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How College Students Jog into the New Year in Sustainable Style

How College Students Jog into the New Year in Sustainable Style

As the holiday season comes to an end and we head back to classes, all I want to do is head to class in a comfy outfit while still looking put together.

Thankfully, fashion has come a long way in the comfortability department with joggers. So, it’s only a matter of finding the right pairings to show up to class feeling comfortable and confident.

Not only that, but you can buy your outfits with concern for the environment by purchasing clothing that is more sustainable than other options. Allowing you to look cute and help decrease negative environmental impacts.

Check out these ways to style your joggers for a comfy but cute look!

Casual Look

Pair a hoodie with these slim fit eco-fleece joggers from UMass, along with white shoes and a white cap for a casual, everyday look.

White shoes are a timeless fashion trend that you generally can’t go wrong with. Keep your socks short as long socks tend to clash with the jogger look.

Matching sets are in style right now too, so a top that matches your joggers will not only keep your look on-trend but also effortlessly elevate your overall fashion game.

Dress it Up

Aim for a classier look by layering up with a timeless denim jacket. Opt for a white slim or cropped shirt as the base layer, which will look great even if you need to shed the jacket.

To take your look up a notch, consider accessorizing with jewelry like adding some tastefully chosen bracelets, or even a charm necklace. These little details will add a touch of sophistication to your overall appearance, making it a perfect blend of elegance and comfort.

Sweater Outfit

You can easily pair an oversized sweater with slim joggers for a cozy, relaxed look. Throw on your favorite winter sweater with some white sneakers to keep you stylish and snug all season long.

As you build your wardrobe for the next semester, it’s important to keep comfort, fit, and material in mind. But it’s equally important to understand the impact your purchases will have on the environment and community around you. By purchasing sustainable apparel, you are supporting vendors with sustainable initiatives to reduce waste through evaluation of their transportation and materials.

Why Buy Sustainable Clothing?

As college students, we have the unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the world by embracing sustainable fashion.

This may seem dramatic, but it’s grounded in the fact that sustainable clothing originates from licensed manufacturers that are bound by strict labor standards, ensuring respectful treatment and fair wages for workers.

By opting for sustainable fashion, your purchases directly support companies committed to ethical and sustainable practices while also steering clear of companies that generate the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions. By selecting sustainable fashion, you are reducing our carbon footprint.

Moreover, the apparel industry ranks as the second most polluting industry globally (right after oil!) Choosing sustainable clothing is a significant step toward waste reduction in landfills, playing a pivotal role in protecting the environment.

College is a great time to start living as a conscious consumer, and by choosing sustainable fashion, we can lead the way toward a greener, more sustainable future.

More About UMass’ Sustainable Line of Clothing

UMass adheres to an easily understood rating system that holds vendors accountable for sustainable initiatives and provides transparency, value, and confidence to customers. This system makes it possible for consumers to weed through various sustainability claims so they can shop responsibly and confidently.

These vendors are held to high standards that promote sustainable practices for the environment. This includes strict evaluation of the transportation of items at each stage, how expired stock is disposed of, and how wastewater is treated. They also assess the materials of each product, ensuring the dying method and type is not harming the planet. Lastly, this rating scale considers the different sustainability licenses or certifications held by the vendor.

UMass is committed to meeting the growing desire for sustainable merchandise in campus stores and a demand for more accountability in vendors. College students can shop their selection while feeling confident that their purchases are making a positive impact on the world.

Greta Russo

UMass Amherst Student

SEE ALSO: Five Different Ways to Celebrate Graduating College

Saddle-Up Style: Has Cowboy Fashion Hit the Streets?

Saddle-Up Style: Has Cowboy Fashion Hit the Streets?

