By Dakota Rose and Mari Sato
We all love a comfy class outfit, and a day or two a month for a sweat set is always needed, but are men on campus taking comfort too far? Cuffed sweatpants, flip flops, and whatever is arms reach on the floor dominate men’s clothing choices on campus. Here’s what SMU students had to say about men’s fashion on campus.
“Everyone just wears the exact same thing,” says Garrett Seabold, a Junior Film and Media Arts major. While men’s fashion can sometimes feel limited, it’s a bit too monotonous for our taste. “I think it’s a bit too relaxed,” says Andrés Carbonell, a Junior Theatre major. There’s a clear SMU uniform for the men on this campus, but is that uniform saying what you want to say about yourself? Kirk Ogunrinde, Senior, Journalism and Computer Science major, says, “Come on, brother, you can be trying a bit harder, right? Here’s what made it on the blacklist.
Flip flops. It doesn’t matter if it’s thirty degrees or eighty degrees. Put the dogs away. Walking through campus or sitting in class, flip flops are at the top of students’ most hated clothing item. When asked about what clothing item is an instant ick, Camila Escobar, senior Theatre major, says “Obviously flip-flops. I just see a lot more toes than I would like to.” We’ve all been there. There is nothing worse than being greeted by foot fungus and ingrown toenails at your 8 am class. Dani Echavez, a junior Psychology and Markets & Culture major, reflects a similar sentiment: “Sandals. It’s disgusting.”
Next on the roster are khakis in any shape or form: shorts, slim fit, or skinny. A senior Business and Data Science major, says, “Slim-fit khaki pants with the phone print, the zyn tin outline. It’s heinous,” and we agree. Women on campus concur. Escobar says, “I’m not really a fan of khaki shorts.” There’s nothing wrong with wearing shorts to class, however, they must fit right and be a flattering color. We beg you to get all khaki out of your closet.
In the same vein, athletic shorts also have a special place on our list. Not all athletic shorts are created equal. Some can be styled well, but others need to go. Mesh gym shorts or shorts that are slim-fit and cling to the thighs are a definite no. Seabold says, “You could never catch me wearing Lululemon shorts to class.” Despite the comfort that athletic shorts might provide, it is critical to consider fit and material. The mesh and tight nylon fabric are nearly impossible to style well. At this point, let’s save those shorts for the gym.
Unfortunately, these items have found their way off the page of this article and into the closets of many men on campus. While it’s good to have clothes for different settings and events, it’s vital to keep certain items in their natural habitat, whether it’s flip flops at the beach or clingy gym shorts in the weight room. When it comes to these blacklisted clothing items, Escobar said it best: “I feel like there’s a time and a place, and I see that time and a place abused quite frequently.” Comfort and style are not mutually exclusive, however, there are ways to find comfort in fashion. At the end of the day, gentlemen, do yourself (and all of us) a favor, and try to stick to items not on the blacklist.
