“All Hallow’s Eve. The one day of the year it's socially acceptable to play dress-up. The only question is, who do you want to be?”
Tonight, college students will be asking the same question as Gossip Girl in the 2009 episode “How to Succeed in Bassness.” Some of us scramble to pull together last-second costumes (I’m deciding how a construction vest, pirate bandana, and aviator sunglasses will coalesce); others are methodical (friends of mine have their “Challengers” outfits ready to go). Whether you’re me or my more prepared friends, the occasion calls for a mix of creativity and spontaneity.
Unlike ragtag outfits worn a couple nights out every October, Crew Dog mascots are always in costume, pulling off all kinds of styles year-round. This versatility is able to capture each club or school’s range of qualities.
Just take a look at our Yale collection—the bulldog takes on several personas. First, he’s an artsy skater, board under paw; then, he’s draped in timeless prep, hands comfortably in pockets; finally, he’s a seasoned rower, brandishing an oar.
Crew Dog resonates with students because our designs aren’t merely aesthetically pleasing, they’re also a mirror into our own individuality. They play on the fact that we dress up—not intentionally and overtly as we do on Halloween—but subconsciously, and as ourselves.
Which raises the question, Are we, too, in costume year-round?
It’s no surprise most students take after the primary tenets of Crew Dog. It’s easy to point to what makes our college experience special. My friends and I love exploring campus, and we always cruise around on our bikes. The humor magazine I’m on involves an initiation ritual, where members uphold century-old traditions. And of course, we’re always up for a weekend adventure, curating playfully stylish outfits.
But this isn’t a childish game of “dress up,” and the question Gossip Girl poses, “Who do you want to be?” is something we’re constantly asking ourselves.
Our “costumes” are real, but function in a rather ephemeral manner. My gym athletic wear is drastically different from my formal attire, for example. So when I look at Crew Dog’s signature bulldog, whatever outfit he sports, whatever piece of clothing he’s embroidered onto, he retains his core qualities that transcend a vast multiplicity of interests. When I look at him, he’s strong, yet simultaneously has a nostalgic warmth.
What remains constant, then, is the kind of person we are and strive to be. Depending on where we are or who we’re with, we adapt to suit the environment or crowd. But we’re still uniquely us. We go through countless transformations in our days, which are much more subtle and difficult to pinpoint compared with when we excitedly throw on our Halloween costumes each year. The plurality of all the minor transformations we experience, combined with a consistent and robust sense of self, is what allows our humanity to shine through.
Which is why the Crew, myself included, are stoked to put on our costumes tonight. After all, we like to dress up, and not just on Halloween.
XOXO,
The Crew