Waseda WeeklyWaseda Weekly

I once attended a ceremony on campus. I noticed when I looked at the group photo of the attendees that was sent to me later. Everyone else was wearing a tie, and most of them were maroon. At the time, I had just started working there, and had no idea or knowledge that I should wear something maroon to attend a ceremony on campus, so I was wearing my favorite pastel-colored dress.

How you express yourself, your clothes, your hairstyle, etc. are personal freedoms. I think it's fine to dress in a way that suits you. I don't wear ties. I try not to wear suits as much as possible. But I quite like maroon, including the name. If I ever attend a campus ceremony next time, I'd like to wear something maroon.

However, when you think about it, it's pretty difficult to think of a "maroon outfit" other than a suit and a maroon tie. As I was looking around the campus for some maroon outfits that I could use as inspiration, my eye was caught by the school uniforms worn by the cheerleading club students. Black school uniforms with gold buttons and maroon armbands. To me, this is the coolest maroon outfit. Also, the hakama and kimono worn by graduates at Convocation. Japanese clothing these days has a wide variety of styles, and some people have skillfully incorporated maroon into their own outfits.

Besides a suit and a maroon tie, there are many other wonderful maroon outfits. I want to explore the maroon outfit that excites me, in my own way, between tradition and freedom, without being bound by gender or "common sense." 

(TM)

No. 1165