College is about self-discovery and enhancement; making your mark on the world for future generations and for yourself. Upon entering a job market, your collegiate career allows that mark to stretch, expand, and permeate into all facets of your life, and those surrounding you. Cue the fairies and butterflies and teletubbies and warm fuzzy feelings, right?
WRONG!
In my four years at college, I can’t say that I haven’t grown. But what I definitely can say, is that college campuses are littered with trend-following freaks and their “non-conformist” counterparts who, for some reason, don’t realize that they are INDEED conforming by NOT conforming. Of course, we can’t all be trendsetters. Then who would follow?
Allow me to explain…
1. UGG BOOTS. ( I just threw up in my mouth a little). Now, girls, guys, whoever, WHY WHY WHYYYYY?!! What are you hiding beneath the bulk? Do you know you’re giving yourself a cankle? And DON’T give me the ‘they’re comfortable’ excuse- it’s played out. Oh, oh… wait, I think I got it, you are all Big Foot enthusiasts and have been punking everyone! In any case, while studying abroad in Australia last semester (the origin of the craze), an Aussie friend of mine actually went as far to buy me a pair, knowing that I hated them. His rationale was that the boot was only intended to be worn inside on cold winter days, or maybe as far as getting the morning paper out of the snow. THAT’S IT, PEOPLE! No Ugg ensembles paired with skirts or tights or track suits. If you feel the need to clop around in them, keep it inside! You’re offending the rest of us.
2. The North Face Jacket. 
Really? You NEED fleece? That’s how cold you are? Or do you just feel better knowing that you spent well over 100 bucks for three words and some curvy little lines? Since when did going to college and “finding yourself” involve still being obsessed with brand names like you’re some kind of 7th grade middle schooler trying to wear your older sibling’s clothes? Unless you’re on a mountain, with a pair of skis under your feet, give it a rest.
3. Puma. When it comes to these kicks, I am, unfortunately, guilty. They make my feet look so pretty! Still, there’s not much to the shoe to be costing as much as they do. In fact, half of them aren’t even ‘casual wear’, they’re aimed at soccer players. But, when people go as far to match them with a goofy looking puma bag or backpack, I’m running the other way, no matter whats on my feet.
4. Coffee Junkies. Um, excuse me, WHEN DID WE ALL SUDDENLY DECIDE TO START DRINKING COFFEE AND OR ONE OF ITS CLOSE COUSINS I.E. THE LATTE OR CAPPUCCINO??? I’m damn sure I didn’t like coffee in high school. Just the smell of it was awful. When my teachers would lean over me to check on my work, and they had just taken a big gulp, it was hard to ask them not to breathe on me. Is Starbucks magnetized? Is it not actually coffee in that cup you’re drinking? OH, I get it, its a caramel macchiato.. such a difference.
5. iPod headphones. Yeah, we get it. You have an iPod. So does my neighbor, and my mailman and my dog. But its the cord that twists from your ears to your pocket that has caught my eye. It isn’t ‘cool’ anymore to use the original headphones that come with the toy, rather, get the ones that are HUGE, covering 75% of your head, or the ones that coil gently around the outer edge of your ear. I know, I know.. its comfort, right?
6. The Water Bottle. Oh, I don’t mean just ANY water bottle. This trend is INDESTRUCTIBLE!!! (roar). It dangles off of countless backpacks, clanks on the cement classroom floors, and wisps quietly as the owner twists off its cap. I guess the stigma is that they’re environmentally friendly and can hold more water than a normal 12oz bottle of water. I guess I’m mean and illogical.
There you have it, my rant about the college fads that I can’t understand. Their foundations are unclear, but their future, for the followers, looks bright. Til the fateful day that these items are no longer mainstream facets of college life, campuses across the nation will be plagued with Sasquatch footprints and coffee breath, all wrapped up in fleece.
Photos courtesy of:
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/bigfoot-feet.jpg
http://www.counterfeitchic.com/Images/North%20Face%20logo.jpg
http://www.jokeemail.com/pictures/puma.jpg
http://www.gearsandwidgets.com/external/starbucksIV.jpg
http://the-gadgeteer.com//assets/skullcandy-proletariat-nr-headphones4.jpg
http://www.fieldandtrek.co.uk/images/products/22784_m.jpg
October 8th, 2008 at 12:45 am
OMG THANK YOU. I absolutely despise UGG Boots and never understood why girls insisted on paying money for that crap. The furry ones look like an animal got cold and decided to curl up against your feet.