I know this article may come off as a bit aggressive, but that is intentional. My feelings towards these articles of clothing are anything but tame. As a matter of fact, Parke sweatshirts may be my least favorite fashion trend in recent memory. And that’s saying a lot considering I’ve lived through trends like bulletproof vests, sequin garments, artificial Shein gothwear, cargo joggers, all-over print sweatshirts, the cropped tee pandemic, all neon outfits, bubble skirts, and capri pants…the list goes on. Still, as ugly as all of these items have been, I think Parke sweatshirts are much worse and far more damaging to fashion culture than even the ugliest 95% polyester sweatshirt could ever be.
*disclaimer*: Wear whatever clothes you want. Wear whatever makes you feel good. Everyone has their own style. Do not take offense at something that is just my opinion. Also, none of this is personal. It is entirely about the sweatshirt. In fact, I have close friends who wear Parke. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I guess!
A large reason for my criticism is that there is absolutely no taste in wearing a Parke sweatshirt. It’s not that they look worse than sequin sweatshirts or subpar fast fashion; it’s that they are so much more bland. As ugly as the gothwear from Shein is, at least it stands for something and represents something outside. Parke sweatshirts are nearly unrecognizable from the thousands, if not millions, of other designers releasing crewnecks with their own branding splayed across the front.
Not to mention, I see them way more than other trends. Too often. I can’t be the only one who’s seen at least two of these every single day I’ve been on campus. It is a viral pandemic that leaves me concerned for the direction of fashion trends. I mean, how could something so boring become so popular? Once trends start losing taste, then fashion will start to lose its personality. We must be careful.
Fashion has always been a practice that demanded sacrifice. Often the most comfortable clothes are not the best looking clothes, in which case people sacrifice comfort to look good. Or sometimes the best looking clothes are not the most popular clothes, in which case people have to sacrifice the comfort of conformity. To go even further, you sacrifice the ease of getting ready by engaging in fashion. It is easy to put on a coordinating outfit that won’t turn any eyes, but putting together a truly fashionable outfit that will capture people’s attention takes effort.
But the thing about the Parke sweatshirt is that it takes absolutely no sacrifice. This is what I believe is at the root of these articles being fashionless pieces. You don’t sacrifice comfort, because the shirt is very comfortable, you don’t sacrifice conformity, because every girl living on frat row has the exact same sweatshirt, and you aren’t even sacrificing the ease of getting ready, as these sweatshirts are very easy to put on and match with. They are generic, boring sweatshirts that barely differ from loungewear that one would never wear out. They promote a dull homogeneity in a sector of expression that has always profited from diversity and creativity.
When people buy clothes, they generally buy what they think would look good on themselves. Their closet creates a style that is very personal because every piece of clothing is hand-picked for their specific appearance. When people buy Parke sweatshirts, however, they are buying them because they liked them on other people. They are following the herd under the belief that it will heighten their own appearance. It removes any kind of personability from their outfit, giving off a vibe of superficial fashion sense.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with following a trend. I have done it many a time myself. But it’s important to discern when a trend is new, different, and artistic versus when a trend is tasteless, generic, and unoriginal. Following the first path will help you look good, and following the latter will help you look like everyone else. Following trends isn’t the problem; it’s following them without any hint of personal style or self-expression that is a problem.
At some point or another, you’re gonna have to realize that it does take a little bit of effort to look good. You don’t need to be the next Carolyn Bessette, but you can’t just follow the trends blindly. You have to think for yourself by looking inward. It might take some sacrifice, but only then can you separate yourself from those who want to dress well and be someone who does dress well.
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