We all know that at Tufts, everyone tends to dress down. Sweats, jeans and even workout clothes are prevalent seven days a week.
Our propensity to be casual even extends to our nightlife. Men and women alike arrive at parties in running shoes, sweat pants and everyday tees.
I won't lie - I've gone out before in a black James Perse tee and white Adidas tennis shorts. Shameful, I know. But what's a girl to do when there's no theme and she risks looking overdone in a silk camisole? This weekend, my friend Laura and I were on a mission for cute yet casual tops. Location: CambridgeSide Galleria.
Shopping for "going out" apparel is vastly different from buying the perfect pair of jeans or a leather purse. Most of the time, you only wear "going out" clothes once or twice a season. Quality is sacrificed for memorable details, fits and colors. Here's the number-one rule of such shopping: Do not splurge. Pulling out the big bucks simply is not worth it.
At CambridgeSide, we really hit the jackpot at Old Navy. Stores like bebe and Express seemed like they would work, but the clothing is just a tad too fancy for Tufts. I picked up a black linen vest ($24.50), with which I am now obsessed. Pair the structure of the vest with a flowy blouse and chunky jewelry. Add jeans and you've got a foolproof party outfit. Laura purchased several tops including a black and white paisley print tube top with a cross over front ($14.50). It has an extremely flattering fit and the banding at the bottom is long enough to cover the hips, leaving no risk of riding up.
Our next big stop was H&M. Racks and racks of clothing overwhelmed us. Despite the chaos, we spotted an uber-sexy violet satin corset top ($12.45), but it was more appropriate for clubbing than, say, a house party. I really liked Divided's extra-long racer back tank in cool gray with two-toned sequins ($24.90). The sequins added a hint of glamour to an otherwise boring basic. On our way out, I got two-inch-thick, elastic headbands ($2.90 for two) reminiscent of those spotted in this season's Coach eyewear ad campaign.
Heading home after a successful shopping extravaganza, I realized that most everything we had bought was trendy. Usually, I'm a stickler for avoiding trends, but for cheap, wear-once-and-stay-in-the-closet clothes, I have concluded that it's more than okay to be trendy. I mean, how else is your outfit going to stand out?
For the past couple of weeks, I have been ignoring the men. That being said, I feel compelled to say something about a man's "going out" outfit. Under no circumstances are you allowed to wear sweatpants, your high school sports team tee or socks with flip-flops. Instead, make an effort to put on dark rinse jeans and a casual cotton button-down or a classy graphic tee. I've always been a fan of J.Crew, and their Secret Wash point-collar shirt in tropical turquoise stripe ($45.50) is no exception. Attempt to look put together; any effort you make will go a long way.
There is a fundamental difference between day clothes and night clothes. Though some pieces can transition between the two, make sure your night outfit is sleeker, sexier and more noticeable. This difference extends to the shoes you wear, to jewelry, to makeup. I'm not saying that you need to look like a completely different person once the clock strikes nine, but a change of outfit helps to refresh and set the tone for your evening.
So go set a budget for yourself, go shop according to what I've said, and then go out!
Lumay Wang is a freshman who has not yet declared a major. She can be reached at Lumay.Wang@tufts.edu.
