Oberlin’s vibrant, diverse fashion climate comprises opinions ranging from declarations of a “clog epidemic” to citations of improper vest use. Among contradicting opinions, an unspoken rule exists: wear things with confidence.
From College third-year Elke Zigmont’s perspective, clothing should be experimental but make sense; it should bolster one’s identity and not distort it.
“A lot of it has to do with appropriateness, if that makes sense,” Zigmont said. “Rocking a high visibility vest at The ’Sco, that’s cool. But wearing it during the daytime, I don’t know if I get it. What’s the difference between a cute prairie dress and … looking like a fundamentalist Christian?”
How does an Obie pull off the perfect outfit? Maybe it doesn’t matter. The gray area between “good” and “bad” style doesn’t need to be defined.
“I think fashion is hard to pin down,” College third-year Maud Arpels said. “I think people here dress wonderfully.”
College first-year Logan Newkirk says we shouldn’t take it for granted.
“A lot of the people at my high school would be dressed in generic sweatpants and t-shirts,” Newkirk said. “And I don’t see a lot of that here [at Oberlin]. I see a lot of unique styles, or at least people who have developed their style.”
But is Oberlin style really unique or just a myriad of cliches? The men of Oberlin act as if there are only several aesthetic archetypes they can choose from: Carhartt jacket and blue jeans, button-down shirt and baggy shorts, or athletic wear. When men stray from these paths, they often become a bit lost. College third-year Aidan Walsh offered some advice.
“You want to look more at those who are in the humanities than STEM,” Walsh said. “And as the fall is coming on, what you want to be doing is layers. … I think the proper scarf and coat combination can really turn some heads.”
Dressing nicely goes beyond gender. Obies of all identities have their fashionable moments. Does good taste stem from one’s innate liberal arts quality? Or is there something in the campus air that infuses style into students?
“People here aren’t afraid to take risks with their fashion,” College third-year Dane Mentore said. “And so, when you see bright colors or pieces where the silhouette is a little unorthodox, but they make it work, it’s super sick. It’s akin to walking outside and seeing everybody exercising. You naturally want to go with that group because it’s a positive thing, right? … It’s definitely a positive peer pressure. You see everybody else expressing [themselves], and so you’re like, why not me too?”
Despite the inclination to dress like an individual, the desire to be different sometimes steers Obies into aesthetics that are not as niche as they might think. College third-year Eli Burger, however, branches out thanks to Oberlin trends.
“I’m not on Pinterest or anything, so it’s just from people-watching,” Burger said. “I want to dress more like the Y2K aesthetic, and people know how to do it really well here.”
Oberlin students often have a tendency to believe that they are above stereotypes, but they are not immune. Anyone with an Instagram account has likely observed all of the above-mentioned styles, and anyone who has taken a casual stroll across Wilder Bowl knows that Oberlin has stereotypes of its own. There is no shame in wearing baggy low-rise jeans and a baby tee. Obies subvert norms everywhere else — if fashion is up for debate, then so be it. Whether you think Oberlin is stylish or not, it is imbued with benevolent collectivism: an invitation to experiment or solidify your sense of self.
