Visiting student from the University of Birmingham, England
One of the things that us Brits hold dear is our sense of style and I miss browsing in shops that just haven’t quite made it over the Atlantic. Since I arrived in the U.S. I have been told by one of my American friends how “foreign” I look on a daily basis whereas at home I’m just referred to as “preppy.” Clothing trends are one of the main differences between the citizens of the U.S. and England, and although it may not be one of the issues that we’re supposed to focus on in a cultural exchange, any Brit wandering around Naperville can be spotted a mile off.
Generally American students dress more casually than their British counterparts. The majority of people queueing up for the daily delights of Kaufman are wearing something sports or lounge related. Also it’s in the little nooks and crannies of places like Kaufman where the big differences can be noticed – the biggest of which is the footwear. At home wearing socks with any sort of open-toed shoe (such as flip-flops) is the ultimate taboo whereas it seems to be the staple piece of every American athlete’s wardrobe. Even when it’s raining North Central students are smiling away while their socks get wetter with each passing minute. Meanwhile, I get odd looks for my special umbrella that opens at the touch of a button like magic.
Bags are also very different in the U.S. Every NCC student seems to have an unnecessarily large backpack whereas my fellow students back home are more likely to be seen carrying their academic essentials in a tote or a satchel. I understand that some of you have to hike up and down the mountain from Res-Rec everyday but there is no need to take what looks like the entire stationary corner of Target with you. There is also more variety in the bags favoured by the English; the shoulders of North Central’s female students look like they’re wearing Vera Bradley’s entire fall collection. She should stop by campus sometime and thank you guys for single-handedly paying her rent.
School pride seems to be a common thread in the clothing trends spotted around campus. In British universities such apparel is usually only worn to the gym, sporting events, or to bed. In fact the majority of students don’t even spend their own money on this type of clothing, they are usually just taken as freebies from school events or stolen from friends with more school spirit.
One of the best things about clothing in the U.K. is that you can buy a coat based on style rather than whether or not it will prevent frostbite in the practically arctic temperatures of Illinois. This being said, although I’ll still be wishing for my home-grown shops that I left behind, I’m pretty sure that as soon as winter sets in I’ll be the student you’ll see rolling around campus in as many waterproof layers that can be worn on one body. I’ll be too busy sulking about the weather to care what I look like. One thing’s for sure – when summer rolls around there is no way I will give in and put my sandals on over my socks.