The first two months of the new year tend to bring about changes—in routines, relationships and, apparently, weather. Even though this crazy contrast of California’s morning and afternoon temperatures is common, many still feel lost at 8 a.m.: lost as to what to wear. Fear not; The Northwood Howler has the best tips for staying comfortable and on-trend.
There are layers to fashion:
Regardless of the temperature outside, a base layer is non-negotiable. The savior of your weathering dilemmas is a breathable short or long-sleeved shirt that hugs your skin. Material matters; we recommend choosing silk or cotton so you won’t be freezing to death or baking in sweat.
This could be a silk button-up or a graphic t-shirt from your local thrift shop—feel free to be creative! Don’t want to wear an old cardigan under someone’s bed? Try layering it with a cropped spaghetti strap or collared plain white tee for some stylish diversity.
Remember the mid-layer. This layer is the most versatile, depending on the thickness, material and clothing style. It can provide additional warmth and a creative palette for expressing your personality through unique designs. Sure, we might live in Southern California so wearing scarfs may be extra, but on top of a dark leather jacket and a pair of light wash jeans, you hit Eureka.
Streetwear trends on campus lean toward Stussy and Essentials hoodies or crewnecks, but if you would rather not blend into the Seaside Bakery population, consider branching out.
And on days that call for protection from the occasional drizzles and aggressive Santa Ana winds, finish your outfit with a weather-dependent outer layer. Whether you choose a heavy-duty bomber jacket, a thrifted scarf or a modern softshell windbreaker, don’t style baggy covers with an oversized inside shirt.
Unless you are the Kermit the Frog, yellow and green don’t belong together:
A cardinal rule is to ensure that the colors contrast without clashing. Although most colors can work well together, we’d advise proceeding with caution when styling the following combinations.
Take brown and black, a controversial pairing. While it can work, a dark brown and black outfit may blend together, making you look muddled.
Instead, we recommend going for complementary pairs, such as a combination of white and black, for a sleek, modern look or a warmer, inviting look. Honestly, as long as we don’t see yellow and green together on campus (please don’t), we’d be more than satisfied.
