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What the hell happened?

How is it September again?

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• Vickie Chang
• Fashion and Style
• Food and Cooking

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September means summer is almost over—that magical, lovely time of the year when all the fashion weirdoes start building up their stupidly expensive fall/winter wardrobes, the students mourn, the music festivals with interchangeable lineups end and, if you're like me, the depression kicks in because I hate crawling out of bed when it's not even 70 degrees out.

September's also the time for last-ditch efforts to savor the warm weather with a veritable deluge of pool parties and barbecues. Everyone's scrambling around, attempting to make the most of what's left.

People talk about how much they love the winter—waxing poetic about hand-knit wool scarves, cups of hot cocoa, Christmas, pea coats, and how the fucking rain sounds against their window panes or something.

You're all crazy.

From a strictly superficial viewpoint, it's just too damn difficult to look good when it's cold out. While we here in Southern California are lucky that a hoodie is good enough for even February temperatures, think of the massive, heavy layers you'd have to don elsewhere. Besides, a good coat just costs way too much.

And so it is: I love the summertime. Throw on a dress, some sandals, a T-shirt or jeans, and you're good.

So let's try this again: Remember what I said about guys not having a lot of clothing options, let alone warm-weather clothing? Pool parties and barbecues are the best showcases of this—most dudes tend to stick to saggy Rip Curl board shorts, ill-fitting denim shorts, wifebeaters and tees.

And how many times have you heard a guy remark that he'd rather wear a full-on pair of jean pants than look "faggy" (true story—don't you love American youth?) in shorts? While some males opt for reeeally short shorts, like the way-too-popular American Apparel track shorts, that route isn't for the hairy-legged or faint of heart.

This dude, spotted at Summer Pool Party No. 15, has achieved a happy medium. The striped, yellow-and-green slim-fit tank top lengthens him. The cute olive-green military cap looks good andblocks the sun, and the rolled-up gunmetal-gray jeans were just practical enough that he didn't roast.

See, guys? He looks good. Hip, even. And he's not all covered-up.

And there's that can of Bud, which goes great with any season.

—Vickie Chang