With the semester winding down, it’s evident that the majority of students have adapted their wardrobes to the Tucson climate. As they buy clothes suitable for the warmer weather and cultivate a sense of West Coast spirit, students will find their style evolving steadily over the semesters.
Since Arizona is a Southwest state, it gains inspiration from the West Coast, Mexico and neighboring states. As a UA student you could be influenced by the West Coast if you’re from out of state, or right at home if you’re a California native. One day you found yourself buying a pair of those white high-top Converse sneakers you had such strong disdain for in high school, and now you rock them with straight-leg jeans or high-waisted shorts.
Whether you adapt to stay cool or stay fashionable, there’s no question that your wardrobe is going to change after a few semesters here.
“I’ve been here for six months so my style hasn’t really changed much, but I know I’m going to need a lot more shorts,” said Tim O’Connor, a first year ecology and evolutionary biology graduate student from Chicago. O’Connor also spent time in Oregon before coming to the UA. “Mostly it was all raincoats and long pants and corduroys, so I’m not quite ready for the summertime. General desert-dwelling is definitely very new to me.”
For those hailing from colder states, coming to Tucson means swapping long sleeves for tank tops and darker denims for lightweight khaki shorts. Many clothes in Arizona mirror the Southwestern landscape with pastel wildlife colors of mesquite green and sunset orange. While this doesn’t necessarily mean you should buy everything from Urban Outfitters, it does mean you need to adapt to Arizona’s climate.
“I feel like coming from the Midwest, people are a lot different there, because everyone is kind of in UGG boots and Hollister jeans and flannels every day,” said Grace Herr, a media arts sophomore from Bettendorf, Iowa. “I find myself wearing more formal clothes, like more button-up tops and flowy dresses.”
Cheeky swimwear is not found in the Midwest, but since coming here, that’s something I’ve been obsessed with, it’s something that’s very U of A,” she said. “Cheeky swimwear and high-waisted shorts — I would never wear those back home.”
Herr said that her style is influenced by working at Grand Central Clothing on University Boulevard. As you enter your 20s, aim for an aura of sophistication that still reflects the collegiate lifestyle.
The difference between where you come from and where you are now may be subtle or stark, but our evolving fashion sense proves that we’ve all changed in one way or another.
“I definitely feel like my style has changed,” said Herr. “But it’s a good thing — I like change.”
