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Car(N)os: One Collgiette’s take on Cargos

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at MSU chapter.


Unfortunately, not all of our fashion purchases will last like our LBD. With style changing so often, we are all bound to have those pieces in our closet that we hate to love. I for instance, refuse to stop wearing bows in my hair even though this month’s issue of Style and Watch basically told me, and every other sorority girl for that matter, that we need to grow up and stop living with the ghost of style past.

Recently, many stores and celebrities have a bad case of nostalgia. Just when I thought cargo was a clear no-go, Target, Old Navy, and even, dare I say it, Vineyard Vines have attempted to revive the big pocket look. Even fashion designer Victoria Beckham allowed her husband, David Beckham, out the door in a pair of carNOs.

There was a reason why cargo shorts went out of style years ago. They are the same reasons why cargo should stay out of style.

To start, the fit of these shorts are designed to make their wearers look shorter and chubbier. For those who are worry about whether your butt will look big, the answer will always be yes in cargos. The giant pockets seem like they were strategically placed to make your hips and thighs look like you haven’t skipped dessert in a year. The pockets on these pants are as useless as pockets in your pajamas. Even if you do find a way to fill up the pockets, you’ve only weighed your pants down, either showing everyone your underwear of the day or stretching the pants to make them even longer. Because cargo shorts are typically fitted to sit below the knee, they also give the illusion that the wearer’s legs are much shorter.

Another downside of these shorts is their usual material. Cargos always find a way to look like you’ve just been on a weeklong safari in Africa, even if they are fresh out of the washing machine. Because cargo shorts don’t have any fashion versatility, even when paired with a nice shirt, the outfit still looks disheveled. The material makes them impossible to iron for a polished appearance.
Just because some stores and celebrities missed this look, does not mean that it’s turning back into a good look. Be above the influence and just say no to cargo.

Tina Berisha is a senior at Michigan State University.  She is currently interning at City Pulse, a local alternative weekly, as a reporting intern. Tina is also a communcations/marketing intern with the Michigan Recreation and Park Association. When asked what she wants to with her life, Tina often changes her mind but one thing remains the same- she wants to help people in her surrounding community.