Our frandz

R: E and I would like to think we have pretty fashionable friends.  Because style is such a rare find on this college campus, we want to take a moment to shout out our well-quaffed associates.  First, our hipsters.  While skinny jeans, clark shoes, American Apparel hoodies, and cigarettes are nothing out of the ordinary in Seattle or Portland, here in Walla Walla we commend your attempts at bringing a certain urban aesthetic to the desolation of eastern Washington.  Many of you will enjoy the spotlight in later blog posts, but for now, be content with a general nod to your obscure band t-shirts and meaningful tattoos.  Next, the bros, particularly the Betas and a select number of Tkes.  Wolf shirts, Carhartts, flannels, or in Chris Huong’s case, sweaters and corduroys never looked so good.  Don the toolish frat shirts a bit less often and your might find yourself on this blog, especially if your name rhymes with Lion Brambell.  The hippies, boy do we have a special place in our hearts for you.  Your hair, never dyed and always greasy, sits atop a body covered in organic activist shirts, rei skirts, and last but certainly not least the ubiquitous Danskos.  So ugly, yet so comfortable.  While we’d like to see Chocos left for the rafting trip, and not for the library, your commitment to an au naturale aesthetic more often than not makes up for the foot follies. 

In the coming months we’ll be showing you all more of what we’re talking about in hopes that you take a cue from your respective social group and up the anti on your style.  When you do, we’ll be waiting. 

elephants and cloudy days know what's up

E:  I hated sneakers. I’m sorry, I just did. I hated running shoes, tennis shoes; I never even got into the whole Converse trend. I even bought a pair of fly kicks (okay, they’re super fly Nike high tops with a light purple floral print that gracefully dances along the plain gray body of the shoe) but they have taken an almost permanent residency at Robin’s apartment. I just don’t wear them. I wear boots, I wear flats, and I wear sandals and the occasional moccasin but never anything with a functional lace. This hatred lasted until the fateful day when I found myself in the men’s department of Urban Outfitters staring at the most glorious Oxfords that have ever been crafted. I’m normally a very thrifty person and I don’t like to spend over twenty dollars on anything, but these beauties were worth their whopping selling price of seventy bucks. And now I wear them almost everyday. The soft gray goes with every color. The subtle stitching along the front and sides makes me orgasm. They add a little sass and class to every outfit. Jeans and a t? Instant haute couture. Ultra femme? Skip the heels! Much more approachable! These are more comfortable anyway. They are truly my favorite new item of clothing, or accessory rather, and I am elated that they found their way into my wardrobe. I now know after a year of wear, that they were worth every penny. (UO wingtops, white knee socks by HUE tights)

R: My sophomore and junior year roommates will attest to the fact that I compulsively borrow clothes.  While I generally find little shame in this practice, sometimes my conscience gets to me and I feel compelled to find my own versions of borrowed items.  I spent a good portion of October 2008 wrapped in my sophomore roommate’s oversized men’s sweaters.  Acquired from various Seattle thrift stores and her father’s closet these sweaters balanced out other fall staples: skinny jeans and fitted skirts.  Eventually, I felt compelled to dress at bit more from my side of the room so I struck out for the local Salvation Army in search of a booty of sweaters.  I didn’t find ‘a booty’ but I did find my favorite item of clothing to date: a heather gray sweater with umbrella emblazoned buttons.  Maybe it was just the gleam of the fluorescent lighting but there was something otherworldly about this sweater.  Since that fated day, I’ve purchased additional grampa sweaters.  None however, hold a candle to my first purchase.  This summer, the borrowing legacy continued as a dear friend wore ‘big gray’ religiously.  We found her her own one rainy day in Portland, Maine.  Just as in Walla Walla, the hands of fate seemed to bring girl and sweater together. (nine west shoes, arnold palmer cardigan (from walla walla!!!), roommate's dress, walla walla clothing (!!!) company earrings)