College Style

[reese06]

Why is that kinda sad? It's one of the top fashion schools unless people just copy runway style and it's sort of like a uniform and then there's no individuality or diversity on campus...?

 

[ponytrot]

This thread is a little dead recently, i want to bump it up with some amazing College Style! These images are taken by a Japanese photographer documenting the students and activities of Ivy League universities. The result is a gorgeous series of nostalgic, preppy, elegant captures. I wish i could still get my hands on this book!! (it was published 1965)

acontinuouslean

 

[matthaeus123]

Gilligan

 

[malina s]

Gosh, sometimes i wish college guys still dressed like that. lol. now its just sweatshirts, baggy jeans, and nasty fat skater shoes (well, at least where i come from that is)

 

[malina s]

The great thing about going to such an unstylish college is that it makes me always feel super stylish! The thing about people at my college is that they all seem to want to look like each other, and I'm used to dressing to stick out, not blend in with the masses!

its quite true to me too, i like not having that fashionable of a college (but what college is?) so that i feel a little better about myself for not wearing all those incredibly ugly trends like UGGS (though i did in high school, totally out of it now though! lol) and faux Chanel bags. I almost enjoy the stares from my outfits too.

 

[winterise]

ponytrot, I love those pictures.

 

[kickassgood]

ponyrot. looove those! thanks

 

[ponytrot]

you're all very welcome!

here is some Collegiate Style taken by the Sartorialist at various universities,

Yale

Columbia

Columbia

Yale

GQ

 

[McGovLau]

I'm in love with Stitch Society!! It's giving me ideas -shifty eyes-

 

[meeks]

I love how natural the style is in those Ivy League photos. Oh the days when boys wore pants that fit! So disappointing when someone tries to pull this off now. They're usually so self-consciously "preppy" and pre-planned its like they're following a formula (must wear polo, must not wear socks, must wear topsiders etc.).

 

[reese06]

^^That's kind of the point when you're doing the whole preppy thing. You follow rules and conform. The style is not really all that natural in the Ivy League photos. They definitely followed a formula. I believe there's even a "handbook" that's like a parody.

 

[meeks]

Yes but the handbook didn't come out until 1980 and those photos were taken in 1965. It was more of an obscure subculture prior to the 80s after which it became more mainstream because of the book and subsequent use in films. I'm sure there was a certain amount of pressure to dress alike in the 1965 photos (not simply as preppy but I think looking "clean cut" in general was part of the American norm) so it can't be said that their style isn't completely contrived, but I think it was probably more of a reflection of their lifestyle or simply habit back then. I mean I'm sure if those pictures from the Take Ivy photos were taken today it would probably look only slightly different (as preppy style doesn't really change) but everyone would've said something like " so predictably J.Crew!".

I guess what I'm saying is that when someone attempts this look today, it usually lacks authenticity. There's an article by one of the people that helped put the original Preppy handbook together, entitled "We're All Preppies Now" which I found interesting:

"Today, though, I think the unself-consciousness that used to distinguish the preppy world is gone. When
anthropologists study a tribe, however respectfully, they change it........

Maybe the little plaid book was the serpent in the Garden of Eden or maybe that was Ralph Lauren, but in the
1980's the preppy uniform became just clothes. Here's how you can tell: Mr. Lauren had a bad habit of putting his
monogram on everything and nobody complained except my mother. The sourcing patterns for the lifestyle got blown
open. A department store chain bought Brooks Brothers. L. L. Bean went from being the store in Maine where you
got those lace-up boots to a national brand. People who'd never been on a dinghy started calling their raincoats
"foul weather gear." Cable-knit sweaters went mass-market.

