Remember in the ’50s when women wore dresses and men wore suits? As one may notice, those trends are not as popular in today’s generation, and the norms have shifted. People all around the world are trading fashionable clothing for comfortable sweats and leggings. Many people are saddened to think about hoodies being more popular than more elegant clothes. A big worry is that the new generation is losing its class and becoming a laid-back society in which anything is acceptable.

One may wonder if this is because new styles such as sweatpants and hoodies are more appealing to the eye, or if it is purely based on comfort. Students at Benilde-St. Margaret’s have differing opinions on the matter. “I feel like most people appreciate today’s fashion more just because it’s more comfortable, and there’s a wide variety of things to wear, women don’t have to wear dresses and stuff all the time,” Sophomore Sophia Walters said.

There’s also a factor of social media, and what people are seeing online that is inspiring their everyday fashion choices. Many influencers have turned towards sweatpants and sweatshirts, often promoting brands or merchandise of different companies, which inspires followers to purchase those clothing items. “I feel like I’m more just influenced by what other people are wearing on social media and just whatever people wear at school,” Walters said.

Another side of this debate is that many people believe the fashion trends today are too sloppy; styles in the past were more acceptable and elegant. With the expectation that many women wore more elegant dresses and men wore trousers and suits in the past, it is surprising for most people to see that in today’s age, sweatpants and hoodies are normalized globally. “I think it’s kind of sad to see how it’s changed,” Sophomore Paige Kadlec said.

Many people also worry about part of these styles simply being teens in our new generation conforming to what the rest of society is practicing and wearing. Many teens wonder if it is still possible to maintain their own sense of style while still staying in the loop. “I feel like a lot of people have their own style, and it’s a lot more normal to wear what you want,” Kadlec said.

In general, most agree that fashion has changed, but there is still a good diversity of styles. Returning to a society where everyone dresses more classily and elegantly is likely improbable, as it seems people enjoy the comfort of socially acceptable clothes in today’s generation. “I like to wear sweatpants a lot, and athletic leggings, stuff like that,” Walters said.