Longchamp bags. Barbour jackets. Tory Burch flats. These are some of the most popular items a Bucknell girl may own. But what exactly is the “Bucknell Look?” Why do people complain that everyone dresses the same? How can we—unique, beautiful, one-of-a-kind females—stand out on our college campus that has been nicknamed “J. Crew U” and called “preppy” or “homogeneous?” First, it’s a matter of understanding why our campus seems to have its own “look.” Second, it’s about wearing what makes you feel confident. Period.
Psychology tells us that fitting in and seeking approval from others are two main factors that affect our day-to-day moods. We want to feel loved. We want to feel like people like us: like how we look, like how we dress, like how we talk and the like. The easiest thing to do? Dress like others you see so you don’t stick out like a sore thumb. But more often that not, dressing like everyone else means we compromise our own personal style. To fit in, we sometimes compromise not only our own style intuition, but often our integrity and individuality, as well.
How did it get this way? Well, for starters, Bucknell typically attracts a lot of students from New England, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan and tri-state areas due to its location and connections to specific high schools. Given the colder weather in these states, as well as a long history of fashion trends, a certain “look” or fashion identity has become synonymous with each of these areas. Take New England: timeless national companies like L.L. Bean (the company’s headquarters are in Freeport, ME) and other local cult sensations like Kiel James Patrick and Loren Hope Jewelry are the direct suppliers of well-made, quality clothing and accessories for all people living in those areas. Or let’s take New York City, one of the fashion capitals of the world, where young women can step into a Bloomingdales brimming with the trendiest fashions day or night.
If you’re like me and you’re not from New England or New York City, chances are you’ve probably felt like your fashion choices may not mesh with the overwhelming amount of students who derive their fashion sense from their hometowns. But why worry about it? Why not wear what inspires you, makes you feel unique and what makes you beautiful (thanks, One Direction)? If you really think about it, Bucknell is a diverse place. Diversity means more than the clothes you wear or the background you come from: diversity means a variety of thought and a spectrum of expression. So many women at Bucknell do so many different things and are pursuing many different dreams and passions. Embrace this aspect of our campus and reflect that in the way you express yourself: dress for yourself and no one else.
Sure, monotony can seem suffocating at times (did I really just count five North Face jackets on the way to class?!), but there’s no reason it should bog you down. Just because lots of girls may appear to dress similarly for one reason or another doesn’t mean you have to do the same. Accept it, move past it and make a statement. What’s life if we don’t leave our mark on where we’ve been? Luckily for us, a killer pair of shoes, some colorful jewelry, vintage t-shirts and bold handbags make this task a little bit easier.