Whether we like it, choose to accept it, or not, the fact is that it is currently winter. February, the second coldest month of the year, has hit St. Louis particularly hard this winter. While the snow day count continues to rise and the temperatures stay below freezing for the majority of the month , it is definitely not balmy weather we’ve been experiencing. Why, then, are we seeing some of the downright summery outfits being sported in the halls of PCH? It’s a puzzling question.
Short shorts, basketball shorts, sandals, tanks, the list goes on and on. Often times with no jacket. Or, even more ridiculous from a fashion standpoint, sandals, shorts, and a winter coat. The first thing that comes to my mind when I see these ensembles is, “What were they thinking when they got dressed this morning?”
In my mind, I’ve come up with a few possible explanations for this phenomenon. For the guys, it seems plausible that bundling up appropriately for winter weather could be considered by some to be un-masculine. Often times, they will come to school on days where it is below thirty, sometimes even below twenty degrees with bare arms and legs showing and pretending not to be cold, which could be showing some sign of “weakness” or vulnerability to the elements. In my opinion, a true manly outdoorsman dresses prepared for the conditions.
Then, there’s the ladies. Maybe they’ve found some cute new spring outfits and can’t wait to pull those tags off and break them out of the closet. However, when it comes to spring fashion, timing is everything. Just like you shouldn’t wear white jeans during the winter, jean shorts are not seasonable until very warm weather, at least April or May. The way I see it, there’s no reason to freeze those untanned legs too soon, no matter how excited you are to show off your new wardrobe.
Finally, I have my “cold weather blues” theory. Basically, this means that people are so depressed and tired of winter that they actually try to trick themselves into thinking it’s spring. They wear warm-weather clothes as a way of protesting the cold weather, an indignant sign of their disapproval. Sadly, this is not a way to be comfortable, dress for the season, or successfully change the weather.
As we approach spring break, this trend of warm-weather dressing is sure to continue. Unless there is a dramatic warming sometime in the coming weeks, people will just have to wait to wear their sandals and shorts. As for now, you can pretend you aren’t cold all you want, but we all see you rushing for the door walking into school in the morning. My advice–be patient! Spring break vacation season will be here soon enough, and the tans and short shorts will come in time.
