Those were the days…

Is there a better pass time than people watching? I could do it for hours.

Yesterday, I was at uni – yes, I’m still at university 10 years on – and I was sitting at a cafe sipping my coffee and pretending to read a very dry article on corporate social responsibility.

But really, I was just sitting and watching all the students walk by.

Things seem to have changed since I was an undergraduate.

Something has happened, because it seems like today’s students have a lot more money – and taste – than back in my day.

Casting my mind back to my early uni years, I know that I had absolutely no idea about clothing or style.

My wardrobe consisted of a collection of very tarty, trashy and shockingly flesh-exposing going out clothes and my everyday attire was a mishmash of the various phases I’d gone through as a teenager.

There was a lot of cheesecloth, long skirts and some depressing tie-dye numbers from my semi-hippy phase and then a collection of grunge wear that consisted of cherry red Doc Martens, corduroy flares and jeans that I’d sort of hacked to pieces and a rather nifty collection of oversized coats.

A bit of a disaster really.

But you always think you’re looking good at the time don’t you? I’m sure I thought I was pretty cool anyway.

Anyway, back to the kids at uni yesterday. After watching them for over an hour, I started putting them into groups in my head…

Popped collar brigade…

If you see a guy with a polo shirts and a popped collar I will bet you 50 bucks they attend, or did attend, a residential college.

I don’t know how it happens, but for some reason, people live on campus and suddenly they no longer understand how a collar functions.

And another thing about these guys – and I saw a great number of them yesterday – is that they seem to be immune to the weather.

It’s 10 degrees and blowing a gale outside and they’re swanning around in their little polo top, a pair of shorts and either loafers or thongs (yes, in the middle of a frigidly cold winter).

Leggings as pants girls…

Surely there is not another place on earth where this fashion crime is committed more than Melbourne University.

It’s like they’re having a leggings convention over there. Yesterday I saw leggings in a multitude of shades and colours, there were even a couple of pairs that were made to look like denim.

Somehow, somewhere along the way, someone saw fit to start wearing undergarments as normal everyday clothes.

I’m sorry, but it’s wrong. Repeat after me: “Leggings are not pants.”

They’re leggings. They’re wonderful because they keep your legs warm UNDER skirts and dresses.

Cardigans and pearls…

There are a tribe of young women who can’t be over the age of 24 and yet dress as though they’re in their late 30s.

It’s all neat little cardigans, pearl jewellery, tan leather bags, ballerina flats and cute little blazers.

It looks like they’ve maxed out their gold cards at Witchery then crossed the road and done the same again at Country Road.

While there’s nothing wrong with this style – it just seems so grown up. And where are they getting the money to buy these clothes?

I’ve been working full time for years and I still can’t justify buying a singlet at Country Road!

Vintage horde…

There were a lot of these types. There are a few of them in my class and even though they’re a good five years my junior, I still find them very intimidating.

They’re the cool kids who’s favourite places to shop are Savers, Vinnies and the Camberwell Market.

They’re always doing very edgy things with their clothes, like wearing three jackets at the same time, or t-shirts with tuxedo jackets.

They’re really out there. They probably live in share houses in Northcote, hang out at St Jeromes and get their photos posted on the Melbourne Street Fashion blog.