Back to school fashion is always exciting to see; everyone has all the shiny new purchases from back to school and students are still sun bronzed from their summer vacations. After ripping off the tags and taking your new threads for a spin though you might notice you have a couple items in common with other students. Of course, there are the usual student staples: American Eagle jeans, Hollister Co. t-shirts, and the ever-trendy Vans, but this year we have a new player in the court. Rue 21 has started selling fashionable, fitted sweat pants. Differing from leggings or jeggings, these pants have a looser fit with a cuffed band that ends right above the ankle but still often come in patterns and are made of a soft and stretchy fabric. Multiple students were sporting the item early this year, pairing the harem-esque look with flats or casual moccasins. Sperry’s shoes, a trend that had developed last year, are a fad that seems to have survived the tide, making another debut on the feet of countless Crimsons this year. Though speaking of fads, it would seem that the colorful V-striped patterns that decorated our halls last year are a trend that frankly wasn’t worth keeping and should be retired to our closets or heaped in the Goodwill donation pile.
Many students have found comfort in a classic Ralph Lauren polo, a new trend that was almost non-existent last year. The Ralph Lauren polo is making its way up to the front of students’ closets and looks like it’s here to stay. Other students have been seen branching off into other polo brands, such as Aeropostale and South Pole, but the preppy style’s origin is unmistakable. As Ralph would say “Fashion is over quickly. Style is forever.” In other fashion developments, it would seem the verdict on knapsack-style backpacks is an overwhelming yes, girls throughout the halls saunter to class with leather, sequin, or canvas cloth on their shoulders, each a statement of their individual style.