In a rather progressive fashion, Briar Woods’ dress code took a 180  this school year: at long last, students are free to express themselves through their clothes.

When walking the halls of Briar Woods, one can see an array of aesthetics: comfy, casual, formal, and athletic wear makes up the collage of students’ fashion. So what are students’ go-to outfits for the school day? Junior Sohayla Reimer says her go-to style “depends on the weather.” She went on to say that her style isn’t prominent and often changes with what’s trending. It’s not only females who have a say on in-school fashion, but males too. “I usually just wear jeans and a t-shirt,” said Sophomore Jack Colbert. When asked if he enjoys changing his style from time to time, he responded with a subtle “yes.”

Fashion this year would be nowhere without the lack of dress code enforcement, and students often have mixed feelings about it. While some believe it was put in place to provide a guideline for appropriate, somewhat professional school attire, others deduce it was instilled to restrict inner expression, especially for female students. “People can wear whatever they want; it’s weird,” said Junior Geniya Karatkova when asked about the vast changes in the dress code.  “It’s pretty misogynistic [the dress code],” Senior Roma Angalkudru added. It is rather interesting how “weird” is the word one would use to describe student’s freedom to wear whatever they desire, as that notion may already be implied. However, efforts to make a change in these matters weren’t attempted until this past summer. 

Changes in the county’s dress code were made in mid-July. In order to make them less restrictive, new ideas regarding alterations – especially toward female students – were brought to the attention of various board members. Bans on hooded sweatshirts, tube tops, and pajama pants were a hotly debated topic as many faculty members found those articles of clothing to be the most concerning in school settings. However, the bans failed to pass and no further restrictions were made. That being said, the former dress code debates, which were always center stage, have taken a seat in the nosebleed section and are barely audible.

Style matters, and these new freedoms have been received with great enthusiasm. “You can express yourself in many ways,” Karatkova said while talking about the importance of fashion. Clothes not only allow for individuality and a sense of je ne sais quoi, but may also give others a clue as to how someone is doing or feeling. “What you’re wearing [a lot of times] shows how you’re actually doing mentally,” said Reimer. So it doesn’t matter if you decide to dress up or dress down this school year, just remember the power of fashion and its influence on day-to-day life. 

It’s only appropriate to end with the words of Roma Angalkudru: “Fashion is definitely a part of who you are.”