The Red and Black

Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: Opinions

SHANNON OTTO

I love autumn.

I love the changing colors of the leaves, bundling up under more than just one blanket and the many seasonal varieties of coffee available (pumpkin and gingerbread and cinnamon - oh my!).

But with autumn comes questionable weather - those in-between temperatures when it's too cold in the mornings for flip-flops and too warm in the afternoons for coats.

What's a fashion-forward female at the University to do?

Pair her oh-so-comfortable Ugg boots with leggings, of course!

This allows her feet to stay nice and toasty while exposing her derrière for all to see.

I'm not here to diss leggings, even though I feel that trend has run its course.

If you must continue to wear them, please wear a tunic, dress or skirt long enough to cover yourself.

And I'm not 100 percent against Uggs. They're pretty damn comfortable and are also quite convenient on cold and rainy days.

But together?

Congratulations. You've successfully combined two of the more annoying trends in recent memory and baffled those of us on campus who actually own thermometers and/or check weather.com on a daily basis.

So how to cope with these pesky up-and-down temperatures?

Layers, people.

God invented cardigans for a reason.

And I know you ladies own scarves.

I've seen plenty of those on campus already this year - often inexplicably paired with running shorts and a T-shirt and sometimes Uggs (but that's another story for another column).

For example: a colorful pair of flats, comfortable jeans, a T-shirt or tank top, cardigan and scarf.

As the day progresses, remove either cardigan or scarf and - voila! - you're weather-appropriate.

And don't forget about tights.

I'm a huge fan of dresses and skirts, and see no reason to abandon a summer staple just because the temperature is slowly decreasing.

Layering an oversized cardigan over a summery dress and opaque tights is a perfect fall fashion move.

Cardigans aren't the only way to add warm layers. Blazers are a cool (no pun intended) and classy option to style up a plain old T-shirt.

If you do choose to layer, be sure to address proportions properly. Belts exist to cinch waists, and they're instrumental in creating less boxy silhouettes.

If you must wear leggings, exhibit courtesy for your fellow students and don't treat leggings as your sole source of below-the-belt coverage. Long layers work well here, also.

I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. Tuesday morning, my Facebook status read, "Shannon is already tired of seeing Uggs and leggings together."

Within an hour, no less than four comments agreeing with me were posted. I think the current comment count is 10.

Even if you're 5-feet-11 and 100 pounds with no visible body fat, it's still not appropriate to let it all hang out.

And Uggs aren't the only footwear option for chillier temps.

Stores such as Target and Payless offer flat boots in a variety of styles, and all are affordable enough for students.

A word to the wise: check the weather before you leave in the morning. If it's going to top 60 degrees, you probably should not be wearing Uggs.

Once again, I'm a fan of the cozy boots. Michael Ian Black said it best on VH1's "I Love the New Millennium:" "It's like putting your foot into a sheep."

I'm just speaking to that growing minority on campus that insists on dressing for summer and fall at the same time.

Pick a season. Stick to it. Since it's almost November, I recommend fall.

- Shannon Otto is the Managing Editor of The Red & Black. She is tired of seeing so many fashion fails on a daily basis.

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