At first glance, DePauw's student population exemplifies diversity. But what kind of diversity actually dominates our campus? Students from all over the world bring a whirlwind taste of fashion to good old Greencastle.
Coming from a small town, I arrived at DePauw loving fashion yet was totally ignorant of the popular designers that flooded the campus. Tory Burch? Lilly Pulitzer? I hadn't a clue. I couldn't even believe the Longchamp bags, which virtually every girl had, cost $150. Needless to say, I was in culture shock.
Having one good year under my belt, I can officially say DePauw tangos the fashion line between preppy, hipster and alternative.
After a day of observing people's clothing on their way to class, to Julian or the Hub, I have concluded that we live in an incredibly materialistic culture here at DePauw. But does that mean more expensive means better quality or do we merely aim to keep up with current trends regardless of price?
On men, I saw countless Ralph Lauren button ups paired with khaki slacks and Sperry's, worn-colored pants rolled at the ankle and deep V-neck shirts and guys clad in Nike from head to toe.
On girls, I saw everything from J. Crew pleated dresses and cardigans, to high-waisted shorts and off the shoulder shirts, to fedoras and plain old T-shirts. DePauw is a private institution with tuition nearing $47,000 per year, attracting the economically and socially elite.
But simply owning a Ralph Lauren shirt or a Longchamp bag does not necessarily mean you have style.
Yes, style is about the clothes you wear, but it is also about how you present yourself in those clothes. Just because high-end brands dominate our campus does not mean we have class and style. It means we can keep up with what mannequins are wearing and what is filling magazines.
I am a personal fan of Goodwill, whose hidden gems are the treasures of my wardrobe: chunky sweaters, sequined dresses and retro T-shirts.
We all like to say we have unique personalities, so why are we wearing the same Tory Burch flats that go for $195 when we can find the same exact ones — minus the fake gold logo — for $15 at Target?
Why does every girl wear Uggs to "keep warm" while there are plenty of options under $100 that are much cuter than shapeless Uggs?
The fact of the matter is that each of us claim to be so different, but we follow the same trends.
So what does it take to separate fashion from style? One person? A fashion mall in Greencastle?
Sure, a Ralph Lauren button up is a timely classic, but have a little originality. Wear it one day and wear a unique Goodwill crewneck the next. If you blend in, people won't remember you.
Stand out like the DePauw students that we strive to be.
—Spencer is a sophomore from Lafayette, Ind, majoring in communications.
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