“Is it just me, or do all the [Fairfield] girls look the same?” asks one anonymous user on popular social site Fizz. “The brand ‘Parke’ has made $1 million from Fairfield itself,” another quips. And it’s not only feminine styles receiving slack. “Literally every boy here is copy and paste. I see no variety,” a student on Fizz posted last week. “Why do men here have no style?” someone else questions.
Clearly, there is a consensus among Fairfield students that there is a lack of individuality in the way we choose to dress. I would consider the overwhelming style to be a mix of preppy and athleisure, keeping up with trending brands. (I’d argue Parke, Lululemon, Alo, Aritizia, Gymshark and Vineyard Vines are among the worst offenders). Seeing these same labels everywhere does feel very copy-and-paste to me. You can’t escape them. The repetition is evident and quite frankly, makes campus seem monotonous.
Sophomore Kate von Hoene expresses similar sentiments. “It’s so boring seeing everyone dress the same out of fear of being different,” she shares.
So, why are the majority of students continuing to conform to these popular styles?
Well, there’s nothing wrong with liking trending items. They’re trending for a reason, whether that be for comfort, quality or aesthetics. However, I think there is also an element of fear that comes with stepping outside the “norm.” I can confidently say that my personal style is quite “basic,” but I also enjoy switching things up and experimenting with new, fun looks on occasion.
I’m a huge fan of overalls, and I own a pair of vintage GAP overalls that I thrifted. This past week, I really wanted to wear them, but found myself worried about what others might think. Overalls are by no means an “out there” article of clothing, yet I never see students donning them on campus. I was nervous I’d get judged for wearing them and nearly changed my outfit entirely. Thankfully, my wonderful roommates encouraged me to wear whatever I felt confident and comfortable in, because that’s all that truly matters when it comes to what you wear.
Many students might have similar worries when it comes to stepping out of their comfort zone and trying out new looks. Even if they have a desire to switch up their style, fear of judgment holds them back. So, students play it safe, wearing clothes that, yes, they themselves like, but are also accepted as “in” or “normal”.
“I wish people could wear what they wanted instead of caring about what others think,” von Hoene adds. What makes life on a college campus so vibrant is all the different kinds of people and ideas you’ll encounter, yet here at Fairfield, we seem to be afraid to spice things up.
I believe our campus culture would benefit from more individuality and self-expression, and I think students embracing their unique styles is one fantastic way to do so. So Stags, sport your streetwear, don your dark academia and rock your retro. You’ll make this campus so much brighter.
