Fashion in Chapel Hill: Carolina Pride

When you walk through a high school, there are many students, especially boys, who wear college apparel. Whether it is their parent’s school or their personal dream school, there is much of it.  I didn’t expect to see all the college apparel in college as well! Because everyone goes here, I didn’t think they would have of the clothes. In high school, we were so concerned about someone having the same outfit as us, or even just a shirt, but in college, I see so many of the navy blue shirts with light blue letters of “CAROLINA” and there’s not a concern in the world if someone else has the same shirt!

            It is mostly t-shirts I see as Carolina apparel. It is something that can be worn anytime. It can be paired with sweatpants or running shorts for a leisurely, sporty look, or a pair of jeans for just an everyday, casual outfit. There are also so many different shirts to choose from. While the most popular is definitely the original “CAROLINA” shirt, which comes in navy blue, white and Tar Heel blue, there are a lot of new designs. There are a lot of shirts against our biggest rival, the Duke Blue Devils. Some T-shirt stores have a whole section dedicated to hateful Duke shirts.

            So people have to buy their piles of Carolina shirts from somewhere! There are so many shops on Franklin Street that have a huge supply of all these shirts. They are so over priced though. The options are the best, but if you want just a plain Carolina shirt, your best bet is a Wal-Mart near the Chapel Hill area. They have so much plain Carolina items for so much cheaper than the stores on Franklin. Though Wal-Mart is so cheap compared to the Franklin Street stores, they are still ridiculously popular. I guess it’s the location. Because it is so close to campus students find it really reliable and if a fan forgets a shirt, it’s just a 10-minute walk to Franklin to buy a t-shirt from the famous Johnny T-shirt or the Tar Heel Bookstore.

            Along with T-Shirts, there are also sweatpants and shorts that say Carolina on them. I don’t really see the use in these.  Why pay triple for a pair of sweatpants you can get at target just because they say Carolina Tar Heels on them? And the shorts are the same way. For me, I find it useless to buy something that you can get so much cheaper just without the name of your college on it. The sweatshirts are really useful though. Just like the shirts they could make an outfit sporty or just the right amount of casual. It is so warm to just sink into your sheets with a hoodie on and go to bed.

            All this Carolina apparel is great to see at a football game, but when I first got to Chapel Hill, it was a lot of swallow. Now I have adjusted to seeing so much Carolina apparel, and have become one that wears it a lot. I wonder if every college is like this..?  

Revision 4: Fashion in Chapel Hill: Party Clothes

A Starry Thursday night at Chapel Hill… and what is the fashion? None other than “Party Clothes!” As one of the biggest party nights of the week, frat court and various apartments are packed with people. Here at Carolina, we see a lot of the clothes made to go out and have fun.

            To start off I will cover the “sluttier” and cheaper outfits shown here during the weekend. When I walk through the fraternities, it just seems like a lot of the girls got their clothes from Charlotte Russe or Wet Seal. While these clothes are sometimes cute, they look very cheap. The fabric is horrible quality, and usually too short and too low cut. Some of the dresses are so short, that it barely covers the girl’s butts. On top of the skimpy dresses, there are some girls who decide to pump up their breast all the way to their neck. It’s like girls enjoy the fact that they might be mistaken for a prostitute. They do ridiculous things to maximize their cleavage for the night so that they will get into frats and get hit on by drunken boys. A little bit more class, please?

            Though most of the outfits do look like they have been picked out from cheap stores, there are also the more conservative and high-class outfits. Though they are nothing like the Polo Ralph Lauren and Lacoste sported during the day, I have seen some dresses from places like Nordstroms and shirts from Bebe. Banana Republic also seems like a popular place to get a shirt for a night out. The shirts that I have seen out have been many baby doll style and jeweled. There are also a lot of pearl colors and shiny fabrics used for the shirts. The shirts are usually paired with jeans or a pair of shorts with a cute pair of heels.

