With so many students in the school, one can find a huge variation of styles and clothing choices. For some, the school hallways are equivalent to a runway. For others, they might as well be walking to their bed instead of class. There are certain clothing and accessory choices that can be seen on a large majority of students while some students have standout styles that stray from the norm. Why do students dress the way they do? Do they dress for comfort, conformity or dress to impress? Students in the hallways were asked about their outfit decisions and discussed what goes through their minds when they get dressed and go shopping.
Senior, Zack Youcha:
“I am wearing my New Balance shoes, my bunny with a bowtie sock and my McDonalds striped socks… these are sage pants, slightly too baggy. I have my leather belt on, my only belt… my orange boxer briefs on… and my long sleeve Qatar Airways shirt from Unique. [I wear] just the clothes I have, I just find the cheapest thing…I wear a lot of GoodWill because I have to buy all my own clothes… Peer pressure also influences my style…”
Anonymous:
“I am wearing the most comfortable sweatpants ever, Sperries, a long sleeve shirt and a North Face type thing because it is Monday and raining and I feel disgusting… Today [I am dressing] for comfort but usually I dress to impress… I wear a lot of J.Crew and Vineyard Vines… I have conformed so much [since freshman year].”
Senior, Jessica Williams:
“I am wearing jeans and a t-shirt because it is comfortable. [Freshman year] I did not wear pajamas [like I do now].”
Sophomore, Lili Almosd:
“I wear old clothing like from different centuries and the 1900’s because that is what I feel comfortable in… I feel like [my clothes] represent who I am. I really couldn’t care what people think.”
Senior, Erin Sweeney:
“You caught me on a really bad day…I am just wearing something super comfortable. I went with leggings and today is a rainy day, so I wore a sweatshirt. I wore some fun socks to spice things up.”
Sophomore, Clarence Wright:
“I am wearing a green polo with jeans and Huaraches because I like it… I wear [my clothes] for style, it brings out my black culture.”
Sophomore, Emma Hutchison:
“My [black] jeans are from TopShop, my shirt is from Nordstroms and my shoes are from Puma. [My style] is more girly and a little edgy sometimes… I dress [this way] because I get excited about wearing cool clothes, I think it is fun to dress up for school.”
Freshman, Emily Roberts:
“It is blackout [spirit day] for Junior Varsity (JV) soccer.”
Junior, Becca Holsinger:
“I am wearing ripped jeans with converse and a white shirt… most of my clothes are pretty comfortable but I like to make them a little stylish.”
Senior, Erin Patton:
“Right now I am wearing Rainbow flip flops, my black yoga pants that I got from Target that are covered in dog hair, my Red Sox shirt that I stole from my brother that’s a little too small and my hair is in a messy bun that I woke up in… I forgot we had school today so I just put on something that was kind of clean.”
Senior, Lucille Sherlock:
“I am wearing these ugly Nike running shoes that I got freshman year, leggings and this University of Virginia (UVA) t-shirt from my mom that I spilt coffee on this morning and I am wearing my brothers rain jacket that’s a little too small.”
Senior, Cooper Moss:
“I am wearing Doc Martens that I’ve had for six years, these dirty jeans because I have not done laundry in a month and a half and this shirt that smelled kinda bad so I also put on this overshirt… For the most part the majority of the clothes I buy are from thrift stores so I guess it’s more of a fashion thing, I like looking dirty and wearing clothes I don’t care about.”
Junior, Melanie Hanclich:
“I am wearing a dress and a little cardigan over it and some flip flops. I was hoping that by wearing this outfit it would make it warmer outside. I like looking nice but lots of times you just gotta go with some sweats and a t-shirt.”
Most students choose comfort over couture. There is a clear pattern between upper and lower classmen: lower classmen have a tendency to try harder on their wardrobe than upperclassmen. Some students were candid about the fact that what others around them are wearing has influenced their style choices throughout their time in highschool. Some students dress to the nines while others feel they dress to the mines. School clothing has different meanings to different people, but it seems that everyone believes in being comfortable with who they are and in what they are wearing and that is the best kind of style there is.
