Fashion is one of the many ways people can convey themselves. People can use it to express themselves, to display the culture they belong to, and to stand out or integrate themselves from the crowd. For some people, fashion is not only about looking good, but also about feeling good about themself.
“I represent what I like through it,” senior Hillary Carino said. “When I go to school, it’s important to wear a good outfit.”
She takes self-expression through clothing seriously. Some people use clothing as a form of expression because of its versatility. Each piece can have a story or meaning behind it that has a deeper meaning.
“I like dressing up, that’s my favorite thing,” Carino said. “Getting yourself ready boosts your confidence, [and] you feel better.”
The confidence Carino gets from her clothing builds her passion for the hobby. Creating outfits and feeling good in them inspires her to get through the day.
“What you wear can make you feel good,” she said. “If you are dressed good, you can feel good throughout the day, but when you wear lazy clothes, you feel lazy.”
For Carino, her confidence is dependent on her outfit and can change the outlook of her day.
Sophomore Kingston Norris shared a similar opinion.
“I don’t want people to look at me and think I wear the same thing every day,” Norris said, “I feel like that’s not a good view.”
He worries about being perceived negatively due to the way he dresses, and because of this, tries not to repeat outfits. If Norris dislikes his outfit, he says he can be annoyed and have a bad day.
“I just like being able to feel comfortable because it makes me happier,” Norris said. “It makes me feel better about what I’m wearing.”
Comfort is a significant factor in Norris’ clothing style, and is what he often prioritizes over aesthetic. Feeling comfortable makes him feel secure, which contributes to his overall confidence throughout the day.
“Wear what makes you happy,” Norris said.
Freshman Lena Watson says the clothes she wears aren’t her priority for an outlet for self-expression.
“They don’t have to express your values, but they should express the kind of person you are,” Watson said. “I feel like self-expression varies from person to person, but the clothes I wear aren’t really important to the way I express myself.”
Overall, she enjoys soft colors, including lots of pink and denim, and she prefers to stay warm and comfortable, claiming she usually runs cold. Freshman Benin Houton also doesn’t use clothes as his main form of self-expression, but he prioritizes looking good consistently.
“Kind of comfy, monochrome, lots of blacks and whites and grays,” Houton said. “It’s just something I think looks good.”
Senior Nathan Richter says his style is punk-inspired.
“I would call it soft-wannabe-punk. This denim jacket is a signature for me this year,” Richter said. “I also wear a lot of t-shirts. Sometimes they’re really comfortable. I really like [it] when things match.”
Richter says he’s noticed a lot more personal expression recently, especially with the juniors, who he’s noticed wearing bright colors.
Senior Jose Jimene suggests this is because upperclassmen feel more comfortable. After all, they have already gotten to know their classmates.
“It’s probably because we’re later in the year, so people are warming up and are more comfortable with the people around them. Seniors specifically,” said Jimene.
Jimene prefers simple clothes with a pop of color and doesn’t stress much over styling. He also uses jewelry to express his faith.
“My necklace is the Virgin Mary, and so it shows my Catholic faith. And then this [ring] is Saint Judas, which is also Catholic.”
While Jimene feels comfortable in his style, he wishes he felt like he could experiment more.
“I prefer to wear things I know I’m not going to get bullied in, like I’m gonna get stared at in the halls,” Jimene said, “I’d try to do a little more punk-ish style, but I’d still want to look somewhat approachable.”
Watson has noticed a bit of homogeneity with what others wear. She believes that even if teens are not afraid to stand out, they may want to have something in common with their friends.
“I feel like it’s a little bland, everyone’s wearing the same brands, too,” Watson said. “I don’t really look at brands when I’m buying clothes.”
Jimene says what hinders him from his preferred style is money and time.
“A bunch of things I want are quite spendy,” Jimene said. Also in the morning, I wouldn’t have the time or patience to put on a big outfit, so I wear whatever is most available.”
Sophomore Khloe Perry is immersed in her self-expression through fashion as well. One of her favorite outfits is an Ed Hardy zip-up with a tube top and low-rise jeans. Perry mentions that in this outfit, she feels amazing.
“If you want people to see you for you, and express yourself through your clothes, you should dress how you want to, not to fit in with other people,” Perry said. “Dressing how you want can really show how you are, and some of your personality.”
Perry likes to express herself through her clothing and feels confident when she does. She finds that being expressive through outfits allows others to build a stronger relationship with her.
“Me and my friends can bond over sharing clothes, and shopping at the same places together,” Perry said, “picking out things that we know we both like, then we both wear [them].” Some people use clothes as a way to connect. For Perry, clothing is about feeling connected. She uses clothing to bond with her friends and express herself by following the fashion trends of social media.
Clothing makes a difference not only in our appearance, but also in who we are as a person. How we dress can allow us to communicate with one another and feel comfortable in our own bodies.
“My clothes make me feel good,” Perry said. “I try to buy things that I know I will feel good in, and continue to wear, and feel comfortable while still feeling confident in them.”
