The University of Alabama is an incredibly diverse place, filled with people from all walks of life and parts of the country, that I am lucky to call home. That being said, like any college, some trends have emerged at UA that are clearly visible to anyone seeking to find them. Even as an out of state student, as soon as I set foot on campus I found myself noticing (and taking part in) the fashion scene in Tuscaloosa. For those like me, have no fear. If you find yourself at UA without a clue of what to wear, here is your style guide for the Crimson Tide student body.
1. Oversized T-shirts
Right from the beginning, this was a very welcomed idea for me. The fact that I can roll out of bed and throw on a giant comfy tshirt to go to class never loses its appeal, to me or to the other girls on campus. Trust me, if you can see your shorts, it's not long enough.
2. Nike shorts
These and the oversized tshirts go hand in hand; often, you'll see them peeking below the bottom of the tshirt hems while girls walk around campus. Their usefulness for getting around the school comfortably makes me feel very grateful that they are a trend here.
3. Nike shoes
Again, the usefulness of this as a trend here cannot be emphasized enough. Everyone gets a kick (get it?) out of putting on some comfortable tennis shoes to walk around in, and everyone looks good while they get from class to class. A stylish and practical way to avoid aching feet: the college student's dream.
4. Khakis
There's not a ton to say about this. Every teenage boy in the country seems to own a few pairs of these, so it's not a surprise that khakis are a typical sight around UA. Long, short, very very short... our boys seem to have them all and love to show them off.
5. Polos
If you have a schedule like mine, two free hours in the Ferguson Student Center between classes gives you a lot of time to people watch. And when you do, polos are everywhere. Between fraternity and non-Greek boys, you're guaranteed to see at least 3 walking between any two places on campus. For an added bonus, if you're really into polos, you can take advantage of this time of year to search for pledges in their polos all around campus. They might be miserable in the heat, but at least they're looking good.
6. OTBT's
While I must admit I do not own a pair of these beauties, I see them almost everywhere I go when the girls at Alabama are required to dress up for any reason. Friends who own them speak volumes about their comfort, and they're versatile enough to go with almost anything. Because of this, they're a staple in the closet of sorority and non-Greek girls alike.
7. Comfort Colors
Okay, this isn't really a "fashion piece" in that it isn't a physical piece of clothing. But here, comfort colors are everything. Comfort Colors can best be defined as lived in and slightly faded versions of normally vibrant colors. They grace almost every shirt here on campus, and their livability along with their many choices put them on every tshirt order form around. Plus they're just really cute. Everyone loves them.
