Back to the Basics

After weeks of trying to reach out to the student body through social networks I decided to go back to the basics. I wanted to end the semester with interviews . I decided to make an announcement in my creative writing class asking people to be interviewed and have their photo taken to help with my blog and ongoing research project. Few people came forward at the end of class and the results varied. Many students said that they wear what they wear for comfort. Gnerally most students dress at Old Navy, H and M, Macy's and Outlets where thay can get discount clothes. Many of the students from the last group of students that I interviewed said that they do not spend much time preparing for class and the clothes that they wear to class do not reflect them. The student to the left described his current look as bad ass. He does not shop fro clothes based on ads and shops about every six months. The average price he spends on an outfit ranges from 100 to 200 dollars. A bit expensive for a college student. His wardrobe consists of mostly jeans and polo's and button up shirts. He spends about 5 minutes preparing for class and his outfits are motivated by his mood. The student defined fashion as a consumer culture and style is a personal expression. In addition, other students said that there is a difference between fashion and style answers varied from fashion is a trend that everyone follows but style is built from personality and mood to fashion is what is popular and what is in according to fashion magazines and run way shows for that season. There is a difference between fashion and style because style is personal, style is how you use fashion to reflect you. I found it interseting how male and female ideas of the comparison to fashion and style were very similar.

After interviewing what would be the last couple of the students for the semester many questions came to mind. Do people percieve others based on what they are wearing and could that be the reason why at Rutgers there are very few people if any that decide to step out of the box and be individuals in the way that they dress? After conducting this project I feel that I can conclude by saying yes. I always wondered why not just students people in general wear what they wear and why so many people tend to frown when they see some something different. Are we forced to believe that there is only a few ways of dressing and anything outside of that is wrong. During the entire semester I met one student who to me is the ideal of being an individual. She did not allow me to take her picture after I interviewed her but the way she dresses is very unique and different than what one might see on a typical day on a college campus. My challenge to you is to try something outside of what you normaly would wear together. Do not change your outfit once you are fully dressed because of fear of what other might say. If this semester has taught me anything it has taught me the importance of being an individual.

Collegiate Collection

This past week I had the opportunity to talk with several employees of Victoria Secret in refrence to the collegiate collection. Rutgers is the only school in New Jersey who has a line at Victoria Secret and I was interested in finding out how the line came about and does the line represent what college girls at Rutgers and other schools want to wear? The line consists of sweatpants, hoodies and t-shirts with emblems that represent Rutgers. When I asked the employees to use one word to describe the collegiate collection answers ranged from,"fun, girly, spirit ,affordable to exclusive". One employee said that she could not describe the collection in one word. She is a college student in NJ and she mentioned how she wishes that her school had a line at Victoria Secret. She stated that many Rutgers girls come into the store and those who did not know about the collection become extremely excited when they see the BIG R on a pair of sweats or a t-shirt. I asked if they felt that the line represented what college girls want to wear and the answer was yes from everyone. Many stated that the line is fun and unique. I wanted to know how a collegiate line might get the attention of a student like me who is not big on wearing sweat pants. Another employee responded by saying "the collection is for every college girl, even for those who are not big on "dressing down". The collection was made to attract those who like glitter and sparkles on their clothes to those who are basic and more simple in the way that they dress". The collection was made by the students for the students. Many students had an opportunity to help build the line from scratch. One employee mentioned that it is very important that students had a say in what a collegiate line would consist of. "You want things in your store that are going to sale, you want things that are going to catch the eye of other girls on campus and next thing you know every girl on campus is wearing a Victoria Secret Collegiate t-shirt and that is the purpose of the collection". After talking with some of the employees at VS I decided to ask around on campus and see what the girls who attended Rutgers thought about the collegiate collection. Sarah, who is a freshman at Rutgers said," I will wear the collection because I am a usual at Victoria Secret and I am excited that they have a collection that has Rutgers stamped all over it, represents school pride to the fullest". Other answers ranged from yes, of course to no because I do not want to look like everyone else on campus. Those who said no,mentioned how the line would not offer many styles to choose from. One girl even went as far to say, " I could be sitting in a class with 200 students and 10 of the girls can have on the same hoodie from VS and that would bother me". In the end I found it very interesting that VS decided to design a collection exclusively for college girls. I think it is brilliant and represents an everyday outfit for most college girls. For Rutgers students who are interested in taking a look at the VS Collegiate Collection visit, http://www2.victoriassecret.com/collection/?cgname=OSPNKCLIRUT&cgnbr=OSPNKCLIRUT&rfnbr=5098