Fashion provides a platform not only for self-expression but for building confidence and for honoring identity. Personal style, for everyone, is shaped by past experiences, values, and the communities that surround us.
Zane Olivadott-Peters, a third year English major minoring in political science, offered these simple words: “Fashion is a really good way to express how you want people to see you without having to say anything.”
Our experiences shape not only the people we are and who we are becoming, but also how we style ourselves. We evolve over time, and our style evolves with us. Figuring out who you are can be a difficult task, but fashion provides a beautiful way forward. A way to express personal identity throughout the process.
The transition from high school to college is monumental and is often a pivotal point in students’ lives. It’s the first time most students are on their own, making decisions about their lives, finding communities to be a part of, and creating first impressions. Deciding how to present yourself in a new environment is a vital part of this transformation.
“In my most recent years [fashion] is something I’ve come to care about more, just presenting myself in the look I want to be noticed in…I think of it more as a personal expression, a way to tell what type of person you are,” offered Tate Ariola, a third year design innovation management student.
Being perceived by others is part of life, but fashion can be used to write that narrative ourselves. As we navigate through school, personal style becomes a social expression just as much as an individual one; a way to shape how we are viewed.
Style is cultivated through time and lived experiences. “In high school, I just wore skinny jeans and sweatshirts every single day, ’cause that was just, I don’t know, easy. But I feel like over COVID I got to have a little bit more fun with trying on different things,” said Abby Curtis, a fourth year political science student.
We make clothing choices every morning when we get dressed, but fashion is more than just the clothes you choose to put on your body. Fashion is a way to build confidence in the person you’re becoming.
Destiny Neal, a second year student, shared her experiences of finding herself through her style. When asked about how her younger self would perceive her style now, she answered, “I think they’d be really surprised that I’m wearing feminine stuff. They’d be like, ‘You have long hair and you’re wearing tank tops? Like, what?’”
Fashion is deeper than an item of clothing; it is not superficial or frivolous; it represents who we are and who we are becoming.
