A remarkable change washes over Northwestern students when the weather finally shapes up with the start of spring. All winter we’ve swaddled our pale and shivering selves in as many layers as we could. Our noses were runny, our cheeks pink with frostbite and our eyes watering from the incessant wind. It wasn’t a pretty sight.

But when the sun comes out it’s like a whole new population inhabits NU. A much more attractive, well-dressed and well-adjusted population. Sun dresses and short skirts come out of the closet and sandals flip and flop across campus. But there are a few things every NU student should be aware of as they dress for the lovely (by Chicago standards) weather.

Beware the Wind:
It was a beautiful day in Evanston last week and I decided it was finally time to wear one of the cute new sundresses I had purchased in eager (and somewhat premature) anticipation of spring. I took one step outside my dorm and immediately a gust of Chicago’s infamous wind threatened to sweep the hem of my dress up to my waist right in the middle of the fraternity quad. A flouncy skirt or dress is lots of fun, but be prepared to have your arms pinned to your side during your walk down Sheridan Road or risk an unfortunate Paris Hilton-esque moment.

Bland Colors:
Black clashes with the newly green trees and smattering of tulips around campus. Accent your outfits with daffodil yellow and cobalt blue pieces. Some psychologists claim that bright colors even reflect better moods. This should be helpful as exams and final papers rapidly approach.

Yes, it’s warm but you still have to wear some clothes:
Warm weather means fewer clothes but don’t go too overboard. Sixty-five degrees may seem like a heat wave but it doesn’t warrant walking around in just a mini-skirt and a bikini top. Avoid skirts and shorts that leave little to the imagination and keep the cleavage to a minimum. Choose to cover up and maybe even play around with the 1940’s inspired clothing lines that hit the stores for this season. Look for retro blouses and dresses or skirts that emphasize the waistline.

Shoe Smarts:
I am somewhat notorious among my friends for wearing inappropriate shoes. I tend to take out my flip-flops and sandals the first day that the weather hits 60 degrees, and I refuse to put them away again until October. This doesn’t bode well for days when the temperature fluctuates in thirty degree increments in a matter of hours or for sudden downpours of rain. And while heels are fun, sometimes they aren’t suitable for that daily walk to class. Try out some peep-toe flats in a bright color to mix it up a little for spring (Francesca’s Boutique in Evanston had some cute yellow ones that I fell for).

I would like to note that in the two short days it’s taken me to write this column the temperature has dropped from a lovely 80 degrees back down to a chilly 50. Maybe your friends at home (who are all out of school by now) have nice weather and they can tell you what it’s like. Meanwhile, resist the temptation to pull your Uggs back out of the closet.