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The 18 Worst College Fashions

Written by admin, Thursday, July 31st, 2008 in Fashion, The Style Guide

Lots of our readers are college students- and a lot of them love to tell us about how bad their school dresses. So, in that vein, we’ve collected a list of 18 fashion faux pas straight from local colleges and universities- from socks with sandals to backwards baseball hats- and it’s time to make them known to the fashion foolish students out there.


Basketball Shorts and a T-Shirt

Basketball Shorts and a T-Shirt
Picture 15 of 18

Guys, stop this. Right now. The guy on the left? Stop being him. You are not a basketball player even if you enjoy playing the game, stop dressing like you want to be one. It's tacky, ugly, has no distinct cut or silhouette (other than "generic bro"), and it makes you look like a tool. There are no exceptions.

25 Responses to The 18 Worst College Fashions

  1. Trab says:

    I disagree with the socks with sandals just a little bit.

    They should never be worn in public or “out”, but people need to stop freaking out when I put on my flip-flops to walk out to my car without getting my socks dirty.

  2. Chris says:

    Well I’m happy to say that I was able to go through that whole list without finding anything from my own wardrobe (although I’m not quite sure what constitutes a “party shirt”). My one complaint though, would have to be that you guys spend so much time telling us what we shouldn’t wear and not quite enough time telling us what’s good. I’m entering college in just a month, and I’d love to see what your most recommended college fashions are.

    If you want my advice (and I’m sure you don’t), you should do it the way Maxim does their lifestyle/advice-based articles. Give a full page on the helpful advice you recommend, and then dedicate a small column to a list of things you should avoid.

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  4. OK says:

    hey, shitty article. who says i cant wear basketball shorts and a t shirt when i feel like not giving a fuck?

  5. Yum22Yum23 says:

    I feel like repeating myself, but if you wear because you don’t give a fuck, then that means you don’t when you do give a fuck, hence it does belong to the list.
    That is, these things should not be worn when you are _trying_ to not look like shit.
    I dislike putting it this way, but the only people I’ve ever seen able to wear pink shirts and looking neat were black people.

  6. Bo says:

    It’s true. Black guys with pink shirts and black suits look good and fashionable. White guys with pink shirts, however… Their heterosexuality will forever be questioned.

  7. Six of Spades says:

    Define ‘Party’ Shirts. I have one or two shirts that I use more in a casual setting than for suits; and one indeed has vertical stripes (albeit few). I don’t see how that’s automatically a fashion faux-pas. I largely agree with the rest, though.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Fuck you, I like seeing thongs.

  9. anon says:

    I actually see “party shirts” as being in the gray area. If pulled off right, they can look very casual and somewhat stylish. But most people do make it look like shit.

  10. ThePirate says:

    Jesus Christ, seeing some one’s roots makes you want to -vomit-? What in the fuck is wrong with you? And that goes for any colour. So people aren’t allowed to have hair colours that they’d prefer to have, any more, all because if you see their roots you will throw up on the spot. Wow.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Underarmor is fucking hot. Please wear more.

  12. Yossarian says:

    I really would like to know what a party shirt is.

  13. curious anon says:

    I have a simple black button-down shirt with a subtle gray pinstripe pattern. I never really thought this was unacceptable. Is that a party shirt?

  14. fds says:

    That’s fine anon.

  15. Tyciol says:

    In regards to the backward hats, it’s like… the visor is to block sunlight from your eyes. If it’s backwards you may as well cut it off. The only exception is if you’re a girl wearing it with a ponytail. In that case the visor covers your ponytail preventing sun damage. I think girls with backwards baseball caps are hot.

  16. Anon says:

    But, I want to wear under armor! Really no exceptions?

  17. dub says:

    I feel like athletic shorts with like a polo shirt can be edgy, hardcore. and anti-fashion -fashionable if you’re intense enough to pull that one off. Maybe that’s too 90s though.

  18. me says:

    your obviously not a college student. College isn’t a fashion show. I’m not gonna walk to class fashion boots or heals.. i’ll stick to my knock off uggs.
    ps. guys: keep wearing gym shorts, stop wearing socks and sandals.

  19. me says:

    and backwards hats are cute on anyone when worn right

  20. admin says:

    @me – First off, it’s “you’re”. Second off, at the time I wrote this, I was indeed a college student. Dressing well in class is pretty important: not only does it show that you actually care about class (something that pyjamas and knockoff uggs will never do), but it makes you attractive which obviously helps socially. Being in college does not give you carte blanche to give up clothing-wise.

  21. Teddy says:

    @admin- First off, “you’re” a doucher for pointing out a dumb grammatical error. Second off, as I’m sure you know, this list is not the be-all end-all of fashion advice. I mean, you lost a lot of credibility dissing the fashion sense of a backpack. Anyways, it would be lovely if you wouldn’t pretend to be Tim Gunn or something, thanks.

  22. Sam says:

    The North Face backpack? Never noticed, kind of disagree…Hmm… I have never looked at a person’s backpack and said it looks stupid, maybe wheelie backpacks haha but if it’s functional then whatever goes….I suppose if you are an adult and wear a cartoon character one but that actually might be funny and cute in a goofy way.

  23. Sam says:

    I’m a girl, and in high school I actually used to wear basketball shorts haha it was so dumpy. But
    I don’t think they necessarily ugly, but yes, it’s not good to wear to hang out, but some people really do play basketball and wear them out

  24. Dani says:

    I’m a college student and may I just say that yes, it is important to look approachable and put-together on a day-to-day basis…. However, (especially in college) fashion “rules” aren’t going to play well. We’re all individuals and trying to figure out exactly who were are… Not to mention we get damn lazy around mid-semester. So if basketball shirts and a t-shirt are most convinient, or if I look damn good in a sundress (or a warm comfy Northface), so be it and let college kids be college kids.

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