Spring weather has arrived. The snow is gone and the sun is shining. But we still live on the Palouse. There are so many factors that play into clothing, whether it is the weather or your skin tone, some things should just be avoided.
Photo by Hayden Crosby | rawr
Seniors Kirsten Currie and Ellen Williams, along with their studio professor Erika Iiams in the Clothing, Textiles, and Design department sat down and compiled some things people should avoid wearing in this spring.
“Sweat pants should never be worn outside of the house,” Williams said. “It’s tacky and just shouldn’t be done.”
Heavy fabrics and dark colors are a springtime no-no. The sun is out and the weather has just been all gloomy and dark. It’s time to start breaking out those colorful shirts and dresses and reflect the environment around us, she said.
“Don’t wear leggings with shorter tops so that underwear lines can be seen,” said Currie.
She argues that leggings are not meant to be pants. The sheer ones are the worst. Nobody wants to see through pants. At least wear a longer shirt over the leggings so that it covers the underwear lines.
“Don’t wear heels if you can’t walk in them,” said Iiams.
Heels do nothing for a woman if she doesn’t know how to walk in them. They have the adverse effect and make a woman look uncomfortable and out of place. People should be comfortable in what they put on in the morning. Dressing uncomfortable makes a person look uncomfortable.
There are colors that don’t work well with people. It all depends on skin tone, hair color, and eye color.
“No one can pull of crayon orange and lime green. Unless you have olive colored skin,” Williams said.
A good way to tell what color works best with certain skin tones is looking at what type of jewelry works best with each person. If someone looks best in silver jewelry, then cool colors work best for that person and if someone looks best in gold jewelry, then warm colors work best for that person. If someone looks good in both gold and silver jewelry, then they are more in between and can wear an array of colors. But again, it all depends on the person, Williams said.
“No boy has ever been able to pull off the cut-off jean shorts look, not even in the 80’s,” she said.
It just doesn’t work. Cargo shorts and athletic shorts are the way to go with boys. It’s socially acceptable and makes a man look like he cares at least something about his image.
Men can wear skinny jeans but need to know how skinny to go. Movement is always a good thing in pants.
“The general rule is that, the bigger you are, the more space you want in your skinny jeans,” Currie said.
As for showing skin, a little bit goes a longs way.
“Only show skin in one place. If you’re going to show cleavage, wear something lengthier on the bottom. If you are going to show some leg, then wear something more conservative up top,” Iiams said.
It’s too much to show a lot of skin. The goal is to make the face the focal point of the outfit. Muffin tops and cleavage draw the focal point away from the face and highlight an area better hidden. They are distracting elements.
As the weather gets warmer, more clothes start coming off and fashion senses start to change. It’s okay to be different and dress differently than the latest trend, but do it with class. Be the example for what to wear rather than what not to wear.
Kaitlyn Martin can be reached at [email protected]