            One outfit that seems to be a necessity for all girls, for a night out, is a black dress. Fashion magazines always advise a girl to have a “little black dress,” and it is no exception when the girl arrives to Chapel Hill. It is something cute and simple that will go with any pair of heels or even flats. It can make you look dressed up and classes as quick as lightening.  There are also very many variations of the little black dress. There are so many different styles, just with length. I have seen from strapless to tank tops to quarter sleeves for the dress. I have also seen the black dress as something that comes down to girl’s knees, and also in the “sluttier” form, which cuts right below the girl’s butt.

            The styles around Carolina are so numerous, but party clothes are definitely something that has become very popular through the party scene. And even within the party scene there are different kinds of styles: slutty and sluttier. Check back next week to keep up with what fashions are popular here at Chapel Hill.

 

Revision 3: Fashion in Chapel Hill: Country Club Attire

Though the Running Shorts Phenomenon is pretty big here at Chapel Hill, there is another style taking over the population of this school: Country Club Attire. From Polo Ralph Lauren to Burberry, “preppy” clothes are being worn all over this campus.

 

There are many boys that choose to wear button down shirts, khaki shorts and Sperry’s. This seems to be THE staple outfit for all fraternity boys. But past their fashions, many of the other boys are also sporting Polo Ralph Lauren, Martha’s Vineyard and J. Crew.  Living by frat court, I have seen so many of these brands paired with Sperry’s or Rainbows with a pair of sunglasses held on by Croackie (the straps that go on either side of your sunglasses to assure the sunglasses with stay on your neck). The sunglasses are usually Ray-Bans or some other expensive brand, but lately the new in style sunglasses seem to be aviators.

 

Aviators seem to also be common among girls. They are also held on by Croakies.  Among girls, there is more of a variation among the type of sunglasses but a very common brand I have seen throughout campus is Chanel. Though their clothes are not the “preppy” style, they seem to carry sunglasses that appeal to the “country club” type people.

 

The girls also wear a lot of clothing from Polo Ralph Lauren, Martha’s Vineyard and J. Crew. J. Crew is actually the brand I see the most around campus. From their bright colored bottoms to their cute shirts, walking down Franklin Street is like ads from their catalog.

 

Along with Rainbows and Sperry’s I’ve seen a lot of the girls wearing flip-flops with a metallic color. Some are bedazzled with jewels and some are with metallic accents, but these fashionable thongs have become the new shoes to wear (for girls, they have essentially replaced Rainbows, for the season).

 

And we can’t forget about belts. Just a plain belt is usually what ties together the preppy clean-cut style together. I love that a tucked in button down with shorts looks so clean and proper, and you don’t even have to try that hard to look as cute as you do in the preppy outfit.

 

Something else taking over the preppy fashions? Long shorts. No, not the Bermuda shorts that we first encountered a few years back, but shorts with a 3-inch inseam. There have been so many short shorts among the teen population, but it seems that the preppy fashion has led to the popularity of longer shorts. These are also something that has been publicized much by the fabulous store, J. Crew. These shorts come in many different colors, both bright and neutral, and they can be seen on so many of the girls here at Carolina along with out on the country club golf course.

 

I realized that the country club attire is only a day outfit. I never see anyone wearing such things at night. In the evening, the outfits are replaced by “party clothes.” Could this be another fashion taking over UNC? You’ll find out next time on Fashions in Chapel Hill.

 

Revision 2: Imitation

S here. It is the second episode of the long awaited sixth season of One Tree Hill. After Gossip Girl, it is most definitely second in line for my favorite trashy teen dramas.

 

Though, I love the immense amounts of drama, something about this episode did not capture my attention like the past 5 seasons. Maybe it is because the couple I always wanted to see together finally got engaged, but it just seems like there’s not much to look forward to. OR maybe it was too dramatic and sappy for my taste. Either way, there was still that something that kept me watching it.

 

Because of Brooke Davis’s fashion line Hoes Over Bros, we get to see great fashions.  Her outfits were, like always, fabulous, but this season, a little more casual. She pulled off a shirt and shorts so well, but made it a little dressier than a regular t-shirt and jeans kind of outfit. Nathan Scott looked great as usual, in just gym shorts. With a body like his, no way he needs to put a shirt on. All the characters look so great, through all the drama, but what else would we expect from a TV show filled beautiful people and a vast amount of drama?

