and a bandanna, but for some students, dressing up for school isn’t their style. Mark McKellar understands the importance of simplicity and comfort, keeping life easy in a pair of basketball shorts and a cut-off tank top
Despite their fashion agenda, anyone smiling has style: so whether students get their favorite fashion from thrift stores or top designer stores, what’s important is self-expression and comfort.