“THE DREAM of the ’90s is alive in Portland,” at least according to Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen of “Portlandia” fame. While I will not pretend to have lived in Portland long enough to assert the validity of this claim, it is certainly true on campus. With baggy jeans, cargo pants, jorts, and Birkenstocks, the campus is full of, as my father would say, “blasts from the past.”
As people have bustled about in the first few weeks back at Lewis & Clark, the student body emits a distinct sense of style — perhaps even too much so.
A conversation with Megan Ziegele ’28, highlighted the student body’s expression.
“I felt so underdressed (at orientation),” she said. “I showed up in a hoodie and jeans, and everyone else looked so good!”
Indeed, on a campus where everyone is obsessed with out-thrifting one another, looking good every day can seem daunting.
For footwear, there seem to be three staples around campus. More and more, Birkenstocks appear to be a mainstay in every LC student’s wardrobe. Most commonly, this is in the form of Birkenstock’s Arizona and Boston models. The Bostons, a clog, are commonly worn in a taupe, suede-leather variant. These clogs also come with occasional appearances from the black or mink variants.
When asked why they enjoy these clogs, Claire Hurty ’28 could only sing their praises.
“They provide simplicity and comfort,” said Hurty.
It seems the neutral, earthy colorways of these shoes allow wearers to mix and match with a wide array of clothing options.
For a more sporty look while staying with a relaxed feel, the Adidas Sambas seem to be taking over the world. Once derided as a “bowling shoe,” the Samba’s slim look is now a fixture at LC. Most commonly seen in a classic dark blue and white colorway, or the even more classic white and black, the Sambas add a sleekness to everyday outfits. Once again, the shoe’s versatility seems to be a draw. Anna English ’28 described the shoe as a closet staple.
“They make an outfit. For me, I feel like they’ve been going with everything,” said English.
The final LC footwear staple is the omnipresent Dr. Martens. The Docs’ homeland of gloomy England makes them a natural accessory for the Portland climate. The sturdiness and timeless style of Docs make them an easy go-to for any weather. Whether it be boots, loafers or Mary Janes, these shoes will always be a go-to in Portland.
Bottoms — no, not the 2023 film starring Ayo Edebiri — are commonly seen in three variations here at LC. Jorts, once seen as a blight on fashion, seem to be a wardrobe staple of many fashionistas on campus. That being said, as the weather begins to cool, this option will likely become less commonly worn. Of course, jorts’ older brother — baggy jeans — are just as, if not more, popular. Jeans seem to be in a constant cycle between the intense bagginess of the ’90s and the skin-tight look of the 2010s. For now, the overly baggy jeans of today seem here to stay. Both jorts and baggy jeans fit into this relaxed, chill, laid-back look that has been especially popular in the 2020s. While perhaps worn less as the seasons change, this comfortable, easy aesthetic that jorts provide does not seem to be going anywhere.
Similar to the “ugly” or “campy” Gen X perception of jorts, the once-reviled cargo pants are seen on every corner of downtown Portland. Cargos flourish in a rainbow of colors, from black to green to tan and everything in between. I asked a few cargo-wearing members of the student body about the pants.
“They’re comfortable, they feel easy,” said English, in that relaxed tone that all cargo wearers seem to magically obtain.
Imogen Hutchman ‘28 agreed regarding their convenience.
“They’re just a practical alternative to jeans,” said Hutchman.
Once again, the theme of this fall’s fashion seems to be comfort
and practicality.
For tops, we can expect to see much of the usual. As the leaves begin to turn, sweaters seem poised to take over campus. Cardigans, a fall staple, do seem to be shifting slightly from the V-neck look to a more crew-neck collar vibe. Cable-knit patterns also seem to be gaining more and more popularity.
I asked Clare Murray ’28 (who happened to be wearing a cable-knit sweater) what attracted her to the pattern.
“It’s just so Rory Gilmore,” Murray said.
As the recent heat wave fades, we should also expect to see more jackets around campus, especially in the form of hunting or work jackets. Even this week, with the weather in the mere 50s and 60s, the brown and camo heavier-duty jackets were beginning to peek out.
In general, relaxed comfort and versatility seem to be the name of the game, and this trend will likely continue as LC heads into fall and even winter.
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