Dillo Day is a few weeks away, and aside from who the headliner is, students have their attention focused on what they’ll be wearing. This year’s theme — Planet Dillo — has proven difficult to shop for. John Ferrara has the story.
WHAT DOES SPACE REALLY ENCOMPASS? ALIENS? EARTH? CONSTELLATIONS? ASTRONAUTS? ALL THESE QUESTIONS AND MORE HAVE ARISEN WITH THIS YEAR’S DILLO DAY THEME — PLANET DILLO.
IT’S WELL-KNOWN THAT OUTFITS ARE ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED PARTS OF THE ANNUAL MUSIC FESTIVAL. HISTORICALLY, STUDENTS GO ALL OUT. WITH LAST YEAR’S WESTERN THEME, COSTUMES DREW ON INSPIRATION FROM COWBOYS, HORSES, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
THIS YEAR, STUDENTS’ SEARCH FOR OUTFITS THAT CONFORM TO THE GALACTIC THEME HAS PROVEN CHALLENGING. SURE, WHO DOESN’T HAVE A PAIR OF COWBOY BOOTS AND JEANS LYING AROUND? BUT THERE AREN’T TOO MANY WHO BOAST A CLOSET OF ALIEN GREEN, STARRY GOLD, AND METALLIC SILVER.
AFTER TALKING WITH A FEW STUDENTS AND IMMINENT DILLO-GOERS, IT’S CLEAR THAT SHOPPING FOR APPROPRIATE CLOTHES HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE.
“I have not started shopping.”
“I think it’s too broad.”
AND THERE APPEARS TO BE A CHALLENGE FINDING A FIT THAT STANDS OUT FROM THE CROWD..
“Sparkly — silver or white — lighter colors, I feel like more astronaut type because I’m not seeing as much green.”
“I’m thinking silver, I’m thinking sparkly…and short.”
SO YEAH, LONG STORY SHORT — IT’S HARD TO FIND A BALANCE BETWEEN TACKY AND OVER-THE-TOP…CHEAP AND INDULGENT…ALIEN AND ASTRONAUT.
AND THE TOUGH CHOICES THAT FACE STUDENTS’ AMAZON CARTS ARE SHARED BY FASHION AFICIONADOS AS WELL.
CARLY WITTEMAN, THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF NORTHWESTERN’S STUDENT FASHION MAGAZINE, STITCH, HAS BEEN STUCK ON FIGURING OUT HER OWN OUTFIT.
“Um, no, I do think it’s difficult. Yeah, I mean, no one, like I said, no one has alien antennas sticking, hanging around in their closet. And odds are you’re gonna have to purchase something — something you know, to try to fit the theme. So I don’t know. I still really don’t know what I’m gonna do.”
THOUGH WITTEMAN, LIKE MANY, IS HAVING A HARD TIME SHOPPING FOR HER DILLO FIT, THE RETURN TO ALIENS AND SPACE — A POPULAR EARLY-2000S COSTUME THEME — MAKES SENSE.
“And obviously, all trends, but specifically fashion trends are extremely cyclical. And it’s said that every 20 years fashion repeats itself.”
BUT ASIDE FROM THE FASHION CHOICES THAT MAKE THIS YEAR’S DILLO THEME SO HARD TO SHOP FOR, WITTEMAN ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THE ETHICAL ISSUES A THEME THAT’S SO RELIANT ON BORDERLINE-COSTUME SHOPPING CAN IMPOSE.
“One thing that is important to mention is with music festival culture and just like themed party, college culture, there is very much like an implication of fast fashion in terms of where people are getting their outfits, like I am sure that a dozen girls will have the same sparkly skirt from Shein.”
BUT WITTEMAN DOESN’T PLACE TOO MUCH BLAME ON STUDENTS FOR TRYING TO SHOP AFFORDABLY FOR ITEMS THAT FIT THIS YEAR’S THEME. THE STITCH EDITOR THINKS THAT, IN COMPARISON TO LAST YEAR’S WESTERN THEME, BUYING GEAR FOR THE UPCOMING DILLO DAY IS NOT SO EASY.
“I mean with anything, there’s room to shop ethically, but specifically with this theme, it’s not like people have an alien-esque thing laying around in their closet. So no matter what, if you care about the theme and you want to have a fun outfit, odds are you’re gonna have to go buy something. Whereas like cowboy or the sort of Western…is a bit more easy to pull together with things in your closet in a way — that is, you know, doesn’t force you to go out and buy something.”
OF COURSE, DILLO DAY’S FOCUS ISN’T ABOUT CLOTHES — IT’S ABOUT MUSIC. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT’S WHAT STUDENTS CARE ABOUT THE MOST.
BUT IF YOU LOVE THE INTRICACIES OF THE FESTIVAL, IT’S SAFE TO SAY THERE’S CLEARLY NOT ONE UNIVERSAL ANSWER ON WHAT TO WEAR. JUST THROW ON WHAT YOU FEEL BEST IN — PLANET DILLO WILL KEEP ON SPINNING.
FOR WNUR NEWS, I’M JOHN FERRARA.
