When I was 5, The Wizard of Oz was my favorite movie.
I loved everything about it - the glamour of Glinda the good witch, and of course, Dorothy's pretty ruby slippers.
But the fashion lesson to be taken away from The Wizard of Oz this year centers around the lions and tigers and bears - oh my!
This season, the general obsession with animal prints and fur-lined clothing proves otherwise.
And it doesn't seem to be going away any time soon. It's no mistake that D&G and Guess' luxurious leopard print shawls have been all over the runways. It's also not surprising that Calvin Klein's alligator bags and Furia's ostrich leather boots are already being back-ordered for the Christmas season.
Since the beginning of time (circa Joe and Jane Neanderthal), we've relied on animal furs for warmth and animal prints to disguise us from predators in the jungle. (This can also work to avoid people who we don't like in the Quad. Try standing very still next to Lyons and see what happens).
As November finally begins to set in, the promise of warm fur inside jackets, gloves, and hats has a big appeal. I'm sure that there will be a number of people showing off something primal at the North Carolina State game, be it fur-lined gloves, sunglasses, or a scarf.
Now, a lot of people give those who wear real fur dirty looks. PETA warns them to sleep with one eye open. It is possible, however, to get an array of fake fur that looks just like the real thing.
Although not as warm as the real thing, this usually takes a backseat to how our animal fashion looks, and anyways, we are all willing to make compromises.
The real question is, how much of our fixation with furs is practical, and how much is it just for looks? There has to be a happy medium between the two.
In the name of all that is in style: Oct. 25, 1:26 p.m., McElroy Commons.
Girl spotted (presumably a freshman or sophomore) that had what looked like small Shitzu dogs hugging her ankles.
The boots that she was wearing were twice the width of her legs, and I really expected whatever animal she was wearing to come and reclaim its fur. I'm sure that they were warm, since she was shedding in front of the salad bar.
In the name of all that is practical: Saturday, 3:02 p.m., in front of Cushing Hall. Noticed a man in a coon-skinned cap watching the construction outside. It was almost too obviously faux fur and kind of looked like it could have been a toupé. Although his nametag didn't say Davy Crockett, at least his head was warm.
Animal prints and furs should be able to function in the name of style and warmth. But they can be tricky to pull off.
The animal prints that have worked best this season have been alligator, leopard, cheetah, and zebra. These are mostly in the form of tasteful clutches, subtle sunglasses, and, once in a while, camisoles and fun belts.
When Dorothy says, "Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!" she isn't only afraid of the forest of Oz, but of the fashion victims that she might find on the way. It's hard not to be sucked into the designer advertisements. So don't be the kid with small dogs on your feet, or the lost member of the Oregon Trail. Remember, there is a fine line between a jealous "Oh my!" and a disgusted one.
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