I guess we're living in the wrong parts of the country - someone should have told us sooner.

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AlphaFrog, I [heart] that picture. It cracks me up whenever I see it.

I'm going to burn in hell. :p

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I believe the issue of clothing brands is not one of manufacture, but of popularity on the campus. So, even though a company may be based in NY, its brand name clothing may be more typically found on a southern or northern campus. Not that I know anything about what is popular now, having gone to school when dinosaurs roamed the earth.
If we push it too far, then we should be discussing China and Mexico - 'cause that's where most of the clothing is actually assembled!

Even arguing that though, I went to a Northern school (Boston U.), and you would see those brands mentioned all over campus. I see them all over my law school campus as well, and just in general around town.

Hey, I grew up in Missouri. I own and wear Cole Haans, Sperry Top-Siders, Brooks Brothers, and guess what..... I Fly Fish and do have Orvis stuff!!! I have since I was really little. Guess what? I have never lived more south than St. Charles Missouri. Granted, I do visit Columbia a lot and vacation in the Lake of the Ozarks.....which is prolly the most Hick vacation spot on earth. Yes, I have been to Gatlinburg twice --- and on purpose. I am not a hick and my family in considered to be in good standing

The truth is that everyone likes to have fun and there is a lot of cross-over despite whatever people may thing. Fashion trends are a ridiculous way to try and separate yourself from any group....just like how Vera Bradley is big in the South, it is becomming more and more of a trend here (I cannot tell you how many girls carry around books in a Vera Bradley Tote.) Recently, I got a letter shirt that has Vera Bradey letters...

... He didn't say anything incorrect. I'm not real sure why he should "read up on him." Most southerners know waaay too much about him, and always have some sort of bloodline to him.

Southern fashion is influenced by the Gulf. That's simple. I was talking with one of the brothers and he use to competitively yacht down in Houston. He gets so pissed when he sees Sperry's, Croakies and so on because he knows they don't yacht, because I mean we live in Arkansas, which is what they're used for. I'm in the Gulf 2 months out of the year and it's necessary to wear Sperry's and croakies so my glasses don't fall off.

He said:
That's incorrect. Lee did associate with them a great deal.

Actually, I would say most Southerners think they know more about him then they actually do, although there are certainly the Southereners obsessed with him.

And I don't claim a bloodline to him (although my great-aunt did have a picture of him over the dresser that the Yankee soldiers let their horses feed from when they came through). My family was in Virginia before Lee's was.

Not in Virginia (or at least the parts of it that can still be called Southern), the Carolinas or much of Georgia.

Yall are being idiotic. Nobody said these are "southern" things. What is true, however, is that they're popular among the greek communities at the major southern universities. While I'm sure there are similar styles among NE greeks, but for the most part in the "north" (mid atlantic through northern midwest), those styles aren't as popular among our age group.

Its like this, at many northern universities, going to a party in pfg's, sperry's, a bb shirt and croakies is going to make you stick out. If you go to a bar at a big southern university wearing black pants, a vert-striped shirt with a spread color and your hair gelled, you're going to stick out.

This topic has been beaten up, but the original poster had it pretty right, with the caveat that not everyone in the north is anti-sperry, brooks brothers, etc. If you go to a popular bar around Emory, I'm sure it'll be stocked up with hair gel. Basically, what is common among the 30+ professional crowd up north is popular among the 20+ crowd in the south. Just as that makes us boring old men up north, it makes you a douche down south.

Child of the Horn- I get your point, however I think it is funny that anyone would consider Vera Bradley southern considering the company started (and is still headquartered) in Fort Wayne, Indiana. And Fort Wayne is DEFINTELY NOT southern.

Well, believe it or not, some trends spread from South to all over. Vera Bradley might be one, I see it everywhere now, while it used to be limited almost entirely to sorority-type southern girls (at least that I saw). Also, I think its fair to say that the south was on the early end of the outdoor wear boom.

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Because they are boat shoes...they get wet. You aren't supposed to wear socks with them.


....and just to add something.....I don't think anyone is saying that the brands mentioned are historically Southern. They aren't. But they definitely are a staple on Southern campuses.....unlike schools elsewhere. I've been to plenty of schools outside of the South and haven't seen near the amount of guys wearing what has been mentioned. Not even close actually.

I love how you had to assert your southerness with starting out with "Yall".

By the way if you are in a Northern bar and wear that, you are a douche either way. (I hope no one in this conversation wears that.)

I will give you the croakies, but just remember that we hardly get enough sun here to make it worth it. The only places where it works is when you are out boating on Lake Mich. or on the beach. It is not everyday wear here.

You will not stick out here wearing top-siders and a brooks brothers shirt at all! Loafers are pretty standard attire where I go to school and guys wear a lot of collars. Polo and Ralph Lauren are more popular as shirts of choice.

PFG depends on what you wear......just like it does anywhere you go.

I think that if you have actually spent time in more than just your region on the US, you would see that it is true. I have family who are professors in EVERY region of the US and when we go to visit them, we go to the university. It is not the fashions that will distinguish you by regions, its your accents and ideals. I admit that I have different ideals than someone from NYC and a much different accent. If I went there or they came here, they wouldn't really look out of place and visa versa.

No area is defined by one state and no person is either!

Heads up - shinerbock doesn't need to use y'all to assert his Southernness. And for what it is worth, his use of y'all is not only correct but common to Southern speech. And y'all would know that if y'all were Southern.

ETA: Welcome to Greek Chat.

I love how you think he is "asserting his Southerness" by using a word that is perfectly normal down here in everyday speech.

What do you mean "PFG depends on what you wear"? PFG is a brand of fishing shirt by Columbia.

I have a feeling that Shinerbock has spent plenty of time outside of the South.....as have I.....and disagree with what you have said quite a bit.

It just seemed more than a little overstated by starting his statement like that. He didn't need to, but he did it to make sure that everyone knew he was.

Half my relatives live south of the MD line (Georgia, etc.), I do know the correct use of y'all.

FYI: Y'all is also used all over the Midwest......

*PFG depends on the style......and what time of year.....where you are (suburbs, city, beach, etc.)....just like any other piece of clothing.