Jean shorts, breathable fabrics and statement pieces were all seen last weekend on one of Boone’s last calm days before the winter storm.
After weeks of frigid weather, the sun came out, and Sanford Mall hit 40 degrees on Thursday. Along with this shift in the weather came a shift in fashion around Boone, as students worked to compensate for the seasonal lag.
Duncan Bell, a sophomore actuarial science major, wears an orange sweater and brown Dr. Martens paired with dark-wash jean shorts — despite Boone’s recent cold front.
“I went with shorts because the sun’s out, and I’m like, ‘Let me let my legs breathe finally.’ And I like these shorts a lot,” Bell said.
Similarly, Dylan LeRibeus, a freshman geography major, styled his brown cargo shorts and green Adidas sneakers with what he described as an in-season flannel.
“The colors are kind of Christmasy, kind of winter colors — you know, the season we’re still in — even though it don’t feel like it right now,” LeRibeus said.
Bell and LeRibeus agreed that Boone’s “weird” weather is confusing to dress for.
“Like one day, I’ll see the sun, and I’m like, ‘OK, maybe I can wear shorts?’ and then it’s, like, 20 degrees,” Bell said.
Bell and LeRibeus each highlighted the importance of thrifting to their wardrobe. Gianna Duval, a freshman sustainable development major, said her entire outfit was thrifted, minus her black Converse.
Duval wore a brown tank top and dark-wash jeans, paired with a mesh beige crochet top, perfect for spring-like weather. She complemented her ensemble with rings, a silver necklace and her favorite piece of the outfit, her blue and silver hoop earrings.
“I’ve been wearing fun earrings all week, so I really wanted to wear these ‘cause I feel like I have a lot of fun earrings, but I don’t, like, wear them a lot,” Duval said.
Duval said she tries to make the most of Boone’s unpredictable weather.
“I just try to enjoy it, I guess, by, like, wearing something that’s a little more not in season, so I try to take advantage of the fact that I can actually wear something a little different,” Duval said.
Ryan Ballard, a junior child development major, said she uses layering to combat Boone’s climate.
“It’s really hard, like, usually I’m layered up, but then when I go inside, I get so hot,” said Ballard. “It’s about balancing out the layers, but also, like, when you go inside having something on that’s not too hot, something breathable.”
Ballard layered a white shirt under her brown sweater, complementing it with her black jeans, windbreaker and Adidas sneakers.
Her favorite part of her outfit is her crescent moon necklace.
“It’s like one of my favorite things that I own, even though it’s really simple, but it goes with everything I wear, and it’s like the perfect length,” Ballard said.
Ballard said she finds fashion to be a way to get creative and express herself.
“I think it’s good to go out of your comfort zone,” Ballard said. “Just be creative with it, and take out the idea of other people judging you and things like that.”
