In the not-so-distant past, students wore real clothes. Now, seafoam green, bright pink, neon orange and white are everywhere. I’m not talking about Nike Tempo shorts, but the atrocious tank tops that have become a staple in the college girl’s uniform.
I understand the desire to remain cool in this muggy weather. Having nothing clinging to your sides would be nice. Especially with that sweat-inducing book bag mashed up against your back. But this doesn’t excuse you from attending class fully clothed.
As college students, we utilize our right to dress comfortably often. Despite many professors’ and students’ comments about Nike Tempos, so what if they’ve become the stereotypical outfit? At least they are a fair substitute for khaki shorts — and far cooler in this weather. A bit more slovenly, but they clothe the same amount.
However, these tank tops versus regular t-shirts — there is no comparison. A t-shirt says casual, while a tank top screams, ‘I’m incapable of dressing myself.’ With armpit holes down to your elbows, you leave your entire bra and stomach exposed. Do you honestly think this is acceptable for class? Think again.
Have you ever wondered if your professor, or even some of your classmates, might be offended by your lack of clothing? I didn’t sign up to see what color undergarments my classmates chose.
Clothing communicates a message, whether we intend it to or not. T-shirts and shorts aren’t criminal, but establishing a baseline of such extreme casualness is problematic. While some might think that ditching the giant tank tops and running shorts post-graduation will be simple, our dressing habits have lowered our standards of appropriate dress in general. Suddenly the necklines and hem lengths of “business casual” attire resemble those of clothing people would wear to a bar.
This isn’t exclusive to girls. For men, the need to iron one’s khakis or polo diminishes, and having matching dress socks becomes trivial. After all, you’ve been wearing a wrinkled t-shirt, a pair of athletic shorts or stained khakis, and a baseball hat for years, so a button-up and long pants that mirror a crinkled piece of paper seem like an enormous upgrade.
Of course, everyone has those days that merit wrinkled clothes, a baseball hat or an oversized t-shirt, but what about those students who live in these clothes? Who thinks it is odd to see a student wearing adult clothes to class? Life post-college demands real clothes, and this transition will be difficult for many.
When I walk into class and see a room full of tank top-clad and oversized T-shirt-wearing students, I will look around for ones who have showered. I’ll look for the ones whose clothes show at least some indication of concern or care about their appearance. These are the students I will want to be in my group projects. Not because all slovenly dressed students are slobbish in all areas of their life, but like it or not, your outfit communicates a message. It says, ‘I don’t care what I look like.’ So wear whatever you like in the confines of your own home, at the beach or while you work out. But everyone else would prefer you shower before class and avoid those tank tops so we don’t have to stare at your fuschia polka-dotted sports bra.
