With the overhaul of society’s fashion trends, our school has become a—for lack of a better word—“copy and paste” when it comes to clothing. The popularity of athletic and athleisure wear threatens individuality and self-expression, specifically when everyone wears the same things.
Nowadays I feel like at least 70% of BSM’s senior high students wear leggings, cropped zip-ups, sweatpants, or pajama pants daily. As someone who loves to have a unique style and would hate being put in a box, I wish more students would try different styles without caring about how others will receive them.
I’m not asking everyone to wear bold outfits every day or completely change their closet, but instead, to branch out a little bit. For those who feel pressure to always fit in by wearing popular clothing, you’ll seem way more interesting and be respected for having your own style. It’s usually the people who go out of the norm by wearing dresses, unique jeans, or even go all out for dress-up days that have more fun.
I used to always care what people thought about my clothing, but now I’ve taken a different perspective. My outfits should reflect my authentic self, my beliefs, and how I want to present myself. When I dress up for school in an outfit that makes me feel confident, it’s easier to stay focused and motivated to do work. My style is unique because of the variety in what I wear. Somedays, I only want to wear sweatpants and a sweatshirt, but most days I try to show off my willingness to be seen as an individual through my flare, wide-legged, or low-rise jeans with a corresponding top.
It can be scary to wear something that seems out of the ordinary, but most people notice it in the best way. The first time I wore a dress to school was on a Mass day, which was empowering. I not only felt better about myself but many people gave me compliments, which made me feel seen instead of going unnoticed. Since my peers often only see me as a quiet and shy girl, when I’m able to show off my authentic personality through unique outfits, I’m a lot more likely to have a big smile on my face and stand up taller.
This is also just a message to everyone out there who is too afraid to wear what they really want. Wear that dress. Wear those shoes. Wear that shirt someone made a joke about last year that you actually really love. Wear the lipstick. Wear the duckie pajama pants. It is so much more fun to not care about what others think of your outfits. If you want to be accepted as your most authentic self, it all starts with how you present yourself. The more and more you let go of how you think you’re supposed to look or act, the easier it is to love yourself and the world around you.