 

So the last episode left off with Brooke getting attacked, Lucas and Peyton getting engaged, and Nathan making a comeback (in basketball). This episode followed Lucas and Peyton in their romance. They headed back home to tell all of their loved ones the good news! Though it was what she had always wanted, Peyton has an especially hard time leaving her best friend and roommate, Brooke. But thinking of the change as a new beginning rather than leaving the past made her more confident of her decision.

 

Brooke is bruised all over her body and her face. Her store has been completely trashed. And she told no one that she was attacked except her ex boyfriend’s mom. Brooke then has asked Deb, Nathan’s mom, to help her keep this a secret, but also to help her learn how to shoot a gun. WOW. Who would have ever thought cheerleader turned fashion designer, Brooke Davis, would turn into a potential murder?

 

Then there is always Nathan. He FINALLY understands how important his family is. If it were him a year ago, he would had done anything to make a comeback if it cost him his life, but now, knowing that he should slow down to maintain good health and be there for his family. He is cute, athletic, and caring? He is a perfect guy, isn’t he? Lucky Hayley Scott.

 

To think, all this happened and it is only the second episode of a whole season. We can wait for so many more drama filled nights, considering Gossip Girl AND One Tree Hill are both on the same day! So it’s a great way to take a two hour study break and catch both shows (:

 

So will Brooke actually kill someone? Will Nathan really be successful in his comeback? And will Peyton and Lucas really be together forever? Let me know what you think! Until next time,

 

You know you love me,

 

S. (Gabriella) 

Revision 1: Fashion in Chapel Hill: Running Shorts

The first day of college: I got all dressed up and tried to make myself look presentable for a university setting, but what is the first thing I hear about my outfit? "You look like a freshman." I didn’t realize what the comment meant until I walked outside and everywhere I turned...  BAM! There was someone with running shorts. 

 

Maybe it is the immense amount of homework or the laid back environment of the university setting that induce the “bum” and sporty attire. Whatever it is, it has turned on its charm in Chapel Hill. As I walked down to class this morning, I could count a 1:1 ratio between girls who were dressed and girls in running shorts. And this afternoon, coming back from classes, I saw more girls in running shorts that were WALKING to class compared to the girls running. 

 

The Running shorts are usually paired with a pair of sneakers and a loose shirt, but more recently I have been seeing them worn with rainbows. Also, as we approach the colder season, I see a lot of Carolina hoodies and long sleep shirts being paired with the shorts.

 

I personally love my running shorts. It’s so loose and thin. They are great on rainy days, because they dry so much faster than regular cotton clothing. In my old days, Soffee brand cotton shorts were the most desired among girls. The cheerleading shorts were tight and very short. They were comfy and I remember wearing them all the time. Though they are still prevalent, I feel like running shorts have definitely taken their place at Chapel Hill.

 

I had to ask my friends how they felt about running shorts and the amount of running shorts worn on this campus. Everyone I have talked to thinks that there is a ridiculous amount of girls who wear them, but they admitted that they were one of them. Every one of them said, “They are so comfy!” I guess a lot of college girls think alike!

 

College is more about studying than what you wear. Every one that comes to Carolina is the kind of student in high school that didn’t have to work too hard to get their good grades, but now that the college workload has kicked in its hard to balance time. The first thing that is sacrificed is the getting ready and dressing up time. It’s a direct relationship! As the amount of homework increases, the amount of running shorts increase! And that seems to be just the case here at Carolina…But hey, though homework might not be the best thing in the whole wide world… running shorts are great! Or at least it was good enough to talk a whole page about them (:  

Fashion in Chapel Hill: Party Clothes

A Starry Thursday night at Chapel Hill… and what is the fashion? None other than “Party Clothes!” As one of the biggest party nights of the week, frat court and various apartments are filled with people. There are so many aspects of party clothes that are cover by the girls here at Carolina.

