Each week, Amy examines a small group of students in order to understand the individual Dartmouth experience as part of a whole. This week, Amy chats with one of the more fashion-forward males on campus.
From a sartorial standpoint, being a Dartmouth student sucks. When I'm at home (in temperate Lancaster, Pa., for those nosy people) the first minute of waking up is a pleasure. As I brush the sleep from my face and yawn away my dreams, I take those moments to delight in deciding what to wear that day. However, in Hanover this favorite morning ritual is marred by the harsh and prolonged Dartmouth winters, and the slow-to-come muddy springs.
I always plan the perfect outfit -- this morning it was a polka-dotted high-waist cotton skirt, topped by a paisley blouse and silver pointed-toe flats -- only to be thwarted by adverse weather conditions. My flimsy skirt today was traded in for heartier skinny jeans, the gossamer shirt for a no-fuss J. Crew tissue tee. And though in my heart of hearts I knew I should have worn my rain boots, I thumbed my nose at the weather and wore wedge-heeled Mary Janes -- and lived to regret it.
So in the epic battle of Amy's fashion sense versus Old Man Winter, the old man generally wins. But I'm pretty sure I'm just weak in my artillery.
I've noticed for years now that Jarman Rogers '09, a native of sunny St. Simon's Island, Ga., manages to dress with style and aplomb and somehow never seems taken down by rain, snow, sleet or hail. He's as good as the U.S. Postal Service. Only way more stylin'.
I corralled Jarman into talking to me in Collis. As usual it was raining outside, yet somehow his hair still looked much better than mine.
I asked him how he makes his decisions on what to wear in the morning.
"I feel like I decide how long I'm going to be wearing my outfit," he said. "If I'm wearing it the whole day, I'll try to put something together that I like."
I completely understand where Jarman's coming from. So many times, I think I have the perfect outfit, and then find myself frustrated when I go to the gym in the afternoon, or take a nap, and have to give up on a stylistically successful day.
And what about paying attention to the weather?
"I have a really heavy jacket," Jarman said, "But I have to admit I hate it and I never really wear it. I get around it through layering and warm cuts through buildings."
I nod in agreement, thinking of the big, white puffer coat that I have and loathe wearing. But that also might be because while wearing it, I've been accused of looking like a New York sidewalk watch hawker.
I asked Jarman if he has adopted any styles since coming to Dartmouth that he never imagined himself wearing.
"I never had worn wool socks before Dartmouth, but I really like them. They keep your legs warm, and your feet dry when you're wearing boat shoes, and are not very visible -- so they're multi-purpose!"
This is probably a good moment to point out that Jarman wears boat shoes instead of snow boots. And he wears flip-flops as often as he can stand to, which is a lot less frequently than freshman year, he said.
"I've worn flip-flops a few times [this year]. Honestly I've cut back on my flip-flop wearing. Freshman year, I wore flip-flops all of Fall term. It was very dangerous -- I almost fell a few times!"
Jarman said that he hoped that not wearing flip-flops in the winter would keep him healthier.
"Also, flip-flops flip mud up on your jeans, which is not okay ... The mud on the jeans thing is a big deal."
But just because Jarman is able to balance looking good and living in Hanover doesn't mean that the rest of us have his talent. However, Jarman doesn't let the lack of Dartmouth winter fashion phase him.
"I look at it as something to enjoy in a funny way when people are wearing Darmouth-y things like flannel shirts and Hunter boots," he said.
"I hate Hunter boots by the way," Jarman added.
But ultimately, Jarman is kind to winter weather wear due to its practicality.
"I honestly understand the need for things like Uggs, Hunter boots, duck boots," he said. "You just can't make duck boots look good."
I decided to end things on a happier note, like the upcoming spring clothing that is sure to abound, once all this rain and cold have dissipated.
"I'm looking forward to wearing polos," Jarman said. "And plaid shorts. Oh my god, I have a really cute pair of plaid shorts. And flip-flops! Just the whole uniform basically."
With my luck, Jarman will be pulling off his whole uniform with grace before I can even shrug off my Uggs for the winter.
