As you know, The Natty Nittany has been devoted to covering the best in Penn State fashion this past year.  Everyone’s favorite newspaper – The Daily Collegian – has also taken their eyes to the street on a similar mission the past five years with a section they title “Take Five“ I am Fashion.  I appreciate this interest in fashion – something that may be slightly underplayed here at Penn State.  Yet, I feel as if our friends at the Collegian are sending the wrong message with today’s entry.

Elizabeth Puddu is well dressed – I won’t deny her this.  Her image as pictured is not enough to merit the bold praise her journalist peers at the paper give her.  This is a solid outfit, but where is the personal flare?  “I am Fashion”?  How about “I am Stereotype”?

There’s a certain element to one’s style that involves creativity.  Someone who receives compliments for being “well dressed” stands out in a crowd.  For example, a suit made by Thom Browne looks nothing like one from Prada, and neither of which look like the cut by Brooks Brothers.  Yes, they’re all suits, but knowing which designers and/or brands fit your personal look (and budget!) best is the key.  They will all project a different image.  Hopefully the one you choose matches your personality.  It’s using these different nuances to “tailor” (a pun, maybe?) a unique style that others find attractive.  Unfortunately, all we have here is a cookie-cutter image (Uggs?  Really?!).

I can guarantee that at least two-hundred girls wore this EXACT look around campus today.  Fitting in is fine, but at what cost?  The fun of fashion is seeing originality and diversity, not conformity.

To the Collegian I say, we don’t praise people who perform at an average level in academics, so let’s not celebrate outfits that look average either.