Cowboy fashion is one of those styles that will never go away. Due to the way it’s embedded in Western culture, there will always be revivals and pieces of Western wear that are infused into modern culture. Whether it’s a new take on denim-on-denim, new floral or paisley patterns on prairie dresses, the infamous cowboy boot, or the classic appeal of a fringed, Western-style jacket – the unique style of the 19th century Wild West is here to stay. Because of the popularity of Western movies in the 1900s, the style has been established as an American classic.

Let’s have a look at a few of the most popular cowboy fashion styles.

Denim-on-denim

Known as one of the most apparent staples of cowboy fashion, the infamous denim-on-denim has become a streetwear staple in recent years. The variations that exist within denim-on-denim can consist of different shades of denim, sometimes adding denim shirts underneath denim jackets, using light wash and dark wash, or light-wash head to toe. Created by Levi Strauss for manual labourers in the West of the United States in the late 1800s, one of the most iconic pieces of denim-on-denim fashion is the denim jacket. But, the denim-on-denim style is no longer just for manual labourers – supermodels like Emrata and Gigi Hadid have added denim-on-denim to their everyday wardrobes. If you’re new to denim-on-denim, try and use two different washes, a light wash on top and a dark wash on the bottom. Don’t worry about adding the denim button-up until you’re ready.

‘Western Jackets’

Jackets are essential to bringing a look together, and it’s the same for cowboy fashion. Especially with the flamboyance of fringe and the rustic appeal of dark brown suede, ‘Western Jackets’ are staples in the Wild West fashion. One of the most apparent features of this style is the ‘wear and tear’ that can be seen on the jacket. If suede or leather, the essence of the Western style is captured in the distressed material, linking back to the idea of Western fashion being made for the working class. Whether these jackets are made from leather, suede, or snakeskin, with or without fringe, or cropped, ‘Western Jackets’ is a customizable type of Western fashion. If fringe on a jacket makes you nervous, go for a dark brown suede or leather jacket. But to really embody cowboy fashion, fringe is a must.

The Cowboy Boot

The cowboy boot is a cultural relic of the USA. Originally crafted to help cowboys stay in place in their stirrups, the cowboy boot was an item of clothing that was born out of necessity. Now, the cowboy boot is offered in different ‘exotic’ skins – alligator, snake, boar, elk, and more. Known for its boxed-off pointed-toe, stitching and heels, the cowboy boot is easily distinguishable from any other boot. Often, the boot comes up to the midcalf. The cowboy boot is incredibly versatile. They’re meant to be comfortable, hence why they regularly appear at Coachella and other festivals, and they look cute. You can style the cowboy boot with a pair of boot-cut or flare jeans, a cute mini skirt or summer dress, a prairie dress, with a denim jacket… the options are endless. 

A Praire Dress

One of the most distinct pieces of cowboy fashion is the long, flowing dress. Often categorised by the pattern, whether it be paisley or floral, a prairie dress is a staple in the cottage-core aesthetic. Characterised by ‘voluminous sleeves’ and ‘a billowing body’ (Vogue), the prairie dress is iconic in both the cottage-core aesthetic and cowboy fashion. Originally sewn for women living in the prairies (obviously), it’s a delicate dress, breathable for the sun-stricken days, allowing movement when the winds would pick up on the dry afternoons. It’s perfect for hot days and cooler nights. Try pairing it with a denim jacket and some sandals on a sunset date night, or pair it with a popular but classic pair of sunglasses and a hat on a sunny day.

For everyday fashion, the key is doing what you feel comfortable with. If you want to embrace cowboy fashion head-on, just do it! Wear a linen or cotton prairie dress, a pair of neutral cowboy boots, or a similar coloured ‘Western jacket’, or pair it with a big Wild West-style belt. Stick to similar shades of accessories, it keeps the outfit cohesive. If you’re feeling a bit nervous by the idea of looking like you stepped out of a Western film, simply add cowboy boots to a cute, summer dress, or rock it with a classic denim jacket on a night out. The possibilities with cowboy fashion are endless. 

SEE ALSO: Has Emily in Paris Inspired a New Era of Parisian Fashion?