Store-bought, real, or imagined, Choate students all came back from break a little rested and tanned. As the snow melted, an interesting split developed in the student body. One group lumbered straight out of Dr. Zhivago, wrapped in scarves and parkas, while the other broke out their island gear. Perhaps it is a heritable inability to feel cold, perhaps it is optimism, but in forty-eight degree weather short-shorts resurfaced. Whether the weather calls for them or not, cuffed shorts are indeed deniér mode for daywear. Most Choaties pair theirs with a v-neck sweater or an oxford and the requisite sandals. Surprisingly, there is life outside of the J.Crew store (true, it is harsher and grittier, but has no less moral fiber). That being said, more creative pairings include cropped jackets, trapeze shirts, and even button-down vests. Surpassing shorts and decency in popularity this spring are the ubiquitous minis. Their resurgence has been greeted with much rejoicing, primarily from the male faction. To balance so many show-stopping inches of leg, many Choaties are employing this season’s light layering on their top half. Some eclectic combinations of camis, draped shirts and light sweaters take this look out of grade school. Color is big here, the more unusual the combination the better. Acid brights are in, as our verdant campus displayed on Darfur Awareness Day, but some hues have yet to see the sun. Try red, canary yellow (none of this pastel nonsense) and drenched purple. The result pops, adds interest to staid outfits, but requires a little bravery to pull off. A safer way to layer is in neutral shades, usually in the form of a tunic sweater and pashmina. Winter’s domineering neutral, gray, can be replaced with crème, coffee, and nude. (Although heartily endorsed by designers, nude is perilous in practice. Anyone with less-than-perfect vision can recall a few harrowing experiences.) Choaties tend to add interest to this monotone with a statement necklace or vivid bangles.
Thankfully, the black North Face and white ruffled mini combination is appearing less and less, as are typhoid fever and the measles. Successful alternatives to the white mini are patterned brightly, or embellished in some way. Even the hippie skirt of two years ago seems to have found a home on campus. Shockingly below-the knee pieces are worn with revealing tops, presumably to fend off puritans. Those same God-fearing souls are equally jolted by Choaties’ predilection for the summer dress. For its utility and easy grace, this glory could easily be renamed ‘the spring dress.’ Sunny days and warmer weather are embodied in a frock of crisp cotton or patterned linen. Seniors enjoying “The Spring” seem to particularly champion the dress option. While the most popular are strappy, sleeves are still a viable alternative. A black number, with eclectic (read: large and bright) accessories might prove surprisingly successful. The governing rule here is that the hem doesn’t venture too low below the knee; the number of inches north of the knee is an argument better suited for professional boxers, and thus out of the scope of this piece. Regardless of styles, Choaties generally steer their look out of ‘special dress’ territory in a pair of flats or sandals. While towering wedges and chunky-heeled platforms may pace the runway, the marathon through Choate has yet to be run in them. There is still no word from the girl who collapsed doing the PMAC-Steele loop at five inches elevation. Poor dear. Those caught between seasons have been making kicky statements in dark boots, with hipster sneakers or Sperry Topsiders rounding out the set.
Speaking of accessories, Choaties should have no trouble providing this season’s required bag: the enormous tote. In black, brown, and the ubiquitous canvas, these body bags are dragged all over campus. An easy way to upgrade your second half might be knotting a silk scarf around one of the handles. For those less inclined to obey the call of their book-bags contents (read: seniors) now is the time. Embrace these last weeks at Choate to show the other forms who sets the tone for campus fashion. Recently, people have been dressing all too similarly. Gone are the instantly-identifiable hippies and uber-preps. If this disturbing trend continues, there may soon be a day where we must actually speak to each other before making ignorant judgments. May it never come to pass. Enjoy the weather, dress sharp, but, more importantly, dress inventively. In the immortal words of Patches O’Houlihan, “You can do it.”
Lily Toland ’08 (left) and Tora Fisher ’07 (right) model spring’s latest fashions. PHOTO/Contributed Photo
