by Morgan Hill

In high school, caring about fashion and the manner in which one dresses can seem superficial. Fashion is a form of expression, just like writing, painting, or dancing; but sadly, it is not accepted as such. Fashion is a manifestation of one’s identity. It is an extension of the self and can be manipulated to convey a message without words, whether it be about one’s mood, personality, or attitude.

In each issue of The Warrior this year, Samantha and I have addressed multiple trends that have passed through the school. While trends aren’t always a bad thing, the boring, thoughtless ones that have emerged this year just might be. Without thinking, more and more people dress themselves similar to, or the same as, their classmates. As we said in our last column, it is common for high schoolers to see a person or a group of people wearing something, and to then assume that’s what they should be wearing too. Doing this destroys the possibility of expressing oneself through fashion.

My style and the manner in which I dress is not indeliberate. I am often asked why I dress “so nicely” for school. Wearing a well-put together outfit of nicer clothes makes me more productive, and should I revert back to my sophomore year self, dressing in sweatshirts each day, I’d likely find myself too tired and lazy to do my work by the time third period rolls around. The way I dress conveys, if not to others than at least to myself, what it is that I want out of the day. If you don’t care about what you wear each day and dress accordingly, this also makes a statement about where priorities lie.

It may seem vain in a way that other forms of self expression are not, but fashion is an important tool in expressing oneself; and expressing oneself is something we all should hope to master by the time we graduate.