Clogs and “cultured folk elegance” define Carbondale fashion – The Daily Egyptian


My legs are just killing me. I bought these chunky little clogs for $12 a platform and I’m absolutely head over heels for them. Literally and figuratively. I’ve always loved the style of shoes, but never the aches and pains that come with them. They’re not exactly heels, but they’re not flat. A different breed. So, I’m not contradicting myself from two columns ago, where I stated that there is no reason to wear heels on campus, which I still stand by. I just love the look of them.

I bought my first pair of clogs in 2018, browsing the clearance aisle (because I refuse to pay full price for fast fashion), when a huge pile of nude shoes were all pretty, lining the rack. There had to be at least 30 of the same shoes just in different sizes, all for the immaculate price of $5. Of course, as any person who has a problem with shopping too much would do, they entered the cart. I wore those things to death and they had about ten different lives. I mean they were stunned, slipped in, and the farm was up and running by the time I gave up. I painted them a dozen different colors, covered them with ribbon and finally embellished them with vintage jewelry.

Filling the hole in my heart, $12 replacements came to my rescue. I wore them for about a week, broke them in and then fixed them. I could have thrown away the pieces of Walmart junk, but I knew better than that. School was starting back up, and the fall fashion forecast was seeing these candid shoes everywhere.

“Clip, clop, clip, clop” was the only noise I could hear as I sat in my English class. It was a familiar noise. Down the hall came what I can only describe as the sound of a galloping horse. I looked towards the door and waited expectantly, hoping for a glimpse of this noble horse. A smile appeared on my face as a petite woman wearing a long skirt and carrying her stained bag walked past the open classroom door. I laughed to myself and said in my head, “Oh, Carbondale.”

Now, I might have thought that this person would be up to date on the latest trends, but there is a difference. The ’70s free-love style has been hitting the runways lately and filling our windows for over a year now, but before that, it made a safe nest here on and off campus.

If I could sum up Carbondale like any fashion accessory or outfit, it would be jamming.

Think about it. When you sit back and think about the fashions of our bustling university town, it’s hard not to imagine some sort of hippie outfit. I close my eyes and imagine a woman wearing a muted shirt with some variation of pants or a skirt with a busy pattern, paired with a necklace that was most likely purchased at a farmers market and clogs.

They’re funky, they go in and out of fashion, but they’re always there when needed. They also contain very good smells, and after one use they usually smell bad.

Carbondale can sometimes seem stuck in that “Tuscan Sun” era of fashion. That beige time between 2004 and 2010, where every single mom decided to tear down her kitchens and install tile. Everyone knows what I’m talking about. You know, that time when fake grapes and summer-themed decor put our moms in over their heads.

I can roll my eyes at some of the things people walk around in, but I analyze the situation and move on. A lot of people around these parts don’t care about fashion. This is a controversial statement, but it is true. Most people here aren’t shopping for what looks good, but what feels good.

I only grew up in a few cities, and something I always like to laugh and joke about is the choice of shoes people choose here as locals. Men usually wear a comfortable tennis shoe or a loafer. Very typical of a man. However, women always seem to choose open-toed shoes. I don’t mean a cute little slipper, I mean their toes are out. Their dogs are always barking and I can’t help but shield my eyes as they clutch the front of their Jesus-like sandals.

Most people here dress seriously but always add a playful touch. He might be surrounded by college students all day, but he keeps things level. Everyone here wears what they want, and I hope that’s obvious to most as they look around, but there’s an overall aesthetic that seems to stick.

Cultivated Folk Chic is the silly title I’ve considered Carbondale fashion. I could have grouped it with something that already exists, but that wouldn’t do it justice at all. It is cultured because of the amount of diversity our college brings to the area. The rich patterns and textiles that bring here students from all over the country and the world really bring it to life. The country aspect comes from the long timers that have been around for decades, and the farm life that is the Jackson County country.

The world of academia brings a whole list of styles of its own. Thick coats and jackets in wool and canvas fabrics, khaki pants with chunky shoes, and a few others are what I consider to be fashion related to academics and school. This style blends well with the grown-up Woodstock children’s clothing of the area and has made the perfect blend. It matches well with what is now being produced for consumption and what is in fashion.

It’s not like Carbondale is out of style. We’ve been out of the loop before, but now we seem to be in line with the newest trends. It won’t last long, but soak up as much as you can.

In about another ten years or so, the cycle will begin again and Carbondale will once again be high fashion, as it is now. Until then, I’ll keep smiling and kicking my clogs, proud to be where I am.

Staff reporter Aaron Elliott can be reached at [email protected]





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