Hey you guys! (Translation, Hey y'all!") So coming to the University of Kentucky from a suburb in Chicago has presented me with a lot of differences and changes I've needed to adjust to, one of the most notable is the differences in style. Here's a summary of (in my opinion) the 6 main differences between northern and southern style.
1. Makeup
To quote my roommate, "The girls here like the blush." Southern makeup has a very interesting natural yet glamorous look to it. Eye makeup typically includes a lot of natural colored eyeshadow, maybe with a little shimmer, plus a swipe of eyeliner and BIG lashes. I mean BIG. As for the rest of the look, rosy cheeks and natural lips are a must. The look is "glamorous" because its a full face of makeup with big lashes and lots of eyeshadow, its "natural" because the colors used are usually colors you'd naturally find in one's completion, just a little amplified. Browns, tans, and pinks are common. Northern makeup looks are different, they don't have the "perfectly primped barbie doll" look of a southern face of makeup. There are two main types, bare faced, and BOLD faced. Bare faced is pretty simple. Maybe swipe on some mascara and chapstick and you're out the door. For a going out look, bright lipsticks and bold eyeliner are more popular.
2. Color Schemes
"I don't think he's a good dresser, it reminds me of easter."
- Michael Scott (and also every northern person who visits the south)
Deeper, richer, clothing colors are much more popular up north, go down south and prepared to have your eyes assaulted with pastels. (Sorry, I'm biased.)
3. Hair Color
Colorful hair? Good luck finding it below the Ohio border! Bright colored hair is scarce in the south, while blonde dye is much more popular. Be prepared to get some funny looks down south if you decide to dye your hair purple.
4. Preppy Culture
Though "preppy" culture is getting increasingly popular all over the United States, nothing compares to the amount of prep in the southern states. Vineyard Vines, Southern Tide, seersucker shorts, Sperry's, and monograms as far as the eye can see.
5. "Country" Culture
Okay, the picture above is a bit of an exaggeration. But what I mean about "country culture" is the trend of wearing hunting or farming related clothing on a day to day basis (Its interesting how in contrast this is with preppy culture.) and southern people LOVE IT. This includes camo, clothing with the John Deere logo slapped on it, Lee wranglers, cowboy boots, and baseball hats with overly bent brims. Here's a tip too- you can estimate the location of a person based on the bend of their hat. The more bent, the more southern, the more flat, the more northern. Personally I think both trends are awful, like seriously, why can't we just have baseball hats with reasonably bent brims? But, I digress.
6. Tan Culture
All the previous differences, though you may prefer some over the others, really do no harm as a whole. People have different styles and different regions have different trends, it what creates the culture of an area, its a good thing. But this one, I have a problem with, tanning is so much more popular here. Multiple tanning salons have advertised on campus- to me, it is on par with letting cigarette companies advertise on campus. Melanoma is a big deal. The tanning trend is reflected in skin cancer rates. In Illinois, the melanoma rate is 17.8 cases per 100,000 people, here in Kentucky, its 24.3, a 40% difference (source). This trend is deadly. I'd rather walk around looking like a ghost than to actually be one.
Still love looking tan but don't love the risks? There are plenty of fake tan options available! Here are some good ones from Marie Claire.
Learn more about skin cancer self- exams here!
