The Casual Dresser
Fast fashion is an unmistakable trend of today, with many retailers going out of their way to promote new in-trend styles as opposed to the tried and true. Unfortunately, fast fashion is often synonymous with poor quality, for good reason. It’s tempting to produce cheaply and quickly and take advantage of the marketplace. But it seems that fast fashion doesn’t often work at Dartmouth because here, things must be made to last.
There are a few key pieces that are often targeted by these fast fashion retailers. But with a discerning eye, you can easily see that some retailers easily pull ahead.
Blazer
The main difference between informal blazers and formal blazers is their cut. Formal blazers will often have some amount of shoulder padding whereas casual blazers will have little to none as they’re usually less angular. Navy, gray and brown blazers are easily paired with light blues, whites and grays for shirts, or heavy contrast patterns, such as checkered shirts. A black blazer or padded shoulders may look out of place.
Cardigans
Jeans
One of the most puzzling trends of hipster and streetwear today is the fashion of cuffing, or rolling up, one’s pants. (Kids have been doing this since second grade, but now grown men too?) The apparent standard is one or two rolls of an inch to an inch and a half, especially suited for boots, but sometimes other shoes too if your ankles are looking for some exposure too. Beware that the cuff can be visually shortening, as it sections off the feet from the rest of the legs. Overall, pant cuffs are purely stylistic. I wouldn’t advise for or against them, so long as they work for the person and their dress.