By MADELYN MURPHY
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
“You’re going to wear sweatpants to class in no time.”
As I packed my dresses and colored jeans for college, my father’s prediction rang out as ludicrous. Wear sweatpants to class? “Bum it out” in public? It struck horror in my heart. Why?
The image of a student rolling out of bed 30 minutes prior to class, performing a simple drill of brushing teeth, putting on some yoga pants and heading out the door did not seem atypical, but I was not just any college student. I was going to be a New Yorker. As I zipped up my suitcase, I had to wonder which identity would take precedence over my fashion life — the college student or the New Yorker?
The Fordham community seems to rest ambiguously on the question “What to wear?” On one side of the spectrum, we are college students: we proudly go to football games, we sport maroon and white and some days we just need to wear our sweats and devour an extra caf cookie (I mean, we are human). We are also, however, part of the New York City community. It is the only city that will not judge you on your religion, sexuality or political views, but will judge you on your shoes. We exist in this duality of Ram logo T-shirts and chic attire. So, do we dress the part of quintessential college student, or do we amp it up for the city in which we live?
As an incoming freshman, this question was at the front of my mind. My first class, I took a seat in the front and quickly scanned the room. No sweatpants. Literally. None. I texted my father later with a snarky remark and made a continual effort to admire the style of those around me. While Fordham is not without yoga pants and basketball shorts, a large majority of the student body is well dressed. While not every girl or guy wears Marc Jacobs, every Fordham student possesses some sort of style, a testament to some fashion-directed effort.
Attending Fordham presents one with a distinctly unique college experience. We reside on our Gothic campus, spruced up with ancient trees, various statues and busts. We have a football field that has experienced wins (so far) and a caf with scrumptious cookies. We are college students with a college campus, and yet we are New Yorkers with the city at our fingertips.
The city becomes just as much a part of us as Fordham does. Fordham students go to football games, play ultimate Frisbee on sunny afternoons, tan on Eddie’s and actively participate in a variety of clubs and activities.
However, many Fordham students have gone to Fashion Week, seen Broadway shows, attend Shakespeare in the Park and conversed with celebrities. Our life extends beyond the campus, and thus beyond the typical college student attire.
We are just as much a part of this city as we are of Fordham, and that does call for a certain “oomfh” in style, not to say that wearing sweatpants is forbidden (I am wearing a sweatshirt as I write this piece).
There will be makeup-less days, basketball shorts nights and cozy sweatshirt weeks (finals, specifically).
However, I have seen a variety of Vogue-worthy outfits in my classes, with prime accessorizing, preppy oxfords and even bohemian vintage.
I have frequently found myself complimenting both guys and girls on their incredible sense of style, and often see these unique expressions of style more than I see sweats and a hoodie.
We exist in a dual world, and when it comes to style it is ultimately a personal choice. Do you play the part of college student or New Yorker today? Are those our only options?
Looking at the variations of style present on campus, we do not necessarily need to choose between New York and Fordham when it comes to attire.
We have a third option: blend the two together and form your own style, whether that be the artsy New Yorker, the Fordham athlete, the quintessential prep or the not-so-hipster hipster.
Fordham may seem to present us with only two choices when it comes to style — the New Yorker and the college student — but ultimately there is the third and most stylish fashion choice: You.
Madelyn Murphy, FCRH ’17, is an English major.
