UW Street Fashion

An interest in fashion by the men on campus appears to be growing with each season.

Just ask senior Chris Maynard. Far from obsessing about his looks, Maynard pays attention to how he dresses in order to make a good first impression on people.

“It’s important to give off a good vibe when you first meet someone; you have to dress the part,” he said. “Besides, girls are more likely to talk to a well-dressed, good-looking guy, just like we’d be more willing to talk to a girl that did the same.”

Making a statement is also another reason to notice how you’re dressed. Junior Nick Danforth’s personal fashion style is to dress how you best see fit.

“The saying that image is everything really isn’t true,” he said. “Personal style is how we all feel comfortable dressing, and we shouldn’t care about what other people think.”

A guy who hasn’t bought more than ten items of new clothing in the past year, Danforth describes his style as rugged with some subtle punk mixed in.

“I can’t really afford to have a truly unique style, but I make do with what I have,” he said.

However, he tends to tailor his style to the people he’s hanging out with or to the occasion, something Maynard does as well.

“If I’m just going to be chilling inside all day, I’ll wear a T-shirt and shorts, maybe some flip flops too,” Maynard said. “If I’m going to be going out, though, then I will usually wear a polo shirt and some jeans, and a North Face (jacket) if it’s cold out.”

A self-professed fan of polo shirts, Maynard said that he enjoys wearing them because they are very versatile.

“You can wear a polo to almost any occasion,” he said. “And you can find them in any color, so they are very multi-seasonal.”

Along with polos, Maynard’s other wardrobe staples include his North Face jacket, flip-flops, sunglasses for the summer months and even a hat or two.

One might think that he would have to torture himself at the mall to look good, but Maynard has a secret to avoid shopping: research.

“I will look at the guys around me to see what they are maybe wearing and then go online and research the styles I have seen,” he said. “I will figure out my size as well, so that when I do have to go to the store, I know exactly what I want. … My shopping trips aren’t long at all, which is how I like to keep it.”

Danforth prefers to wear anything that works for that day. One thing he always includes in his outfit, though, is a pair of his Adidas Sambas.

“I’ve had Sambas since the sixth grade. They really are the most comfortable shoe I’ve owned,” he said.

As for those guys who simply don’t care about how they look, Danforth has some speculations.

“They either woke up too hung over, they are too egotistical, they simply don’t care, or it’s some combination of the three,” he said. “It’s kind of expensive to really care, but it’s fun to have your own little style.”

That’s what fashion is supposed to be about: fun, whether you’re a guy or a girl. Maynard had advice for guys attempting to update or develop a style.

“Don’t be afraid to try new things. It’s OK to give that shirt with 20 holes in it to Goodwill and to perhaps buy some clothes in a style that you have never worn before. Just be sure to tailor it to your crowd and have fun while doing it.”