Living & Arts

'Flossy' fellowship revives old-school style

In print | April 21, 2005

Recently, there’s been a surge of sharply-dressed men on campus. No, I’m not talking about the baseball and lacrosse teams, who are forced to wear ties on game days.

A curiously titled movement called “Flossy Wednesdays” has invaded Swarthmore. And while the name might remind readers of dental hygiene rather than fashion, there’s quite a tale behind this term.

Flossy Wednesdays started in fall 2001 at different universities and colleges around the country, mainly at the University of Oregon and Johns Hopkins University.

“It was my older brother and a group of friends who wanted to stay connected,” Jonathan Petkun ‘07 said. "They didn’t have new-fangled telephones or thefacebook. All they had was Flossy Wednesdays." And so, every Wednesday, the boys primped themselves up. “While they couldn’t see each other, they knew that were creating solidarity — a brotherhood of Flossy,” Petkun said. And it can’t have hurt their chances with the ladies.

Then, early this semester, Petkun noticed two well-dressed first-year Willets residents and commented on their aggregate flossiness.

After some discussion, it was agreed that more flossiness would be pursued in the future. That day, the Swarthmore chapter of Flossy Wednesdays was born. And now, the movement is spreading.

Jim Pilkington ‘07, who recently joined the ranks, said, "I was in the bathroom one day, when the guy next to me started talking about Flossy Wednesdays. I thought, ’Hey, it’s different,’ realized I had quasi-dress clothes I never wear, and figured, why the hell not?"

The Wharton chapter, started by Ross Littauer ’08 and Tariq Fischer ’08, has taken Flossy to another level.

“When Suttie [Ryan Sutcliffe ‘08] first told me about it, I said ’What the hell is that?’” said Littauer. “But now I’m a big fan of the tie look, ‘cause you’ve got to look snazzy.”

There is certainly some minor rivalry going on between the Swarthmore chapters. Littauer defended his fellow Whartonite, saying, “Tariq’s got it down with the white shirt and the sleeves rolled up, but Sutcliffe dropped the ball with the jeans and a sweater. Not flossy.”

But who is to judge flossiness, which is a sort of je ne sais quoi?

“I’m the ultimate judge,” replied Sutcliffe.

Anticipating a fracas among the initiates, Petkun delivered these words of wisdom: “Flossiness is defined by the individual. For one, it’s suspenders and a bowtie. For another, it could be a well-starched shirt and a necktie. But it is seldom, if ever, collars-up.”

Only time will tell what is truly flossy and what is roadkill.

The members hope to make this a widespread and integral movement on campus.

“There are even certain female fringe members, who will remain unnamed, who we are trying to bring into the fold,” Petkun said.

And the Flossy Wednesday ideal is now a regular part of the initiates’ routine. “It’s something I look forward to,” Pilkington said. “I plan my outfit every Tuesday night, and I even drove home last night just to get a great outfit. And I definitely get more compliments from girls.”

Swatties will have to wait until next semester to see whether the movement becomes a firm entrenchment in the Swarthmore community or dies away slowly. But for now, the future looks bright.

“Girls definitely like a guy who’s dressed up,” Shlesha Thapaliya ’07 and Amber Zuberi ’07 agreed. “And a guy in a collared shirt is hot.”

That should provide some encouragement for the guys out there who are afraid to dress up, or simply don’t want to put in the effort.

“Just remember,” Petkun said, “bling is an essential component.”