My system has been messed up for some time now. I've started drinking coffee multiple times a day and I've been busy with less than interesting courses. On top of that, the whole two days of sun, five days of rain thing has thrown me off balance. As I bid you adieu this very fashionable spring, I'd like to provide a little social commentary on what I've seen on campus these past few weeks.
First off, I've noticed that the East Coast prep-school look has been in full swing this spring. A lot of men on campus have opted for a more refined look while pounding back forties on the Beach. I actually wrote my first ever column on the checks and plaid trend two years ago, and the look has finally trickled down into the college student's closet. I think this is great. I personally love the look because it allows you to be casually classy on campus without being ostracized for being overdressed. In the words of my gracious counterpart Amanda Jean Boyle, who filled in for me last week, "most guys shy away from color and pattern, but color and pattern look great on everyone."
No doubt that the number of plaid, checked and even madras shorts have been on the rise lately. It leaves me wondering how long it will take for the athletically-inclined to start wearing paisley and floral-printed shirts too.
The dominant combinations I've seen are patterned shorts with a polo or untucked button-down shirt. I'd encourage a little nonconformity here and there, perhaps with a thin V-neck or argyle sweater vest. Experiment with different styles and patterns. Who wants to blend in anyway?
It's interesting to think about this trend though: Why, in times of mass lay-offs and economic trouble, are college students turning to clothing originally made by upper class companies for wealthy New Englanders? Is it the old Max Bialystock phrase, "Flaunt it while you got it!" or is it perhaps a reassurance of our self-worth? Or maybe I've just been bullshitting myself because I've been spending too much time on a forsaken essay and in actuality, college boys have been watching too much Gossip Girl for their own good. Either way, I enjoy the trend and the color and pattern combinations students keep coming up with.
On another note, I hate Baltimore rain. In this city, when it rains, it pours. And what can you possibly do when you're caught in what seems like a flash flood and your pants are wet to the thighs? Well, you can sit in class feeling like an idiot for ever leaving your room, or we can prevent this situation. It's a miracle that designers are producing more men's rain boots than ever. I, unfortunately, do not see college men owning rain boots anytime soon, so I'll skip to a related subject: Raincoats. I've talked liberally about trench coats and Thomas Burberry, so I'll talk about something else this time.
"Mackintosh is a brand of modern heritage built on true craftsmanship and a two hundred year history. In 1823, Charles Macintosh (without the 'k') developed the process of spreading rubber onto cotton to create the world's first waterproof fabric, signaling the arrival of the original Mackintosh coat."
That's what their Web site says. Absolutely riveting stuff, no? "The Mac" has been around for a while, and like the trench, is a popular choice when it comes to raincoats. Unlike the trench, however, it has no lapels, no belt and no epaulets.
While I prefer the utilitarian look, I'm sure others prefer a more subdued and minimalist style. Lucky for you, Macs are everywhere now, whether or not produced by the actual Mackintosh raincoat company.
They come in a variety of colors, where as trenches are mainly in tan, black and navy. So, along with the New Prep trend, (I'm coining the term) make sure you pickup a nice Mac because while it may be scorching outside the next few days, the chance of a flash flood in Charles Village is still extremely high.
