Kirkland Signature Is In, Sneakers Are Out: Political Science Department Talks Men’s Fashion

The Political Science department has been through a wide range of men’s fashion styles. From the occasional tuxedo to the rising Birkenstock trend, interviews with the University’s favorite male professors helped get to the bottom of the men’s fashion story.

Department Chair Peter VonDoepp often walks into class with bright and bold colors.

“I like bold colors like navy blue, and gray so that I know I will stand out,” VonDoepp said.

He described that he has no interest in blending into the crowds of other professors in the field. In fact, he outlined a very specific idol in his fashion world.

“The slim guy [you’d see] at Amsterdam Airport,” VonDoepp said.

This understanding of modern European fashion trends started earlier in his life when he was a scholar at a German university, he said.

“I came back from Germany definitely more style conscious […] I’m now a professor who shops for clothing at T.J. Maxx and Costco,” VonDoepp said.

Labels like Kirkland are very well-rounded, VonDoepp said.

“They make my coffee, they make my packaged nuts, they make my dress shirts,” VonDoepp said.

VonDoepp explained that he may begin instituting a department dress code to match his fashion sense.

“I’d really like to use all of the powers available to me to elevate the dress code […] a reign of fashion terror,” VonDoepp said. 

His colleagues were not incredibly supportive of this idea. Professor Jonathan “Doc” Bradley pointed towards the rebellious and anarchist nature of the department.

“[Political Science] professors practice radical autonomy, the initial thing is going to be resist … they would immediately dress down as a sense of rebellion,” Bradley said.

It remains to be seen if the stylistically neutral constitutional scholars in the group would be ready to start a breakaway department. Professor Peter S. Henne stayed out of conflict.

“I would still fit in, but I am not sure how that would go over with the rest,” Henne said.

Some faculty members agreed. When asked about the Hoka shoe trend set by some of the legacy members of the department, all the professors interviewed expressed that they would not participate.

“Not at the first couple weeks,” said Bradley

Fashion proved to be more compelling than comfort for these professors.

“I’m not ever gonna wear any informal shoes,” said Henne

Fashion proved to be more compelling than comfort for these professors.

Professors understood that fashion extends beyond the classroom and offered students advice not only on fashion, but etiquette tips for their time on the most important runway: date nights.   

Bradley was critical of the movie date, advising students to move toward more physical activities like amateur ice skating.

“If neither one of you are good ice skaters, you should go ice skating, you have to hold on to each other,” Bradley said. The ice hockey team may have to look elsewhere for dating advice.

Bradley also made sure to comment on a developing issue.

“It drives me crazy when I see a girl wearing a nice dress and a guy looking like a slob, you always dress to your partner,” Bradley said regarding the so called ‘swag gap’

Henne described a time when he experienced a traumatic case of porphyrophobia when he wore purple to work in Washington D.C. He recommends students avoid purple.

“I wore a purple shirt once … I never heard the end of it … I won’t wear purple shirts anymore,” he said.

His fears were not left in the swamp. Vermont also proved a hostile place to professors trying out new styles.

“I got teased [by a student] for wearing one of my hats, but I don’t think he knew I was a professor,” Henne said.

This color phobia extended throughout the department. When asked about wearing stonewashed jeans on date nights, VonDoepp was flabbergasted.

“Did you say stonewash?” said VonDoepp. “Are those still legal […] seriously, they still make those?” 

When asked about the future of men’s fashion in the political science department, all three predicted a decline in formality, though some are taking a stand. 

“I would really like to raise our standards quite a bit […] use all of the powers available to me.” VonDoepp said, referencing his reign of terror.

Until a shift occurs, concerned students will have to decide their classes carefully and look for the fashion nonconformists in the department.

“Professor Ly is definitely an outlier, he looks great,” said Bradley

Unfortunately for style-minded students, his class schedule for the spring has not been released yet.