Collegiate Times

Decked in my cubic zirconias, my co-ed honors fraternity letters, a fake-me-out Tiffany?s bracelet from Nordstrom, my fake Wallabees and my official Vera Bradley designer bag, I walk across the Drillfield, embarrassed to think I look like one of ?them.? I have somehow transformed myself into the typical female college student. Don?t get me wrong, the style is cute, but being cute comes with a dangerous stereotype. It?s the bag. It puts me over the edge. I knew it was a bad idea, but like so many other girls, I swear I had it before everyone else.

For those not in the loop, Vera Bradley is an overpriced name-brand bag that has taken over college campuses. I am fed up with the constant teasing for carrying a ?diaper bag? or being asked if I joined a sorority. My professor even remarked how the fabric designs look like ?a garden threw up.?

It took me a while to understand the magnitude of the Vera appeal. I received the ?Villager? in ?Seaport Navy? as a graduation present from high school. Upon opening my gift, I scrunched my face in disgust, and asked my mom if I had to be retired in order to sport one. She reassured me a receipt was inside, and you can bet your favorite Louis Vuitton handbag I returned it. I couldn?t believe my ears when the cashier informed me I had a $68 credit ? 68 big ones for an old fart?s purse? Unbelievable! The only problem now was finding $68 worth of candles, over-the-hill birthday cards and porcelain cats.

I thought this task was impossible until my mom drew my attention to the Pink Pansy Tote; I admitted it was quirky and exchanged it for the other.

Now everywhere you look, the Vera Bradley cult has branded a secret society of sorority girls, trendy princesses and fashion divas in the know. How did I, the girl who likes to stand out from the crowd, get labeled as one of ?them?? I mean, I might as well pop my collar and tuck my Mavi jeans into my suede Uggs.

Throughout my many phases in the world of fashion, I have come to find no one is truly innovative; we all play off each other, and we?re all conscious of it, too. So the next time you see the girl in the oversized pearls with the ?American Red,? ?Jasmine,? ?Maison Blue? or ?Silk Pistachio? paisley Vera, just know they know you know they know it?s trendy.