By Amira El-Khaouli, Opinion Editor

and Julianna Stumpp, A&E Co-Editor

Dressing Down by Juliana
Over summer I took a Spanish class at CSUSM. There was a girl who would always dress in a dress and wedge heels for class, like it was a Fourth of July party. I was baffled at why someone would dress up in heels for class, summer school more so.
CSUSM is such a commuter school, so there are a lot of students that don’t care about how they look like, but there are many that actually do. I don’t object to dressing nicely because you never get another first impression. To go as far as wearing stilettos and a fancy dress to a 7:30 a.m. class is beyond me.
Dressing down is never a bad thing. Wearing sweats and a basic tee isn’t a problem to go to class in because it’s a college thing. We are all tired from staying up late and studying our butts off, that we would rather get that extra 15 minutes of sleep then spend 30 minutes in front of a mirror. During that summer school class I showed up multiple times wearing workout shorts and a Fenway Park tee. Especially with winter coming around the corner, students will opt for their sweat pants opposed to skinny jeans.
The main thing about dressing down is not appearing as a slob but not putting so much effort to look your “supermodel best.” Looking presentable in a casual and comfortable way goes far, it shows who you are; which is far better than the mask that makeup presents.

Dressing Up by Amira
The world is your oyster and you will never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Success is often perceived by how we carry ourselves. What better way is there to feel about yourself and carry yourself, then by focusing on you in the morning?
When I think about a preferred appearance for any day, I think about a clean shave. Think eyebrows, beards, neck lines, legs, arms, etc. Next, I think about teeth and whitening strips as crucial.
Now, women may be duped into thinking that a clean, fresh face is in style. This is not the standard that we are held to. Foundation, blush, and powders are going to give you a completed feel and display an interest in perfection. A light colored lipstick or gloss is appropriate and men should be using lip balm.
Eye wear is a frame for your eyes and will draw others into desired eye contact, which exhibits respect and interest. Your hairstyle is indicative of your ability to manage long-term goals. If you can’t maintain it, it’s best to just cut it off.
Finally, clean and well-fitting attire will complete the look. If you opt for jeans and t-shirts, they should look new and never be faded or have rips or tears, even if it is in style.
So why all the formality in college? Practice makes perfect and consistency is habit-forming.