Fashion heads in different direction

College last chance to show creativity before harrowing 'real world' sets in

After a long break from school, do you feel a need to look refreshed? I have found that nothing boosts spirits better than a good old-fashioned shopping trip. However, times have changed since the days of back-to-school shopping with our moms. There is no longer a need to frantically search for the perfect first-day outfit in hopes of winning over a crush in homeroom. We appear to be in a place where, when it comes to clothes, anything goes — or does it?

As I look around campus, I see a wide assortment of attire. I frequently catch a glimpse of a stylish outfit that brings a smile to my face. Don’t get me wrong, I still see my fair share of fashion mishaps, but that’s the beauty of college freedom. We are all allowed "off days" (within reason, of course).

Growing up, most people dressed to fit in. I still can picture my high school cafeteria with too many people clad in Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle. Buying a shirt from there meant that 20 other people in your school also had it hanging in their closets.

College, however, is different — you don’t have to worry about everyone else having something you own (unless it’s a North Face jacket). Your peers are accepting of your own style, and most of the time it probably goes unnoticed. Most college students do not spend too much time in the mornings picking out what to wear to class. Their selections revolve around what is comfortable, accessible and affordable — wrinkle-free and clean usually are not top priority.

Shopping for clothing used to mean finding things that were appropriate for school, including fingertip-length skirts, nothing that revealed shoulders or cleavage or any other unmentionables. In college, you could show up to class in your shortest Daisy Dukes and not get sent home. Would anyone kick you out of class for a "Big Johnson" T-shirt? I think not. It is this sense of independence that makes college what it is.

Now our shopping regimen has changed. Instead of going on a crazy shopping spree before school starts, we tend to buy things that we like along the way. These items are suitable for our environment. Strutting from first to second period in four-inch heels and tank tops has gradually morphed into comfortable — yet stylish — flats and cozy jackets for walks to class.

This is a time for you to let your own style shine through — whether you are a fashionista or a T-shirt-and-jeans kind of kid. Enjoy your freedom in clothing choice while you still can because, for many of you, business attire is just around the corner.