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My ankle is just killing me. I bought these little $12 platform clogs and fell head over heels for them. Literally and figuratively. I have always loved the style of the shoes, never the aches and pains that come with them. They’re not exactly heels, but they’re not flat either. A different species. So I’m not contradicting myself from two columns where I stated that there is no reason to wear heels to campus, which I still stand by. I just love the look of them.
In the year I bought my first pair of clogs in 2018 while scouring the clearance aisle (because I wasn’t willing to pay full price for fast fashion), a great stack of nude shoes all covered the shelves looking pretty. There should have been at least 30 identical shoes in different sizes alone, all for a clean fee of $5. Of course, as anyone with a lot of problems with shopping would do, they went into the cart. I wore those things to death, and they had about ten lives. I mean they shot, skidded and farmed until I left ghosts. I painted them dozens of different colors, covered them with ribbon and finally decorated them with vintage ornaments.
Filling the hole in my heart, the $12 replacement saved me. I wear them for about a week, break them in, and then fix them. I could have trashed Walmart, but I know better than that. Back to school was starting, and the fall fashion forecast was to see these clear sandals everywhere.
“Clip, clop, clop, clop” was all I could hear sitting in English class. This was a familiar noise. From down the hallway came the sound of horse pacing that only I could describe. I opened my eyes to the door and waited anxiously, hoping to catch a glimpse of this noble horse. A small tall woman wearing a dirty long dress and carrying a rucksack walked past the open classroom door with a smile on her face. I laughed to myself and said “Oh Carbondale” in my head.
Now, I could imagine that this guy is up to date on new trends, but there is a difference. Free-loving ’70s style fashions have been strutting the runways and filling our storefronts for over a year lately, but before that, it made a safe nest here on campus and out.
If I could sum up Carbondale like any fashion accessory or outfit, it’s closure.
think about. When you sit down and contemplate the fashions of our university town, it’s hard not to imagine the same type of hippie clothing. I close my eyes as a woman wears a muted shirt, a busy pair of pants or a skirt, paired with a necklace purchased at the farmer’s market.
They are funny, they go in and out of fashion, but they are always available when needed. They also absorb odors well, and after one wear, it usually smells.
Carbondale can sometimes seem stuck in that “Tuscan sun” fashion era. During that tape-ish/beige period between 2004 and 2010, every single mom decided to take apart their kitchen and tile it. Everyone knows what I’m talking about. You know, back then the fake grapes and vines made our mothers choke.
I could roll my eyes at some of the things that people go through, but I’ll keep analyzing the situation. Most people around these parts don’t care about fashion. That is a controversial statement, but it is true. Most people here don’t go shopping for something that looks good.
I grew up in a few cities, and one thing I always like to laugh at and laugh about is the shoe choices people make here depending on the environment. The men usually wear comfortable tennis shoes or loafers. Very common for a man. But the women always seem to prefer open shoes. I don’t mean cute little peek-a-boo slips, I mean legs out. Their dogs are always barking and I can’t help but roll my eyes when they have their Jesus-like shoes in front.
Most people here dress seriously, but always add a playful touch. He may be surrounded by college students all day, but he keeps things classy. Everyone here wears whatever they want, and I hope that’s obvious to many when you look around, but there’s a general charm that seems to linger.
Cultured Folk Chic is a silly title that I consider a Carbondale fad. I could group it with something, but that wouldn’t be fair in the slightest. Our college is sophisticated because of the amount of diversity it brings to the environment. The rich patterns and textiles brought here by students from all over the country really bring the world to life. The country look comes from decades of long-timers and farm life in the Jackson County countryside.
The world of academia brings a whole list of its own styles. Chunky coats and blazers in wool and canvas, khaki pants with shoes, and what I think are fashions associated with education and school. This style blends well with the local adult Woodstock children’s clothing and makes a perfect combination. It blends well with what is currently being produced for consumption and what is in fashion.
Not that Carbondale is out of fashion. We’ve been out of the loop before, but now we think we’re in line with the new trends. It won’t last long, but fry it as much as you can.
In another decade or so, the cycle will begin again, and Carbondale will once again be in high fashion as it was now. Until then, I’ll keep smiling, stuck in my groove, proud to be where I am.
Staff reporter Aaron Elliott can be reached. [email protected]
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