Men of American University
Monday, October 15, 2007
I went to my alma mater American University about a month ago to do another installment of my “series” on the men and women on the college campuses in the DC area (the first was Howard). I got the sense that fashion isn’t all that important at AU — which I can attest to from attending school there. More often than not, AU students choose comfortable, casual clothes. The students dress with a nod to current styles and trends, which trend toward preppy looks, but rarely do students get really adventurous. Clothes are rarely envelope-pushing. Everyone’s focused on other things: school, friends, clubs, internships.
Later, as I thought about the looks I’d seen and summoned my own memories of college life there, it struck me that AU is kind of a microcosm of DC, or at least how DC is thought of.
I wish I’d had more time that day because I would’ve liked to have gotten more shots of men. Oh well, AU, I’ll be back. ‘Cause as they say — or at least the banner that welcomed me to my freshman year dorm said, which my mom and I still laugh about — Once An Eagle, Always an Eagle!
Women will post later this morning….
Joel Gardner, a junior studying philosophy and Russ Durfee, a sophomore studying literature. Joel’s wearing Cheap Monday’s unisex jeans and Russ is wearing Levi’s. They both agree that for the most part, guys dress “fratty,” going on to say that styles are usually one extreme or the other (preppy or hipster). As for his tastes, “I like grime.” —Joel
Mitchell Palinkas, 21, is studying music and history and is wearing “cheap GAP jeans and Nike dunks;” Dustin Klein, 22, is wearing a hat from the 70s and is studying foreign policy.
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Looks like basically every other college campus around the country. I’ve taught at four different colleges and universities and the students all look the same on a day-to-day basis. Lots of sweats, jeans, t-shirts. Whatever the latest trend is for shoes or what’s actually on the t-shirt.
You could take these kids and plop them down on virtually any other campus and they would not look out of place.
I await the pictures of the women–I bet they look the same.
-rdhd
When I was a college student I was always getting asked the question, “Why are you so dressed up?” It was in always asked in an accusatory or suspicious way, as if it were a crime to wear a skirt or footwear other than flip flops on campus.
Truth was, I probably spent less time getting dressed in the morning than the other girls– it doesn’t take any longer to slip into a dress than it does to pull on a pair of jeans.
You’re absolutely right about fashion at AU- on any given day the outfits range from good to bad to ugly..just like DC.
I am SO not with it today. I did this post last night and didn’t bring my notebook for the women’s names etc with me to work today…so yall will have to hold your horses for the women. Later today or tomorrow!
Oh really Dustin? Your hat is from the 70’s? That’s so original.
This is so sad … you always hold out hope for the women of AU that the boys (used intentionally) will eventually get a clue.
Nope – still the same malnourished, emo – looking locker dwellers.
If any AU ladies are reading, don’t worry it gets better.
Don’t settle for waking in his jersey knit sheet set because of his “clever t-shirt.” He will just go to grad school to try and “find himself” and end up selling tobacco at the local head shop while working on his “book” or “screen play.”
Btw I bet NONE of those kids smoke weed.
I never thought I’d miss the Hong Kong chic slash Euro jet-set style of my university’s campus, but wow, seeing this set is really making me nostalgic.
Go on a weekend night right before everyone goes out and I think you would definitely see more style. i know i never dress up during the week. Im too preoccupied with homework and activities, the weekend is when i like to dress crazy.
Michelle,
I totally agree. AU students are very capable of looking hot and put-together, but yes, mostly for going out. I may need to do a round two.
I think that AU’s campus may be fertile ground for discovering anthropology’s infamous “missing link”: The DNA that links mankind to the broader ape family is somewhere on that Campus, of that I am sure!!
“HK chic” is that an oxymoron?
I have never known anyone from HK who wasn’t an unwitting billboard for a high profile label!
Chic manifests itself without need for labels.
Joel will be known as “Jane” in his senior year!
wow, I’m disappointed today. I am sitting in AU’s library right now and I see many, many well-dressed students. The men you showed are displaying one typical AU style – the hipster set. We also have the “fratty” preppy type, a lot of Europeans who dress extremely fashionably, the hip-hop set, the jet set, international, GQ crowd who dress everyday in perfect jeans, interesting tops, killer jackets and shoes. Yes, AU does not push the style envelope, but this posting doesn’t accurately describe the men of AU. Sit on the main quad during the late afternoon, when AU is at its busiest. Especially this year, AU students are not dressing casually and comfortably like some random state school type kids – they are dressing fashionably.
I hope the post of women better represents AU’s up and coming style.
And a note to the ignorant StreetHawk – though I barely know Joel Gardner, he is pretty famous on campus, partly for his style. StreetHawk, have you seen the hipster crowd lately? They dress like this, and usually very creatively. I know your comment is intended to be funny, but Joel is a real guy who’s very involved with campus, politics and other interesting activities. Your comment is offensive and homophobic and just not funny. It’s also ignorant of current trends.
On a happier note, thanks for coming to AU and come back and take more pictures soon! I promise, AU can live up to my expectations.