There were lasting repercussions: the polo shirt and khakis entered the national clothing vernacular and allowed
Casual Friday to exist. Chains like Abercrombie & Fitch, which originally sold arcane hunting gear, expanded into
shirts that exposed girls' bellybuttons. "Preppy" became a style choice like Goth, a high-school cafeteria
category. The clothes that had once signaled membership in the shards of the WASP ruling class became a
costume. "Preppy" became a style choice like Goth, a high-school cafeteria category. The clothes that had
once signaled membership in the shards of the WASP ruling class became a costume. "

I especially agree with this last bit, but the whole article can be found here.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/24/o...e524616cd&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

 

[kissablekae]

i kind of like the first guy's outfit from Columbia; confidence is key in pulling it off.

 

[ShuggaStiletto]

Those Ivy pics are great....classic. I'm starting college in a month and am so nervous that I'll fall into the sweats and fleece trap. As a matter of fact, I know I will, because there are going to be those days after all-nighters when I won't feel like going to class. I'm going to a traditionally "preppy", conservation southern all-women's school. I prefer simple basics and classic style so I think I'll be alright, but I'm sure I'll see some interesting ensembles to say the least.

 

[blackmascara]

I'll be going to a university (Queen's, in Kingston ON) where sweats and Uggs are the main "uniform". I figure that if I don't bring any (I don't own Uggs, but I have a pair or two of sweats), I won't be tempted to fall in with everyone else.

 

[dior_couture1245]

"Take Ivy" is gorgeous. I love that old school preppy style...it looks so effortless, put together and unpretentious (modern 'prep' on the other hand, does look very pretentious).

I think I need a style make over soon, and I might just go for an authentic, vintage Ivy-league prep look.

 

[whatisasofe]

UO has an "Ivy League" concept right now. Just go to the website and its on the homepage. Im into the fitted blazers over dresses.

 

[papa_levante]

The Sweat Pants

All over the United States and college campuses, girls are dressing down to dress up.

I had a discussion with my friend Mandy about this. At first, Mandy noticed that it was the girls on the college sports teams that were wearing sweats.

Here's what they do: (1) grab a cute little T-shirt you picked up from Abercrombie, Hollister, or some sports camp you went to five years ago and wear it; (2) put on a pair of the sweats the team you're on purchased that you're supposed to wear post-game but you decided to put them on for your 9:30 AM Economics class; (3) slip your feet into a pair of flip flops no matter how chilly the morn.

I hate this look. It's comfortable yet cute which is the most disgusting part of it. I blame it on Victoria's Secret PINK line. They're SWEAT PANTS but sewing on a large "PINK" across the butt makes it okay for a public appearance. Not only are the sports girls doing this, but everyone else! Literally, girls wear the shirt, sweats, and flip flops but to make it seem like she didn't just roll out of bed, she'll carry a nice bag for her books, tie her hair and put on a thin headband for color, etc.

The hard part is giving this style a name. The fashion criminal looks something like this:

- flickr via Malingering

Even read the caption that went with the photo!

I don't know when sweats became the standard backlash for dressing like a wh*re, because really they aren't. Everyone is wearing sweats these days, mostly with PINK spelled across the a**, but sweats nonetheless, and I feel like I'm giving them an equal amount of attention here. They should not be used as an example of anti-skank clothes in any way, shape or form. I just wanted to get that out there. Thank you.

Here is Malingering's photo stream: A**writing

 

[papa_levante]

A-HA! Found her again! See? Sweats yet she has a fancy bag.
- collegefashion.net

 

[papa_levante]

Thesearemymemoirs on LJ blogged about acceptable wear for travelling.
- LJ/February 24, 2008.

This informal aesthetic is rampant and wholly unacceptable, at least from my point of view. I understand wearing comfortable cotton trousers while traveling is appealing but sweatpants are the lowest rung on the ladder. They are an abomination before the eyes of the Lord and whoever is doomed to wait in line behind the sweatpant-wearer in the line for airport security, gazing fixedly but disconcertedly at the severe wedgie where the thin cotton nestles into the ample bottom. And there's such a perky insouciant sassiness to these girls who do these things like, "I dare you to say something about how slovenly I look! I'm so comfortable with myself and my privileged life that I need not wear anything but apparel fit for the living room of my parent's suburban split-level house."