Do you ever stop in our hallways and notice something weird about everybody’s clothes? Recently, the huge push online to have the right “aesthetic” made almost all of us begin dressing in the same manner. It’s wild how attempting to look unique has made our personal style at school boring. We’ve all been chasing the same simple, minimalistic looks, and it really does show when you see everybody together during lunch in the commons.
Now, think about the easiest, safest outfit you saw someone wear today. I bet it was a hoodie and basic sweatpants. Seriously, we see so many people trying to look different, but they somehow picked the same five pieces everyone else bought. Back when fashion was truly fun, people wore huge, bold colors or real statement pieces like a cool vintage jacket or maybe a crazy print that genuinely showed off who they were. But now, the digital aesthetic has us thinking minimalism is the only way to be chic. Everything is simple, clean, and totally predictable. It feels like we put in the least amount of effort possible just to look like everyone else.
The irony is that the whole point of fashion is visual self-expression. We could be doing so much more to showcase our personalities and our creativity, yet we don’t. We’re too worried about wearing something that doesn’t fit the frame or look good in photos. That pressure to keep things “clean” and “simple” means those real statement pieces—the items that actually make you stop and look—are missing from our school halls.
And yeah, I’m the same. I realized I was part of this effect when, opening my closet, I saw nothing but plain sweaters and sweatpants. It’s just easier to blend in rather than stand out. The real challenge is to ignore that pressure and just wear what makes you feel great.
THE NORTH STAR 