Russ’s shirt looks so tight it’s making me uncomfortable. Bring on Georgetown!
Sad AU grad, I am the Dustin in that picture. My hat is from PacSun; I got it on clearance. Rachel got Michael’s (that’s his name, not Mitchell) hat and mine confused. His is his dad’s from the ’70s. And I am going to go to grad school, specifically law school. And I do not listen to emo, I don’t even know what emo means. Can you not tell that from the moe. shirt? I listen to jam bands and I got that shirt at a jam band festival in Illinois last summer. As for selling tobacco at a head shop, why would I do that if I’m studying foreign policy? Seems like a wasted degree to me.
The fashion is always better around Leonard Hall.
I can remember at least two or three people in every class who would wear something interesting everyday. And they usually weren’t Americans.
I go to AU and think fashion is ridiculous. Then again, I’m not trying to impress anyone at AU.
AU Fashionista,
Chill for a second. Then look in the mirror. First I’m pretty sure StreetHawk wasn’t trying to be homophobic, but was rather pointing out how very tight that young man’s pants are. Girly tight. Or 80’s pegged tight, if you wish.
Second, don’t get on your high-horse about others being mean when you make that dig at “randome state school type kids.” That just makes you sound like another snotty private school kid. I’ve taught at both and you’re all the same.
Finally, that “hipster” look that may (or may not) be the trend is waaay overdone. Look at his “ironic” t-shirt. Yeah, it’s ironice. Or is it “post post ironic”? Whatever. It’s stupid.
-rdhd
If I ever came across a Genie and I were granted three wishes, my first wish would be to be given $60,000 to pay back from student loans, my second would be to have the Cleveland Indians win the World Series this year [which they're going to do anyways], and my third would be to rid the world of the most useless industry ever created by man; fashion. Who actually comes to this site and pays attention to what people wear? Most of me feels very sad, and very bad, for those who do, because, at least to me, it seems like you must be extremely board with your own lives, seriously.
rdhd – i agree the hipster looks is extremely over done. i’m not a fan of the look, but it is a trend – not a style that connotes sexual preference.
but you know what, you’re right. i am a snotty private school kid because i chose to go to a smaller school and have more opportunities than just go to frat parties all the time. i don’t frat, many AU kids don’t frat, but my friends at state school, they frat. and that does have something to do with fashion and style – dressing for a basement flooded with beer is different from dressing for a VIP table at an upscale club, or dinner. oops, i’m showing my snobby private school tendencies again!
lastly, thanks rachel for considering giving AU another look – we do have style!! lisa did point out a valid point – the well-dressed AU students tend to be the non-americans.
AU Fashionista, you may have all those smashing opportunities that us random state schoolers lack, but you also use “frat” as a verb.
Score:
Random state schoolers – 1
AU Fashionista – 0
I went to a state school and only a very small population of the student body went to frat parties. But I guess we were so lacking in other opportunities that we just sat around staring at a wall every night, right?
But hey, since we’re making outrageous generalizations here, maybe private school kids ARE more fashionable because mommy and daddy give them money to buy clothes, and they can devote more time to being fashionable since, you know, they don’t have to work or anything.
way to read between the lines C & me…
i was, in fact, making broad generalizations. just like many of the comments here about AU’s dress, students’ bank accounts, and even sexuality.
C, sorry for using frat as a verb. i didn’t realize i was being graded here.
me, you’re right. private school kids don’t have to work or anything. but you’re wrong about mommy & daddy giving us money – it’s easier just to steal or whore ourselves out for our pricey jeans and sunglasses.
All of the venomous comments about fashion make me laugh.
Darling AU students who “don’t care about fashion” and, trust me, I know you are serious… I went to school with you. While you many not care that patent leather is in this season or that hemp is not an acceptable fabric to wear to a job interview (Dustin, you foreign policy maven listen close), no matter what your mother told you about what you are on the inside, what you look like on the outside truly does matter. Of course you don’t have to be wearing the latest and greatest but far, far away from SIS and SOC there lies a world of well cut suits and tailored blouses. Unless you go into the Peace Corps. … in which case Dustin, you are probably cool.
re: “I bet NONE of those kids smoke weed.”
At least two of them do, TRUST ME.
thank you for the support-
I heard joel gardner was a scandal
& i would stay away from this scum bag,
but i doubt his name is jane
and he hates these
huxters and whores of fictitious CaPiTaL
Dustin I am so glad to see that you haven’t changed at all! I like the student’s fashion sense–I know from going to AU we get dressed up when it counts. Who is going to wear their “well cut suits and tailored blouses” to class? We are still young and this is the time to wear those sweats and band tees to class. We don’t have that luxury for much longer. So rock the tee you have had since your junior year of high school because pretty soon it will just be a bed shirt.
As for you Mr. Sad AU Grad stop having a chip on your shoulder and go get a life–I hate downers.
It was good to “see” you Dustin :]
I also bet none of those kids smoke weed
especially not jane
or that a$$cat fool
sincerely,
Disappointing. There’s gotta be more style than that.
And not a fan of their additional accessories, i.e., their cigarettes.
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