A-fashion-ado's wish list

Sources close to the fashion police station reported seeing the same fashion victim at three separate parties Saturday night. He wore a periwinkle, wrinkled cotton and linen H&M shirt, navy wool pants that looked black, a brown leather jacket and light brown flip-flops. Unfortunately, that fashion victim was me.

After I was confronted many times, and word got back to the station, I decided to take a break from the force this week.

I took this time off to compile my all-important Christmas list. (I know there are more holidays than Christmas this time of year but I think it is politically correct to call it my Christmas list because I am Catholic.)

After compiling it, I realized there is no way Santa is going to bring me all the things I want. So I am asking my readers to make contributions to my newest campaign. If you liked the "things that make you go 'hmmm'" campaign, then you will love the "give money to the a-fashion-nado" campaign.

Before you take your checkbooks out and start throwing money my way, let me tell you what your money will be going toward. Items on my list include a new Tag Heuer watch, a long gray coat and rider boots that can be found at either J. Crew or ALDO. I also want button-up shirts in all shades of blue and lots of new dress pants.

These and the rest of the items on my list have one thing in common besides being the gifts I hope to be unwrapping Christmas Day. They all are items any business professional should have, meaning they are professional fashion staples.

Seniors are starting to daydream about graduating and joining the working world. You wouldn't want to be naked at work in your dream, so why would you want to be naked at work in real life? Unless …

Anyway, as we all move toward our academic goals, we should keep in mind what we will be wearing for our post-JMU careers.

Do you want to be left behind? Do you want to be the office fashion victim? Do you want to be that person in cargo pants and a sports coat? Do you think you'll be cool going to the office in BBP (black bootie pants) and a tube top? Do you want to be that person wearing a North Face jacket when everyone else has on an overcoat? Say "no" and mean it.

We must remain practical in the pursuit of clothes over our college years. We should be buying articles of clothing that can transition with us as we move on and up in the world. Instead of asking for a plaid shirt at American Eagle, maybe you should go for a solid button-up shirt. Thus, after college you can put it with a tie and be good to go to work, once you put on pants, of course.

Sure that faded T-shirt and all those sweatshirts look fine now, but most jobs expect workers to dress at least corporate casual. In fact, the other day I was reading an article about how offices are moving away from business casual to more formal, traditional office attire.

Do you want to pay for all these professional clothes? Say "no" again. All the items on my Christmas list are there for this very reason — I don't want to pay for them.

A recent graduate who realizes that their clothes aren't suited for the office shouldn't have to go out and spend $1,000 on new clothes. They should plan ahead. While spending an exorbitant amount of money is fun, it is actually more fun when it is somebody else's.

My advice for the holiday season — when someone asks you what you want for (insert holiday here), request something you can wear after college for your days in the working world.

Since it is the season of giving, I have another piece of advice for you — buy clothes on sale. You know that sweater you like at the GAP? Well, it is $44 now. In two weeks I bet it will be $22, in three it will be $12.99. So, I say wait until it is on sale.

This also becomes an act of social protest. If you buy an article of clothing on sale at any store, the company is not making a huge profit off sweatshop labor. Not only am I fashion conscious, I also have a social conscience.

The dictionary describes fashion as "that which what looks nice to wear." Hi, I'm James David. You can send all donations to The Breeze, MSC 6805 or deliver them to the basement of Anthony-Seeger Hall. Also look out for me next semester as I get back to policing JMU fashion crime. Our cadets will offer more "things that make you go 'hmmm,'" and I will rehabilitate repeat offenders through our upcoming makeover contest. Happy Holidays.