Universities are a melting pot of students from different states, countries, and lifestyles.
Yet, walking around campus, the student body often seems to blend into a cohesive uniform—and I don’t just mean the “Boston Uniform” of blue jeans and a black top on Saturday nights. If you haven’t yet noticed, take a look outside on Gasson Quad: the Aritzia Super Puff is practically a school-wide mandate.
Of course, individual style still shines through. If you are looking to dress like the average Boston College student, here are some tips to fit the mold—you can take it or leave it, of course.
“The Claw”
If you read that in the voice of the aliens from Pixar’s Toy Story, thank you—if not, why haven’t you watched Toy Story?
Regardless, the claw clip has nearly every long-haired student on campus stuck in its spiky grasp—and if it’s anything like the infamous Emi Jay clip, it’s not going anywhere. Last summer, influencer Chelsea Parke started a hairstyle fad that began as sarcastic and overdramatic, but quickly formed into a staple look for many students.
The style is a combination of a classic claw-clip up-do and a half-up hairstyle, where a large clip pulls back your hair and elegantly plops it atop the back of your head. It’s both freeing and functional, as it gathers all the hair out of your face for levelled-up focus.
I would say about 75 percent of the girls sitting in CoRo are repping a claw-clip hairstyle, either in the Parke method or in a classic ponytail twist. If you want to look like a BC student, I recommend not leaving the room without an emergency claw clip in your bag—and you get bonus points if it matches your outfit.
Snow Boots: a Lost Commodity
Each winter, a new round of freshmen fall victim to a tragic rite of passage: taking a tumble down the stairs of Upper Campus.
The black ice hunts its victims in the same spots and steps, and few freshies are able to avoid an embarrassing slip. You would think students might take precautionary measures in their footwear—yet, they never seem to learn.
In the name of style, most students leave their snow boots buried deep in their under-bed storage—or back home—and stick to their tennis shoes or trusty UGGs for the iciest days of the year. Why? No one knows. There are certainly a fair share of students repping their L.L.Bean, Sorel, Timberland, Blundstone, or Hunter Boots.
However, the majority of students seem unfazed by the slippery sidewalks, and they will continue trudge on through the slush in the same stained slippers and sneakers they wore back in September.
Don’t Sweat It, Unless:
Within the community, students refer to BC as a “jeans” school, meaning it is the norm to dress in put-together outfits for class, dining, and activities. Generally, it is expected (by no one in particular) that students wear jeans, khakis, or, if necessary, athleisure to their lectures.
But the “jeans” uniform has a major exception. On days that BC is not a jeans school, it is certainly a matching-set school. If your goal is to dress like a BC student, you mustn’t wear your favorite, perfectly worn-in grey sweatpants in public: those are strictly for the dorm.
The sweat-set rule bypasses all conventions of formal outfits, because if your sweats are from Alo, Aritzia, or cost a minimum of $100 dollars per piece, you get a free pass to wear them all day, for practically any occasion.
Naturally, you should also plan to have multiple sweat sets for different days of the week: ideally, with a brand logo clearly visible on the fabric.
Show Off Your No-Show Socks
Slip-on loafers. Penny loafers. Boat shoes. Espadrilles. Tassels and horsebits galore. In the 19th century, ankles were considered scandalous. At BC, ankle-cleavage is a norm—and a controversy.
The business-casual look is worn by at least a fifth of the student body on a day-to-day basis. With a rise in loafers and dress shoes, the question remains: to show, or not to show socks.
Consequently, the no-show socks look bleeds into the realm of sneakers and casual shoes, too. Some students stay loyal to the high-rise Nike socks they wore back in middle school gym class, while others concede to the bare-ankle fad—even granting bare “leggage” between their HOKAs and leggings.
Ultimately, it’s a personal trade-off between foot warmth and an unspoken, work-appropriate dress code.
The CSOM Quarter-Zip
Alright, if you haven’t heard yet, hoodies and crewnecks are on their way out: quarter-zips are all the rage.
Preferably, buy one from Polo Ralph Lauren—but really any quarter-zip will do. This layering tactic says, “I’m professional, comfortable, and casual.” It’s a mix of the preppy aesthetic with a tinge of a casual sporty-feel, so you could be ready for a day on the golf course or to pitch an idea to your boss.
To start your quarter-zip collection, you’ll need at least these three colors: heather grey, black, and navy. If you’re feeling festive, add a maroon one into the mix for school-related events.
Most importantly, do not zip it up all the way—that’s a rookie mistake. Instead, leave it half-zipped, as it appears more approachable.
Bonus
If you want to be a true Margot Connell Recreation Center “gym bro,” you must walk around wearing shorts and a hoodie in 10-degree weather—sorry, I don’t make the rules.