A Campus In Style: Footwear faux pas

In a normal situation, I’d keep my opinion to myself if I spot someone wearing a garment that I don’t necessarily endorse. My first rule for anyone in regard to fashion is simply to wear what you want. Don’t let anyone else’s style or opinion influence your decisions to get dressed in whatever makes you happy. Inspiration can come from anywhere, but real style should come from within.

However, there are some things that I absolutely don’t co-sign. You all read my opinion last week in regards to the winter season and women wearing Uggs. I felt it was right to include the male parallel in this week’s edition. If you’ve ever doubted that there was something more repulsive than a furry pair of Uggs, then clearly you’ve never seen a guy wearing a pair of Polo boots.

There aren’t many things in life that I have a greater abhorrence of than seeing a pair of Polo boots walking around aimlessly strapped to the feet of a young soul. What is a Polo boot, you might ask? Imagine a leather snowboard boot equipped with straps, all-terrain soles and the famous Ralph Lauren Polo emblem featured everywhere. Yes, they’re that bad. While Uggs compensate for aesthetics with warmth and comfort levels, these boots really serve no useful functionality.

The relationship between the Ralph Lauren Polo brand and urban culture, specifically African-American culture, has been a very successful one. Though Ralph Lauren is an internationally renowned high-fashion designer, as shown by both his purple and black labels. The classic Polo shirt and khaki combo is normally reserved for the prep schools and golf courses, but African-American culture from the 1990s and beyond has taken the iconic horse and transformed it into something new, so much so that moderately priced boots have now entered the market to allow the brand to reach an even wider audience. Unfortunately, these boots are an abomination.

Polo boots are usually reserved for people who lack a personal sense of style. In comparison, we see the stereotypical wearer of Sperry boat shoes often at UConn, especially juxtaposed with someone wearing Polo boots. I’ll go on record and say that I’ve never stuck my foot in Uggs, boat shoes or Polo boots, but as always, don’t let my opinion slow you down this winter season.