Fashion trends in today’s world are heavily influenced by social media, celebrities, and fast-fashion brands. Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest are major hubs for fashion inspiration, where influencers and celebrities showcase the latest styles. These trends emphasize bold and unique clothing pieces, such as oversized clothing, vintage-inspired looks, and streetwear.
Fast fashion brands quickly replicate these high-fashion trends, making them accessible to the public at affordable prices. This rapid cycle means that new trends emerge frequently, encouraging constant change in people’s styles.
Teens and young adults are particularly involved in these fashion trends, often feeling pressured to keep up with the latest styles to fit in or stand out among their friends.
This can lead to overconsumption where people excessively purchase and wear clothes, shoes, jewelry, and other items such as bags and masks to stay trendy. They desperately want to fit into social standards or be seen as fashionable resulting in a wardrobe full of items that are only worn a couple of times before being thrown out. This cycle of overuse and waste impacts personal finances and contributes to environmental issues, as the fast fashion industry is a significant source of pollution and waste.
I recently discussed fashion trends with students at Rangeview High School, and they shared some interesting insights.
“Certain things look good on certain people…fashion is all about what fits and looks good on you” or “people’s taste in clothing can be very questionable,” were the majority of the comments being heard throughout the student population.
While some people such as Faith Schmeling believe that outfits have to have some sort of coordination to be called a “fit” Hermela Tsegaye reflects these opinions by saying, “Fashion can be anything that it’s meant to be. No matter how it looks.”
Even if something is trendy, it might only suit some. Students prefer to pick styles that match their personalities which shows they understand that fashion is more about feeling good in what you wear rather than just following what’s popular.
When interviewed, numerous Rangeview students agreed with most of the current fashion trends. The trends they had the most to say about were:
- Purple jeans: Although very popular all over social media as well as Rangeview, when seen wearing these jeans with tags, it shows off their high price and the importance of the brand. Most students believe that purple jeans are a stylish trend and encourage wearing them at school.
- Sprayground Backpacks: When walking around Rangeview hallways, backpacks that are often seen are Sprayground backpacks which have become a huge hit over the last few years. Students frequently say “just don’t get the Galaxy Sprayground backpacks” or to avoid certain designs which shows that not all popular items are equally valued. This reflects a critical engagement with fashion, where students actively shape and respond to today’s trends.
- Boxed Tees/Balenciaga Sneakers Combo: There have recently been a lot of guys wearing boxed tees, which are boy crop tops that stop right at the waste line. This topic sparks mixed feelings. Some students think these “questionable-looking shirts” should go, while many boys argue they’re trendy. Many people post and wear them to school often, saying, “the outfits just look better with a full shirt.” or “it just doesn’t match with skinny jeans and looks better with more loose jeans.” Either way, this debate over boy crop tops has some students saying, “wearing bulky shoes, skinny jeans, and a boxed tee just don’t fit right”. While some students feel that full shirts are more aesthetically pleasing, the very presence of this debate signifies a shift towards more inclusive and diverse fashion choices. This reflects a broader societal move towards questioning and redefining gender norms and expectations.
- Baggy Clothes:This brings us to baggy clothes, a lot of people voted for baggy clothes being a good trend, and baggy clothes have been trendy since the 1980s. A student replied, “baggy clothes look good on anyone, they’re easy to style, appropriate for school, and don’t break the dress code”. – Karolina Vann.
- Sambas Shoes: Also known as the “bowling ball shoes,” the popularity of samba shoes has quickly increased among students despite some confusion about how to style them. This trend, like others, showcases the cyclical nature of fashion, where old styles often come back with a modern twist.
These fashion trends at Rangeview High School illustrate how clothing and accessories are more than just items. Students navigate their identities, peer relationships, and societal expectations through their choices. In this context, fashion becomes more like an influential force, shaping and reflecting the values of the youth culture in today’s world and its reflection through Rangeview Raiders!
