More Bad Fashion Trends I'll Never Understand

Oh the things you'll see on a college campus! Summer is full swing here in Fairbanks, along with my inability to understand the clothes people are wearing. I've come to the conclusion that I'll probably never "get it" and I've accepted the fact. I enjoy the stares I get for looking "weird" when the person that glares at me is wearing something just as strange, yet trendy. It's all a matter of perception though, and these are the things I just can't grasp as being the latest trends.

Hoodie+Jeans+sandals=?
The direct inverse of the Uggs with a mini skirt is a hoodie with jeans and a pair of sandals. It's true, I learned that in math class this semester. I understand that the weather changes on a whim here in Fairbanks, but it just seems strange that the whole upper body would be cold yet the feet are so hot that they need sandals. No, I don't get it because when I dress for changing temperatures I wear tennis shoes (or boots) and take a jacket with me. It just seems so wrong, not because it looks ridiculous, but because it makes no sense whatsoever in a practical way. It's one step up from the pajamas in public. At least you're not too lazy to get dressed, but you couldn't take a couple minutes to put on some other shoes. I say save the sandals for shorts, when wearing barely there shoes makes sense.

Man Sandals (aka Mandals)
I've always viewed sandals as a lady accessory mostly because I can't stand the sight of men's feet. In recent years the sandals have creeped over into Man Land, mostly seen on guys that stepped straight out of Abercrombie, Old Navy, or American Eagle. Of course worn with jeans... or in the worst case, with socks. I don't assume that because you're wearing Adidas socks with Adidas sandals, with your favorite jersey and basketball shorts that you look like you just got done playing a game of soccer... I just assume you've put way too much time into an ensemble that makes you look like a Foot Locker victim. I may be biased toward man sandals though, as a recent experience with the kid behind me in class brushing my leg with his sandal-ed feet that felt like sandpaper has left me scarred and detesting Mandals.

Popped Collars
I thought this died down, but since Alaska seems to be a few years behind everything, I've been seeing this one pop up from time to time. Every once in a while I'll see a guy- or girl- wander by with the collar of their polo up instead of folded down. I've even seen a guy wear six different colored polos with each and every single collar up, which made my head tilt so far to the side that I had a twinge in my neck for weeks. Popped collars are one thing that I will never, ever understand along with quantum physics and why Paris Hilton is famous. I just get flashbacks to the kid in third grade that was finally allowed to dress himself and every polo he wore was folded upwards with some sort of unidentifiable stain down the front.

Emo Hair
I'm guilty of this one, I'll admit it. I've been known to chop my hair haphazardly so the front is long and the back is short and spiky then dye it blacker than black. Guilty as charged. But now I look back at those pictures and see why I got looks that questioned my sanity. What can I say, it was a stage that I grew out of and wish most of these kids would. Looking back on the hair cut that covered one eye and was teased to it's highest potential, I wonder how I could see and how I got in and out of a car without flattening it into some goopy too much hair product mess. If I remember correctly, I couldn't see and I never did master getting in or out of a car without much happening too my hair. It's generally too hard to maintain and looks kind of goofy, which all the emo kids will realize once they're past the age of twenty and pleading with their mother to hide those pictures of that bad, bad hair. I know I've hit that point (aside from dying it black, I still do that).

How Low Can Your Hiphuggers Go?
I sit in the back of the classroom in every class, not just because of my anti-social tendencies, but because I am also paranoid and don't like anyone behind me at anytime. But now every time I look up to jot a note down from the chalkboard, I get a good glance at every girl's thong and butt crack. What ever happened to the aura of mystery, making people wanting more? And why am I subjected to look at a glittery thong and a bad lower back tattoo when I'm in class? Low rise pants make me want to start a game of shoot the wad of paper down the girl's pants. Any pants that have to be pulled up more than five times during the day so your girlie bits aren't hanging out should probably be put back in the closet.

But then again... maybe it's just me.