Boston is one of the youngest cities in the U.S., but when I walk around Back Bay, all I see are outfits that suit a business casual dress code. Slacks, sweaters and blazers that would be appropriate for a 40-year-old with a mortgage seem to have replaced the colorful, fun fashion that is usually associated with college students.
But this fashion trend seems to have plagued Northeastern more than other universities, partly because of the co-op program. There’s plenty of students on campus who spend 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. working in an office instead of going to classes. But for the rest of us, there’s no excuse for our strangely professional fashion sense.
It’s more than just a basic way to dress — the “business casual” attitude has infiltrated every part of our lives, from our daily conversations to how we express our individuality, and it’s making us less interesting people. The fashion trend, at least at Northeastern, is only the tip of the iceberg of our business casual obsession.
Part of why this trend has hit Northeastern so hard might also have to do with the city we live in. Boston is already known for its conformity in fashion — what with the trend of the “Boston uniform,” a black top and jeans. Even our popular stores reflect this trend. Aritzia, which describes itself as “everyday luxury” and is known for selling basic clothing pieces, has a very popular storefront in Boston.
Between the co-op program and our location, Northeastern is an easy target for the business casual epidemic.
This isn’t the first time business casual pieces have been trendy. The millennial blazer-in-the-club look from the 2010s is still burned in the back of my mind. Unlike the past, the rise of online influencers has turned this kind of fashion into more than just clothes — it’s about the overall aesthetic and lifestyle of dressing in a professional, put-together way.
Business casual fashion has had a slow rise to popularity. Online fashion influencers like Matilda Djerf, whose content peaked in popularity around 2022, had a major role in the rise of this aesthetic. Djerf is known for her basic, neutral clothing, and many outlets have published articles dedicated to how to dress like her. Or, look at Sofia Richie Grainge, who became popular for her “quiet luxury” style, which she has described as “clean lines, beautiful tailoring and neutral tones.”
The role of influencers is crucial to how we understand this fashion trend. It’s never been about how we personally want to dress as individuals, but about how to dress and act the way we perceive the influencers we idolize. It’s one thing to dress like other people, but the business casual trend goes beyond our clothing choices.
Like any trend, following what’s popular too closely can discourage our individuality. But unlike the previous business casual surge of the 2010s, we’re no longer just wearing a blazer because we think it looks good. We’re subscribing to the quiet luxury lifestyle we’ve seen online — one that involves having a skincare routine, going to a pilates class and, of course, being wealthy.
And it’s not just our clothes that have had a professional overhaul — it’s our conversations, too. Instead of talking about parties, classes and clubs, I can’t seem to have a conversation with a classmate without the dreaded topic of co-op or an internship coming up. Quite frankly, I don’t want to hear about interviews, offers and corporate talk when I’m a second-year student in an intro-level class.
The clothes and co-op conversations have something in common: competition. We’re too busy trying to live a certain lifestyle and make ourselves seem put-together to participate in the self-expression that is critical to being in college.
But we’re not supposed to be polished. The co-op program has influenced students to compete with each other in more ways than one, and I’m tired of it. College is for trial-and-error and embarrassing moments we’re all dealing with at once. While Northeastern may harp on the importance of interview skills, that doesn’t mean we need to practice them with each other. We need to be more honest with each other, even if it means admitting we failed a test or had a really bad weekend. Our peers aren’t job interviewers, and there’s no crime in admitting we sometimes (or, if you’re like me, most of the time) have no idea what we’re doing.
I’m not against dressing in basic clothing; I barely have time to do laundry, let alone pick out a fun and exciting outfit every morning. But I’m against the idea of always needing to look clean, put-together and luxurious. It’s limiting our ability to be ourselves and connect with other college students going through the exact same identity crises we are.
It’s time to abandon the idea that we’re put-together, career-oriented people with a perfect routine. In reality, we’re still college students, and I would rather see creative, colorful outfits than a neutral one — just like I would much rather hear about your terrible, crazy weekend than your latest co-op interview.
Until we can drop the business casual act, we’re not just being professional, we’re being uninteresting.
Nora Harr is a second-year English and computer science combined major. She can be reached at [email protected].
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