            To start off I will cover the “sluttier” and cheaper outfits shown here during the weekend. When I walk through the fraternities, it just seems like a lot of the girls got their clothes from Charlotte Russe or Wet Seal. While these clothes are sometimes cute, they look very cheap. The fabric is horrible quality, and usually too short and too low cut. Some of the dresses are so short, that it barely covers the girl’s butts. On top of the skimpy dresses, there are some girls who decide to pump up their breast all the way to their neck. They do ridiculous things to maximize their cleavage for the night so that they will get into frats and get hit on by drunken boys. A little bit more class, please?

            Though most of the outfits do look like they have been picked out from cheap stores, there are also the more conservative and high-class outfits. Though they are nothing like the Polo Ralph Lauren and Lacoste sported during the day, I have seen some dresses from places like Nordstroms and shirts from Bebe. Banana Republic also seems like a popular place to get a shirt for a night out. The shirts that I have seen out have been many baby doll style and jeweled. There are also a lot of pearl colors and shiny fabrics used in these shirts. The  shirts are usually paired with jeans or a pair of shorts with a cute pair of heels.

            One outfit that seems to be a necessity for all girls, for a night out, is a black dress. Fashion magazines always advise a girl to have a “little black dress,” and it is no exception when the girl arrives to Chapel Hill. It is something cute and simple that will go with any pair of heels or even flats. It can make you look dressed up and classes as quick as lightening.  There are also very many variations of the little black dress. There are so many different styles, just with length. I have seen from strapless to tank tops to quarter sleeves for the dress. I have also seen the black dress as something that comes down to girl’s knees, and also in the “sluttier” form, which cuts right below the girl’s butt.

            The styles around Carolina are so numerous, but party clothes are definitely something that has become very popular, through the party scene. And even within the party scene the styles are numerous. Check back next week to keep up with what fashions are popular here at Chapel Hill. 

Fashion in Chapel Hill: Country Club Attire

Though the Running Shorts Phenomenon is pretty big here at Chapel Hill, there is another style taking over the population of this school: Country Club Attire. From polo to Burberry, “preppy” clothes are being worn all over this campus.

 

There are many boys that choose to wear button down shirts, khaki shorts and Sperry’s. This seems to be THE staple outfit for all fraternity boys. But past their fashions, many of the other boys are also sporting Polo Ralph Lauren, Martha’s Vineyard and J. Crew.  Living by frat court, I have seen so many of these brands paired with Sperry’s or Rainbows with a pair of sunglasses held on by Croackie (the straps that go on either side of your sunglasses to assure the sunglasses with stay on your neck). The sunglasses are usually Ray-Bans or some other expensive brand, but lately the new in style sunglasses seem to be aviators. 

 

Aviators seem to also be common among girls. They are also held on by Croakies.  Among girls, there is more of a variation among the type of sunglasses but a very common brand I have seen throughout campus is Chanel. Though their clothes are not the “preppy” style, they seem to carry sunglasses that appeal to the “country club” type people.

 

The girls also wear a lot of clothing from Polo Ralph Lauren, Martha’s Vineyard and J. Crew. J. Crew is actually the brand I see the most around campus. From their bright colored bottoms to their cute shirts,walking down Franklin Street is like ads from their catalog.

 

Along with Rainbows and Sperry’s I’ve seen a lot of the girls wearing flip-flops with a metallic color. Some are bedazzled with jewels and some are with metallic accents, but these fashionable thongs have become the new shoes to wear (for girls, they have essentially replaced Rainbows, for the season).

 

Something else taking over the preppy fashions? Long shorts. No, not the Bermuda shorts that we first encountered a few years back, but shorts with a 3-inch inseam. There have been so many short shorts among the teen population, but it seems that the preppy fashion has led to the popularity of longer shorts. These are also something that has been publicized much by the fabulous store, J. Crew. These shorts come in many different colors, both bright and neutral, and they can be seen on so many of the girls here at Carolina along with out on the country club golf course.

 

I realized that the country club attire is only a day outfit. I never see anyone wearing such things at night. In the evening, the outfits are replaced by “party clothes.” Could this be another fashion taking over UNC? You’ll find out next time on Fashions in Chapel Hill.

