Dear Tell All: Sorry, but I have to correct your assessment of fashion or the lack thereof among University of Wisconsin-Madison students ("Haute Badger Fashion," 10/2/2009). First, you are correct about UW students dressing like total slobs - during the day. This isn't restricted to UW-Madison. College students nationwide seem to care less and less about how they look when they go to class. Recently, I had a conversation with a woman who works as adjunct faculty at a university on the East Coast. She said students often show up to class in pajamas. Of course, Americans are slobs in general when it comes to dress. Exhibit A, people who wear Crocs or flip-flops that are merely glorified shower slippers in public.
However, when the sun goes down, UW students (well, the women) dress a whole lot differently, especially on the party nights of Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You would not believe how dolled up these women are. We're talking major designer dresses and major high heels, full-fledged six-inch stilettos.
I've driven a cab here in Madison for 21 years, so I get to see firsthand how the students dress. Frankly, I don't remember seeing the women dressing the way they do to the extent that they do. I know high heels are totally in fashion right now, and believe me, they're everywhere.
Sad to say, many of the students do in fact give a damn about the latest issue of Vogue, and they apparently give a damn about showing off how much money Mommy and Daddy have as well.
Union Cabbie
Dear Tell All: I disagree with your conclusion that it's fine for UW students to dress comfortably (read: shabbily) for class. I work close to campus, and I can't believe how awful the students are willing to look in public. I wouldn't go so far as to agree with your letter writer, who says they should dress up for school, but there has to be a middle ground. It must be hard for professors to take them seriously when they're essentially wearing workout clothes. I think the students could show more respect for their school, their fellow Madisonians and even themselves if they spiffed it up a little bit.
Time for a UW dress code?
Buttoned Down
Dear Union Cabbie and Buttoned Down: So we've learned that UW students are underdressed during the day and overdressed at night. Is there a happy medium, students? Business casual?
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