To wear, or not to wear?

By Aisya Shurfa

There are a few guidelines regarding what we can and cannot wear on the UM campus, but this shouldn’t be an excuse for students to dress like they’ve just rolled out of bed and continued rolling all the way to classes.

While UM students should be thankful for not having to suffer from a strict dress code (like the formalwear-only one imposed upon UUM students), there are a few rules that they still have to adhere to. No skimpy skirts that exceed four inches above the knees; No tight pants that appear to have been painted on the legs; No pakaian menjolok mata, which loosely translates to ‘no clothes that make the eyeballs of onlookers pop out of their sockets’.

(Above: UM's dress code poster, which can be found on bulletin boards throughout campus)

Sure, dress codes may seem to restrict freedom of expression, but this does not mean students should grab whatever frumpy, grubby outfit they can find and wear them to lectures and tutorials. Yet this is exactly how most students choose to dress.

‘Students here at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FSSS) look anything but arty,’ says Idham*, an undergraduate from the FSSS.

When asked to describe how students here typically dress, Idham did not have anything nice to say. ‘Typically, the Malay girls here dress embarrassingly. Tight pants and tight tops, matched with the hijab.’ He points out that the hijab when worn along with tight clothes is completely useless, as the point of the hijab is to cover women’s aurat.

‘Most of the guys here all dress the same,’ he adds.’ Boring tatty old T-shirts paired with yesterday’s jeans. They look most unattractive and smelly.’

Idham’s statement may sound harsh, but it had to be said. It’s a sad, sad reality. But at least it forces female students to concentrate on more important things – like studying.

Lydiana*, another student from the FSSS agrees with Idham. ‘Not to be racist, or anything, but most Malay girls here don’t know how to dress well. The Chinese and Indians aren’t so bad, though. Even though nearly everyone here looks really dull, at least the Chinese and Indian look more presentable.’

Presentable. That’s the keyword.

We’re not asking you to go out and spend your student loan on the latest Chanel bag or waste your allowances on a pair of trendy skinny jeans from True Religion. Far from it. Following fashion trends is hardly affordable for students, plus it’s unnecessary (unless you’re a fashion student). What students should aim for is to look presentable.

‘Overdressing is just as bad as under dressing,’ says Madam Azimah, a lecturer from the Centre for Foundation Studies, International Islamic University Malaysia. ‘It’s unacceptable to wear clothes that make people feel disgusted to be near you, and it’s unacceptable if you wear clothes that can attract too much attention, as you will only distract people from their real purpose of being in university—which is to study. ’

So what does Madam Azimah expect students to wear to her classes? That’s right. ‘Anything presentable.’

But what constitutes ‘presentable’?

‘What’s presentable to one person might not be to the next,’ says Asmawi, an undergraduate from UUM.

UUM is infamous for having a strict dress code which requires male students to wear ties at all times, and prohibits slippers, short skirts and tops with short sleeves.

(Above: UUM's dress code)

‘The UUM dress code is over the top,’ he explains. ‘It’s suffocating to us, and there’s no point of having it in the first place. We’re only students, it’s not like we’re working in offices already.’

‘UM students should be thankful their dress code isn’t as strict, but this doesn’t mean they should wear whatever they want, like toilet slippers and bikinis, for example. I think what everyone can agree on is that to be presentable is to dress comfortably in clothes that other people are comfortable with, too.’

‘The worst thing to see in class is someone else’s bum crack peeping out of their tight jeans,’ says Idham grimly. ‘It’s just distracting, not to mention plain nasty.’

There you have it.

For those who may have thought that clothes are the least important thing you should care about when you’re in university, think again. Dressing appropriately and being presentable is actually being considerate towards other people. So the next time you’re choosing what to wear to class, pick something that’s not too flamboyant, and never reach for that blouse that’s been lying under your bed for the past week—Unless you’re picking it up to throw into the washing machine.

*Some names have been changed to protect privacy.