This article is one of the winning submissions from the first annual New York Post Scholars Contest, presented by Command Education.
As you scroll through your social media, the themes of fashion and style come up over and over again. Whether it’s to critique the industry, show off a new trend, or debate whether Hermès or H&M is “cuter”, it can seem like the only thing for a high schooler to do is follow what’s popular without pausing to discover personal preferences. However, there can be more underneath the surface of fashion than what appears. Below are some concepts teens can explore when trying to individualize their style:
Ethical purchasing: With new trends appearing every week and disappearing by the time the package could even ship, it is important to consider the impact that constant purchasing has on our world. The fashion industry is a big contributor to climate change, producing about 10% of the world’s carbon emissions. It is also an industry full of child labor and worker exploitation.
The main step you can take to help prevent these issues is to limit purchasing. This means making sure that each piece you buy is versatile, good-quality clothing that will last long.
However, this can be a challenging endeavor in a world where rewearing has become a taboo.
A more sustainable option is to strive to obtain clothing from ethical sources, such as brands that contribute to climate organizations or have public treatment policies in place for employees. Still, these brands can end up charging $200 for a sweatshirt in order to cover costs. One of the best ways to find ethically sourced clothing is to thrift it. Secondhand clothing purchases allow you to discover unique and interesting clothing that is also being saved from making a trip to the landfill. There are many cool thrift stores in the New York area, as well as online secondhand shopping options such as Thredup or Poshmark.
Finally, donating or passing on your old clothing is a great way to give those items new life. As you acquire new clothing, a good way to make sure old trends are not being hidden behind the new is to aim to get rid of one item for each you buy. In addition, the next time you thrift for five hours, bring a bag of old clothes to donate as well.
Differentiating trends and preferences: It can be hard to see so many influencers all wearing the same outfits and not want to twin with them. But when the trends have moved on, are you really going to want to rewear the exact blue and white argyle print sweater vest?
Microtrends, which are very specific items of clothing that become rapidly popular and even faster become so-last-week, threaten ethically sourced clothing even being a possibility for brands. By the time companies can produce the fads of the week, they are long forgotten. A good way to combat this is when you find a new item you absolutely must have, wait a week or two before impulsively clicking “buy now”. This way, you can see if you truly love it regardless of if your favorite influencer tells you it’s a must-have.
To find your personal style, look at what you wear the most when no one is judging you. Once you know what you gravitate towards, you can keep an eye out for what you love rather than what the world tells you to love.
Keeping comfy: Even with tight jeans and suffocating corsets trending, it is so necessary for students to be able to stay comfortable. After many people got used to wearing sweats, hoodies and slippers as a daily uniform throughout the end of 2020, it can be hard to jump back into outfits that fit in with the school environment.
The easiest solution to this problem is to decide you do not care and wear pajamas every day. Find your favorite sweatpants and warmest zip up and you’re good to go each morning. By dressing casually, you can ensure maximum convenience and prevent distraction as a result of smothering garments.
However, some people wish to feel a little more dressed up and put together for school. It can sometimes be challenging to fill your wardrobe with items that are both comfortable and make you look good, but some styles do fit the bill. Try swapping hoodies for soft graphic tee shirts, messy buns for somewhat messy braids and slippers for sneakers. A high school favorite is flare leggings, which are just as comfortable as joggers but a bit more flattering.
The most significant action you can take when considering clothing choices is to not overthink it. Even though it can seem like everyone has some cool new style, always remember it’s just high school, not an everyday fashion show.
A 10th-grader at The Leffell School in Hartsdale, NY, Hammerman intends to become an education policy analyst.