Imitating a Style

S here. It is the second episode of the long away sixth season of One Tree Hill. After Gossip Girl, it is most definitely second in line for my favorite trashy teen dramas.

 

I do love the immense amounts of drama, but something about this episode did not capture my attention like the past 5 seasons. It might be because the couple I always wanted to see together finally got engaged. It just seems like there’s not much to look forward to. OR maybe it was too dramatic and sappy for my taste. Either way, I was drawn to keep watching it.

 

Because of Brooke Davis’s fashion line Hoes Over Bros, we get to see great fashions.  Her outfits were, like always, fabulous, but this season, a little more casual. She pulled off a shirt and shorts so well, but made it a little dressier than a regular t-shirt and jeans kind of outfit. Nathan Scott looked great as usual, in just gym shorts. With a body like his, no way he needs to put a shirt on.

 

So the episode left off with Brooke getting attacked, Lucas and Peyton getting engaged, and Nathan making a comeback (in basketball). This episode followed Lucas and Peyton in their romance. They headed back home to tell all of their loved ones the good news! Though it was what she had always wanted, Peyton has an especially hard time leaving her best friend and roommate, Brooke. But thinking of the change as a new beginning rather than leaving the past made her more confident of her decision.

 

Brooke is bruised all over her body and her face. Her store has been completely trashed. She has asked Deb, Nathan’s mom, to help her keep this a secret, but also to help her learn how to shoot a gun. WOW. Who would have ever thought cheerleader turned fashion designer, Brooke Davis, would turn into a potential murder?

 

Then there is always Nathan. He FINALLY understands how important his family is. If it were him a year ago, he would had done anything to make a comeback if it cost him his life, but now, knowing that he should slow down to maintain good health and be there for his family. He is cute, athletic, and caring? He is a perfect guy, isn’t he? Lucky Hayley Scott.

 

To think, all this happened and it is only the second episode of a whole season. We can wait for so many more drama filled nights, considering Gossip Girl AND One Tree Hill are both on the same day! So it’s a great way to take a two hour study break and catch both shows (:

 

So the show left us wondering: will Brooke actually kill someone? Will Nathan really be successful in his comeback? And will Peyton and Lucas really be together forever? Let me know what you think! Until next time,

 

You know you love me,

 

S.

(Gabriella) 

Fashions in Chapel Hill: Running Shorts

The first day of college: I got all dressed up and tried to make myself look presentable for a university setting, but what is the first thing I hear about my outfit? "You look like a freshman." When I walked out to my class I realized I had forgotten the memo to wear RUNNING SHORTS. Everywhere I turned...  BAM! There was someone with running shorts. 

 

I have heard that many wear very sporty and "bum" clothes when they arrive to college. Maybe it is the immense amount of homework or the ridiculous amounts of freedom we receive with out our parents that causes this, but if it is, I have definitely seen its effects in action. As I walked down to class this morning, I could count a 1:1 ratio between girls who were dressed and girls in running shorts. This afternoon, coming back from classes, I saw more girls in running shorts that were WALKING to class compared to the girls running. 

 

I love my running shorts. It’s so loose and thin. They are great on rainy days, because they dry so much faster than regular cotton clothing. In my old days, Soffee brand cotton shorts were the most desired among girls. The cheerleading shorts were tight and very short. They were comfy and I remember wearing them all the time. I guess running shorts have definitely taken their place. One advantage they do provide is their longer length and free feeling.

 

I had to ask my friends how they felt about running shorts and the amount of running shorts worn on this campus. Everyone I have talked to thinks that there is a ridiculous amount of girls who wear them, but they admitted that they were one of them. Every one of them said, “They are so comfy!” I guess a lot of college girls think alike!

 

College is more about studying than what you wear. You spend loads of time working on homework and studying all that it is hard to find the time to get ready and dress up. From this we can learn not to only judge people by their appearance or the amount of running shorts they wear per week, but all of their other attributes. So moral of the story: don’t judge a book by its cover, and running shorts are THE pop culture fashion at Chapel Hill.