Wait for a bus. Go to class on East or Main Campus. On a sunny day, sit on the Quad for a few minutes and watch passersby or scroll through @jmufits, the Instagram account that features fashionable JMU students nearly every day.
Some JMU clothing trends are gaining popularity such as hippie, cargo and athleisure. The commonality of these trends show JMU students value clothing that’s comfortable and functional, as well as stylish and expressive. Students are empowering themselves by wearing outfits that show both their personality and fit their lifestyles.
Hippie
Tie-dye prints, tie-front tops earthy and vibrant tones, maxi skirts, layered jewelry, patchwork tote bags, bandanas, crochet, peppy patterns and so on — JMU students are wearing anything that makes you think “groovy.”
Hippie fashion is mushrooming.
Saturday was cold, grey and rainy because of tropical storm Ophelia, but thanks to hippie fashion, the harsh, windy day became a little more colorful. That day, freshman psychology major Katie Ogilvie wore a dark brown dress patterned with blooming flower and paisley prints in lively pinks, purples and oranges, as well as matching brown sandals and colorful layered bracelets.
“I’m so happy that it’s coming back,” Ogilvie said about hippie fashion. “It means to me, really, like who I am as a person — very free-thinking and, you know, abstract and vibrant.”
Ogilvie said she enjoyed hippie fashion as a child. She started dressing in the style again upon entering college, as she said she realized she wanted to express herself more.
Furthermore, the flowing silhouettes and baggy pieces typical to hippie fashion create a feel-good look — one that’s comfortable as well as stylish.
Freshman music industry major Grace Hollowell wore multi-patterned and -colored patchwork pants on the rainy Saturday.
“I do really love kind of the freedom … of hippie fashion clothes … it’s super comfortable,” Hollowell said. “These are sweatpants, but they’re cute.”
JMU students enjoy hippie fashion for purposes of self-expression and comfort, but also for the simple joy the pieces bring, said Carly Hemani, a freshman biotechnology major, who wore a white maxi dress featuring golden plant and paisley motifs on Saturday Sept. 23.
“It’s supposed to be something that’s a comfort, like your favorite food … it’s supposed to be just something to make you relax,” Ogilvie said.
Fun, colorful pieces can brighten up an overcast day. The happiness they bring can offer some excitement on a slow, sleepy morning or solace on an exam day.
Cargo
Another trend sweeping through the JMU student body is cargo-style apparel. The commonality of practicality reigns true with this clothing style, and JMU students want more of it. Although cargo clothing — pants, jackets, bags, skirts, shorts — were originally made for army uniforms and manual-labor-heavy jobs according to Military Times, young people, specifically Generation Z, have brought it back into the limelight.
“I just like the pockets if I’m being honest. I have to carry a bunch of my keys, my cards and everything, and I just find it more convenient,” Sahara Sania, a sophomore biotechnology major, said. “I thrift most of my clothes, so I really like that old-fashioned things are coming back.”
Past fashion trends that come back into focus give people the option to shop sustainably while still following what’s popular. Cargo clothing can often be found in thrift stores, as well as the most popular name-brand clothing stores.
In addition to its practicality, there’s a versatility that comes with the cargo look. This trend has come up in men’s, women’s and unisex clothing, which is often uncommon when it comes to a specific modern trend. In women’s pants specifically, the demand for more pocket room, or any at all, has been unceasing — and cargo can provide that.
The cargo trend is convenient and comfortable, and even if JMU students don’t use every pocket sewn in, its versatility and style make for a great fit.
Athleisure
Athleisure clothing is no exception to JMU fashion trends with practicality in mind. Many students at JMU participate in some kind of athletic activity on campus between intramural or club sports or working out at the University Recreation Center.
When walking around campus, there’s an abundance of athleisure clothing — leggings, joggers, biker shorts, zip-ups, sports bras, running shoes and more — in most classrooms and groups of friends. For Eric Marlowe, a junior geographic science major, the appeal comes from athleisure’s convenience and utility.
“It’s comfortable, it works in multiple settings, you can wear it out to the gym, you can wear it to class, you can wear it just around campus — whatever,” Marlowe said. “It just fits better than a lot of other stuff.”
Students said they like that they don’t have to change their outfits just to work out at the gym or go to practice. In addition, as athleisure is often a tight-fitting spandex material, the fit of this clothing is specific to each individual.
Another common aspect of this trend is layering. Often, people will wear a more tight-fitting shirt and pants combination and layer a jacket or sweats on top. This makes for an outfit that’s practical for all activities, temperatures and weather, which can vary strongly throughout the day in Harrisonburg.
Source : The Breeze
