The Weather and My Clothes are Frightful

Written by Megan Flynn

So these past two weekends have caused me to have something of an existential crisis. I turned into a person I never knew I was, would be, or even had the potential to be.

I became someone who thought that going out in leggings, a huge sweatshirt, and UGG boots was totally acceptable. Now, to give myself a break, I will say that the first time it happened there was at least a foot of snow on the ground and I was stuck six miles from my apartment in a dorm at Hampden-Sydney, but it’s still not really an excuse. I’ll also say that when I wasn’t wearing leggings and oversized gym wear, I was wearing a ball gown.

That’s right—that frightful snow storm that wasn’t exactly bad enough to cancel class (an issue in itself that had so many people just completely appalled) took place the weekend of Hampden-Sydney’s Black Tie Ball. I realize that this is a column in Longwood University’s newspaper, but I think the Black Tie Ball did affect a lot of Longwood students. Once again being totally unfair to the wonderful men who read these articles, plenty of girls who actually cared about their dates either planned to get snowed in for the weekend or braved the snowy roads from Longwood to Hampden-Sydney that Saturday night.

It warmed my heart to see girls dressed just as badly as I was at breakfast, (pigtails under hats, leggings or sweatpants tucked into big furry boots, and baggy but warm sweatshirts that came down to our knees) then clean up so nicely in dresses of every color for what I thought was a really fashionable affair. The guys didn’t look too bad in their tuxes, either.









Some photo cred to Brittany Cox.

I’d like to think that Jenni and I have something to do with people dressing well, but I’m pretty sure we don’t. (Is anyone reading this?) I’d also like to take this opportunity to tell you that I will no longer judge you if you’re wearing leggings instead of real pants, UGG boots or something like them, and a huge baggy sweatshirt instead of a jacket that has actual lines. Because I know that you’re cold, too. And sometimes being warm and comfortable, even if you’re looking kind of grungy in a dorm room for the weekend with people you love is more important than looking totally fierce, or whatever it is Tyra Banks says.

The Seven Threadly Sins

Written by Megan Flynn and Jenni Schweitzer

It’s a new year! Did your new year’s resolution have to do with looking more amazing? In a very backwards effort to help you out, we’ve actually come up with the seven most villainous and wicked wardrobe malfunctions that you should never, ever be tempted to commit. Keep them out of your closet in 2010!

These are in no particular order. We loathe them all equally.

1.Muffin Tops: Let’s make something clear—girls can be beautiful with practically any body type. A muffin top, for those of you who don’t know, is when the waistband of your pants is slightly too small, and what doesn’t fit spills over, like the top of a muffin. It has much less to do with weight than the fit of the waistband on your pants. Megan can buy her jeans at Abercrombie Kids and still has had to figure out a way to battle the dreaded muffin top. Don’t be afraid to buy a size up. We won’t tell anyone.

2. Pajamas in Class: Why? Stop it. It’s not that hard to wear jeans or throw on a dress; actually, it takes the exact same amount of effort as putting on a pair of pajama pants. If you’re really a fan of the whole comfortable look, try some black yoga pants. Paired with a nice plain t-shirt, it’s an easy way to say ‘Namaste’ to academia with both comfort and style.

3. Skinny Jeans have an obvious implication. They’re the most closely tapered pants without being tights or body paint, and generally speaking, we approve of them. Both Jenni and Megan own skinny jeans and have discovered the real challenge – finding an equally skinny top. Again, skinny jeans have little to do with your body and more to do with the physical cut of the cloth. Your top should not be too voluminous, or instead of muffin top, you’ll be a muffin. Try to find them in a darker wash to maximize the skinny part of your jeans.

4. Ugg Boots: We can see why you'd want to toast your tootsies after all those heels we prescribe. Megan actually owns two pairs, but wears them cautiously. Just make sure you don't follow the Apple Bottom Jeans formula. Your boots don't need the fur to stay warm in the winter. Promise. And definitely no mini-skirts. What’s the point? You’ll get an article solely devoted to Uggs soon—Jenni and Megan argue about the rules of boots constantly.

5. Bag Ladies: Why are you carrying your purse and a backpack? Bookbags have little compartments specifically designed for things like cell phones, keys and chapstick. And yes, we know that everyone around here collects Vera Bradley bags like librarians collect cats, but you have to start narrowing it down to just one per day. That blue tote with the bright pink mini backpack—that’s practically a quilt. The ID holders are nice, though. We like them. And pen and sunglass cases, as well as the larger pieces made for traveling all serve a higher purpose. When it comes to Vera, we have to say that function needs to outweigh form. We hate to be the ones to have to tell you, but quilted purses aren’t actually that fashionable.

6. Camouflage is completely useless on campus. Trust us, you are not blending in, and that destroys the point. Go hunting, sure, and thank you for controlling the deer population. But seriously? We can still see you.

7. Confusion: Ever seen a girl and wondered, "Is she wearing pants?" McDonald's might allow it, but we won't. No matter how cute the two pieces you're wearing are—like a long top with a mini—they aren't balanced. Fit is almost everything when it comes to looking and feeling great in your clothes, and you want pieces that will work together in harmony. Wear longer tops with skinny jeans instead of a miniskirt or tuck them into high-waist, more reasonable-length skirt.

Well, there you have them. Resolve accordingly.

Tights as Pants

Posted by Megan

After receiving continual questions on the subject, I’ve decided to pretend to know something about wearing tights as pants. I have to be honest and say that I’m actually pretty into the whole look. I’m a firm believer in turning warm weather pieces like dresses and skirts into fall and winter clothes by adding scarves, cute jackets and tights.


But when I talk about wearing tights as pants, I really mean leggings: they shouldn’t be sheer, and they should function more or less like pants, except that you can wear a dress over them and not look ridiculous.

There are really important guidelines that need to be followed when you’re wearing leggings. More important than the color or style is the issue of making sure that you’re appropriately clothed in the most basic sense. Before you walk out the door, pretend that your leggings are invisible and that you have no pants on. Is your shirt long enough to cover your behind? Perfect.

Here are a couple things to keep in mind:
• Brightly colored leggings can work really nicely if you’ve got the confidence to wear them.
• Make sure your leggings don’t end in strange place. A little above the ankle is good. Anywhere near your knee is not.
• Layer your long tops and add cool jackets or a scarf. Don’t be afraid to pair leggings with shirts, just remember to keep them long enough.
• Leggings are awesome because they look good with pretty much any shoe: flats, athletic shoes, heels, boots. Don’t forget this! Switch it up.

Hopefully this clears a few things up. It’s a good look! Just find a way to wear it that works for you.