Uniforms

One of the many reasons I love going to public school is that we don't have to wear uniforms. Just the thought of turning my head and seeing someone in the exact same outfit as me is terrifying. I feel like if our school had a uniform, it would take away the ability for students to express themselves through their own personal styles. For some people, that's the only way they express themselves. For me, I definitely express myself through fashion, but through music and photography as well.

So even though our school is uniform-free, we still have managed to create a uniform for ourselves, even if it's not required. Next time you're walking down the hallway, look around you. How many girls do you see wearing combinations of sweatshirts, sweatpants, Uggs, and jeans? For some reason, trends have been set stating:

• tight pants are more flattering than jeans
• Uggs are cuter than real boots
• dressing like a slob in sweatpants and a sweatshirt in the same outfit is okay

I admit, I was one of these people in 7th grade. I always followed the trends, waiting to see what color & style uggs would be "in" this season, and emptying my wallet on expensive Juicy Couture sweatsuits. I was too afraid to wear my own clothes because it wasn't what everyone else was wearing. In 8th grade I started to break the habit a little bit, trying to eliminate the days of sweatpant wearing, and trying to never wear a sweatshirt. Instead, I filled my closet up with warm sweaters, that took the place of sweatshirts. Not only were they cuter, but they took up less space in my very crowded closet (my closet bar actually broke at one point because of all the sweatshirts weighing it down.) I also spent a lot of money on brands. Cheap and comfortable jeans from Delia's or Levi's were not acceptable to me. They had to be from Abercrombie, or Hollister, or True Religion, because that's what all the 'cool' kids were wearing. My drawers was filled with tight, unflattering shirts that said Abercrombie and Fitch across the chest. I was so self-conscious about what brands and labels I was wearing, I failed to notice how terrible I had been dressing. So at the end of eighth grade, I spend a whole week cleaning out my drawers and closet, getting rid of any tight, unattractive shirts or pants that I would never ever wear again. With all that extra space, I went shopping at new stores like Urban Outfitters, H&M, Free People, Nordstroms, and Forever 21, and found really cute pieces that I fell in love with. 

Throughout my middle school experience, my style has matured so much, and for the better. I'm still very self-conscious about what people think of me and my clothes, but whenever someone compliments my outfit, it motivates me to always dress nice! Which is why at the start of this year, I made a style pact with myself. 

Try as hard as you can to never wear uggs, sweatpants, or sweatshirts to school.

 Even if I'm having a bad day, walking into school in sweats makes me feel sloppy and messy. Now I'm not saying you should never wear sweatpants ever again. I wear sweatpants, just not to school. Sweatpants are a great style piece for those lazy weekends when you're sitting in your house doing homework, or a quick coffee run to McDonalds, when you won't be seeing anyone important. But during the week, it's not that hard to throw on a pair of jeans and a pretty shirt for a presentation. Same for sweatshirts. It's not like you shouldn't wear sweatshirts! I find them comfortable at times, but I substitute the bulkiness of a sweatshirt, for a warm cardigan or sweater. And even if you are wearing a sweatshirt, wear a skirt with tights on bottom to still look cute and comfy at the same time. As for uggs, I personally am not a fan. They're very comfortable, and are great slippers for around the house, but stuffing jeans into them is not my style. Also, the appearance of riding or combat boots, are just more attractive in my eyes than black or chestnut uggs. But these shoes are really a yes/no decision for you. Many people think they look good with certain outfits, so go for it! Others may find that uggs make the outfit fall apart. It's all up to you. 

So I hope I didn't bore you to death with this post; I've been trying to put these feelings down on paper for a really long time. Remember, always be yourself and never be afraid to express your own style! xxx