Bennie urges classmates to go chic: Posh city of London teaches lessons about American fashion. Take the time to look

your best

By Anna Schoeneberger

As the warm weather turned chilly, the wind blew hard and the first snowflakes fell, I realized that the seasons are changing, and this year, I would be here for all of them.

I was on my way to work — feeling slightly disgusted with the apparel I wore — a pair of regular jeans, a Bennie T-shirt, a zip-up sweatshirt and of course, a fleece. I looked around to find that I was one of many choosing to partake in this ‘scrubsville’ event. I was almost overwhelmed with the number of students wearing sweatpants, Ugg boots and fleece.

I continued my walk to the Main and thought, “I’ve never felt more American than today.”

This time last year, I counted down the days until I would leave for London, one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.

While abroad, we were living among some of the most posh and well-dressed Brits to be seen.

High fashion and high class, one might say, surrounded us. Granted, I was nowhere near their level of attire, I still found myself in a world where, unless you were in bed or at the gym, sweats did not belong.

Walking the high streets of London past hundreds of people each day, I noticed one trend. I could always pick out the Americans.

Although they may have thrown on their skinny jeans and maybe even some cute boots, it was the North Face jackets/fleeces that were always a dead giveaway to their country of birth.

As a 21-year-old, I must say my fashion has come a long way, from — yes — white spandex shorts in the sixth grade, to senior year of high school when my mom said, “Anna, could you maybe limit wearing sweat pants to school to three days a week?”

Although I am by no means anywhere near an everyday posh dresser, some days I do put in effort.

For those of us who have studied abroad in the UK and Europe, fashion is notable there and makes me nostalgic even when I see a Johnnie dressed in argyle, with a collared shirt, a scarf and a nice pair of trousers.

Overall, I must say that my first semester back from being abroad has been an adjustment like no other.

Going from 10 outfits for four months to a room full of stuff was a little overwhelming. And then there were classes.

In London, we had class three days a week and were done by Wednesday. Here, we have class and lab five days a week plus athletics, clubs and organizations to fill in the rest.

So seniors, as we wind down our last fall semester, I want to encourage you to embrace the culture you became a part of as you travelled abroad and share it even more with others as we close down another American college semester.