Weather or Not

This little seasonal transition seems to be confusing people.

People watcher that I am, the one upside to my million-mile hike from the parking lot to my building on campus is the ample number of people I get to observe on my way to and fro. It keeps me current on the campus fashion trends and usually how un-trendy I am in comparison. (I'm always the last to hop on the Trend Train, and by then the engine is already disappearing into the horizon)

On most days, there's a pretty common theme based on weather. In the fall, you have skinny jeans, oversized cardigans, tediously-styled-casual scarves, flats or boots. In the winter, you'll see a combination of Uggs, leggings, Nike running shorts, long-sleeved t-shirts, and Patagonia pull-overs or there's the option of throwing an extra layer over your fall duds. Come spring, Chacos are pulled out across campus to be paired with the Nike shorts and t-shirts or there's the option of the cuffed skinny jean with a t-strap sandal.

The silver lining of the Nike short phenomenon is that any girl on campus is ready to run a marathon at a moment's notice. So there's that, I guess.

The weather lately is throwing people off, though. I'm willing to cut some slack for those who, like me, have taken the majority of their winter clothes home to Mom and Dad to exchange them for a more spring-y wardrobe. However, just because you've now got your short-shorts and tank-tops in your closet doesn't mean you must take them out for their first spin in 2011. There's still time, friends.

As I walked onto campus this morning-- ninny that I am, I'm wearing closed-toe shoes and a turtleneck; it's 50 degrees and gloomy out, after all-- I saw the entire spectrum of seasonal dress splattered across campus. There were leggings and giant t-shirts, Patagonias and jeans paired with Chacos, cut-off jean shorts and flip-flops with-- wonder of wonders-- wife beater tank tops.  There is not a season of the year that is appropriate for both Ugg boots AND Chacos. One of you is miserable, but hey, fashion is sacrifice, right?

Listen, kids, I know you worked hard on your tan over spring break, and I'm thrilled to see that your New Year's resolution to eat no more than 400 calories a day is finally starting to pay off, but we've got a long road ahead of us in the spring and summer. No need to put all your cards on the table now. I pinky-promise there will be ample time to sport your Chacos and your teensy-tiny shorts in the coming months, but for now... I'm cold just looking at you. Check the weather, or just look out your window. It LOOKS cold, for crying out loud. We'll be lucky if we hit sixty degrees today, and our friend the sun isn't even going to bother getting out of bed.

But seriously, I'm very impressed by the intensity of your tan and your very shapely legs. My own pale legs would be envious except they're really busy today... you know, being all warm and whatnot inside of my weather-appropriate pants.