An ode to the ugly clothes you didn’t know you missed
The trends are spreading across college campuses everywhere
The year is 1989. You’re making your way down the street, and – Look! There, in that store window! The perfect z-strap sandal. They’re hip; practical; oozing with arch support — they’re Chaco sandals. Designed for whitewater rafting in the late 80s, will these clunky sandals still be popular in the year 2016?
Unfortunately, yes.
A wild pair of Chacos
College campuses everywhere (with an almost ironic stronghold in the Midwest) have recently brought certain “ugly” trends back from the dead. From Chaco sandals to Patagonia patterns to the ever-popular Birkenstocks, young people everywhere are shelling out hundreds of dollars to gear up for what looks like the 1992 Rock Climbing Convention of Nowhereville, Ohio.
But, if there’s anything to be learned from fashion, it’s that curious trends ought not be written off without careful consideration. So what is it that keeps young people going back to that dusty storage box in the basement labeled “Mom – Jazzercise Gear” for fashion inspo?
Hands free? Count me in!
Most basic is the possibility of genuine attraction to the clunkier styles described above. For some, the rub of a boot sock against Birkenstocks may just feel right. For others, a fanny pack might be cuter than a cross body. Personal style is personal style — who are we to question that? Fashion-shaming (like all shaming) is not welcome at this party.
Getting closer to the most common “ugly” goal, however, is the possibility of pursuing fashion irony. College students eat up sarcasm; we thrive on 80’s comedy and cringe-factor. Is it really surprising that jelly shoes and overalls are “in”? Haven’t we all seen the movie Clueless and wanted to take three steps back to that glorious era of confused style looks?
Whether or not you believe in the stylishness of those z-straps you’re rocking, one thing is absolutely certain — college students choose ugly trends because college students choose comfort. There’s no denying it; if I’m going to be walking the length of campus three times on a given Tuesday, I will be wearing my Birkenstocks. If I want to stay sane during my power lecture in the frozen tundra, I will be pulling on my Patagonia. Desperate times call for desperate measures — and if college is anything, it’s desperate.
Just like that Facebook status you posted in seventh grade, fashion always comes back around. And whether for genuine attraction, rebelliousness, or comfort, the “ugly” trends of our parents’ glory days are alive and well.
Chaco on!