The Daily Fashion Struggles of Commuter Life

Photo: Kate Robbinson

Picture this: its -14 degrees outside (without the wind chill) and you’re running late because you have to leave at least an hour before the actual time of your class just to make it there on time and somehow not look like a train wreck. What are you going to wear? Will your shoes match this outfit? Is one pair of gloves enough to keep you warm? Commuters at U of T are constantly looking for ways to make their lives—and their commutes easier, and we don’t blame you at all. We’re hoping to give you some tips and tricks on how to be an efficient commuter and let you know that we’re on your side! Don’t feel like a bag-lady; you’re much more than that.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

It’s tempting to want to slip on a pair of sneakers or a regular pair of comfortable shoes just to save yourself the trouble of trying to match your outfit or drag your feet across campus with heavy boots, but we all know that only few can get away with this. If you’re trekking through Queen’s park to get to the other side of campus for your next class and there’s snow on the ground, chances are that sneakers are not going to keep your feet dry.

So, rewind. Maybe you’ll wear rubber boots; at least they’re somewhat sleek and will keep your feet dry the entire day. You can even walk right through puddles! Think again. One thing my Hunter boots have taught me; they are not winter boots. As much as you’d like to think that they are, they just don’t serve the purpose of keeping you warm. Choosing shoes before leaving the house is crucial. Whatever you choose will be what you’re stuck with the whole day; puddles, rain, snow, hail, or whatever comes your way. After all, home is not a five minute drive away, so you can’t just go back and change.

Set me get this straight. We all have the option to either wear cute shoes and freeze in them, or wear bulky shoes and be warm in them? Yup, that’s pretty much how it goes. Chances are, most days in the winter you’ll need a pair of Sorels or Uggs, or something of that sort. If you’re really not into those, I would recommend a pair of Doctor Martens or Blundstones. I have friends that absolutely swear by them and wear them for all four seasons!

Here are some tips to help you:

1. Install a weather app on your phone and check it every morning before you get dressed.

2. Whichever shoes you pick, ensure that you wear woolen socks with them.

3. Contrary to popular belief, doubling up on socks doesn’t help as much as you think it would. Your feet sweat, and then get even colder. Believe me when I say it is worth it to invest in woolen socks. Please don’t harm your feet more than you already have.

My Shoulder Doesn’t Hurt, I Swear!

Do you wear a backpack to school? Because I don’t. I don’t know what it is about coming downtown from Mississauga every day, but I just don’t think a backpack is appropriate. What if I want to go to the mall when I’m done class and I want to avoid dirty looks from retail workers? Every time I walk into a store with my Jansport backpack, even if I buy something, I feel like I can never show my face there again. They hate students. Not only that, but have you ever tried running with a backpack? It’s not pretty.

I’m just trying to make a conscious effort lately to not bring more than I need when I come to campus. If that means having a separate bag to carry my lunch in, then so be it. I will take the label of “bag-lady” over having to survive retail shopping with a backpack any day. All that being said, I totally applaud those who bring backpacks to school; you will suffer less back problems in your older years than me, that’s for sure. It’s okay to want to be practical about it. And maybe one day I will come to my senses, snap, and buy a nice big backpack that fits my entire life in it that I can bring to school every day.