Charatan's Chagrins: Do You Really Wear Uggs? You Need to Read This.

April 6, 2007

by Rachel Charatan

I’m no fashionista by any stretch of the imagination. I love a cozy sweatshirt or pair of sweatpants anytime, especially on a lazy Sunday when I wake up in the late afternoon. In fact, as I write, I’m sitting in my room in a pair of baggy jeans, a tee shirt, and a seriously discolored pair of Payless flats. So it may come as a surprise to you that this week I am sweating certain issues of fashion, or more specifically, a lack thereof.

I don’t demand haute couture perfection, or even that students’ clothing match. What really irks me are the little things, the specific fads that start and spread like wildfire no matter how ridiculous they look. Some fashion sins run rampant on the Tufts campus here and must be dealt with as soon as possible. I’m here, taking action to rid the world, and Tufts of course, of problems that are all around us. Some issues may be invisible to the naked eye of the blissfully ignorant, but fortunately for us all, I am quite the observer.

[Leggings]

Let me first clarify what I mean by leggings. I approve leggings and tights and stockings in the normal setting. Underneath a jean skirt, for instance, adds a wonderful element of fun and liveliness to an otherwise dull springtime ensemble. Leggings become an issue of concern when the skirt is nowhere to be found. Somehow, teenage girls now believe that leggings are replacements for pants. Guess what, this is far from stylish.

Girls have been sporting tight pants for a long time, but we have officially reached a breaking point. Wearing leggings that force me to see the contour of your behind is neither considerate nor classy. Basically, you look as though your room caught fire, forcing you to flee in underwear. In my mind, you also resemble a scuba diver, without the finned shoes.

Some try to avoid this look by wearing a long top. More often than not, though, these shirts do not cover the backside and as such are basically useless. If your top or tee shirt gives you as much coverage as a miniskirt, do what you will. Otherwise put on some bottoms.

[Sunglasses]

Again, sunglasses another accessory that is purely circumstantial. The gorgeous week of weather we had before spring break was the perfect time to break out your shades. The weather was warm, the sun was out, and the doldrums of Boston winter temporarily disappeared. Now imagine it’s an average Monday, with highs in the forties and no sun in sight. Why are you still wearing your sunglasses? The are intended to block harmful and excessive sunlight from bothering your vision. On days when there is no sunlight, they simply look ridiculous. Are you too cool to show your eyes to the world? Are your classes held in some hot, sunny building about which I somehow do not know? If you suffer from Polymorphic Light Eruption, I’ll forgive you. But other than that, suck it up.

[Ugg Boots]

This one needs no specifications. Uggs are the worst shoes I’ve ever seen. They are also the most popular shoes I’ve ever seen, ironically enough. Uggs were a bigger problem in high school than they are here, but every once in a while, you can find them strolling around. The worst Uggs combination known to this writer is wearing the boots with skirts. Miniskirts announce the arrival of springtime, while Uggs are supposedly winter apparel. Although common, this outfit in seasonal limbo is unacceptable and quite disturbing. Fashion is not a science; it’s basically instinct. Everyone knows when Betty wears something especially horrendous versus her usual tasteless outfits. That’s why it’s so difficult to explain why leggings alone, shades in the shade, or Uggs are what I find most problematic with Tufts fashion. All I know is that some of you probably look to these accessories as helpful additions to your wardrobe. Meanwhile, you look incredibly ridiculous unintentionally while acting like the greatest thing since sliced bread. Trust your own instincts when it comes to looking good, not those of the crowd.

Specifics of your closet may not seem so important, but it’s primarily about thinking for yourself and realizing that other people can make poor choices in the fashion world. When I look at these faux pas, it pains me greatly. Surely, this seems like something small in the grand scheme of things, but I am definitely sweating it.

Rachel Charatan is a freshman in the School of Arts and Sciences.