“Are you dressed for school or for a fashion show?”
The most fashionable kids know this phrase all too well. However, fashion is so much more than just the clothes you put on every day. It’s a way of expression, having fun with your identity, and accessorising yourself with the details that make you who you are.
For sophomore Zaire Jarvis, the world of fashion has been present throughout her life. “Growing up, both my parents were huge fashion fanatics, and I actually did modeling when I was a kid. I’m on some billboard in Japan or in England…I never thought about all of that, when I was little, I was just like, ‘I get to try on fancy clothes and have people take pictures of me.’”
Zaire at 15 in a beautiful dress. Zaire Jarvis age six. Zaire Jarvis age four with her mom.
In particular, that shared love of fashion and design is what truly bonds her and her mom. “Ever since I was little, fashion [has been] just such a fun thing for us to do together. Half of my closet is stuff that I got from her when she was in high school.”
A lot of kids at Enloe show up to school in PJs and sweatpants, and that’s totally okay, but when those select few show up in a well-thought-out outfit, they stand out in the best way. Oftentimes, you can even see some of their personality reflected in their ensemble. For instance, junior Fiona Purchase always has on the most beautiful and creative outfits that demonstrate who she is.
When asked about her favorite outfit, Fiona said, “Fashion is a creative outlet for me in the same way that making playlists is. I could never pick a favorite playlist because they all do different things, and I love them all.” Additionally, Fiona makes a lot of her own jewelry which adds a personal touch to all of her outfits, but you may wonder where her inspiration and creativity comes from. “My inspiration simply comes from what I think looks good together. But in terms of my earrings, I will definitely base my earring colors and charms on albums, [and] I’ve thought about doing poetry. I haven’t done one yet but I like it when those creative aspects sort of overlap.” Blending the worlds of fashion, music, and literature Fiona is able to let her beautiful personality shine through.
Fiona Purchase in her stunning outfits. Fiona’s “Stick Season” inspired earrings.
Junior Blair Garland is able to take this wonderful world of creativity and expression one step further by designing her own clothes. “I started sewing when I was young, maybe six, but when I was 12, I went to this fashion camp for a bit and I was like, ‘oh, I can make my own clothes instead of searching endlessly on Amazon for a dress I need.’” After discovering this talent of hers, FIona says she “started getting really heavily into it freshman year [of] high school. It’s also when I started to design dresses for other people. And not just dresses. I’ve made [and] I’ve tailored a bunch of stuff. I’ve made pants, shirts, and a bunch more.”
When asked about her favorite outfits she has designed, Blair stated, “it has to be my sweet sixteen dress. Just because of all the planning that went into it. I’ve always dreamed of my sweet sixteen so I decided to do something extravagant. So I was like, ‘let me make five layers of skirt and I ended up with a beautiful dress.’” Blair is so creative with her outfits! When speaking to her, she included her favorite quote about fashion that is often inspiring to her. As Blair Waldorf, from the hit series Gossip Girl,“Fashion is the most powerful art there is. It’s movement, design, and architecture all in one. It shows the world who we are and who we’d like to be”. It’s just perfect how they share a name! What an icon.
Blair Garland’s sweet sixteen dress. Blair in another handmade design. Blair in her stunning Christmas party dress.
Even the tiniest details in an outfit often tie back to a story or connection. When junior Alexa Sinn was asked about the gold locket she often pairs with her outfits, she stated, “I actually have three lockets, two which I stole from my mother. One from my grandma … But they’re all just gold hearts, you know? I’m a gold girl.” Its simple details like this that can add personality into your wardrobe. Alexa has never once been seen sporting a “bad” outfit. When asked why, she said, “Because I refuse to be humbled by my closet.”
Alexa Sinn in some of her favorite outfits!
A lot of the time your style can shift and grow with you to reflect who you are. When talking to Senior Maylan Johnson, I found that her incredible fashion sense is, and forever will be ever-changing. “I’ve kind of noticed that every single year I change how I look a little bit, but it always ends up being just me becoming more and more like myself. It’s been a very slow progression for me when it comes to my style. I went from really not knowing what I was doing to finally feeling like I have a consistent style that just kind of comes naturally to me.”
What’s impressive is her determination to show up every day in a thought out outfit. She even stated, “I’ve never worn sweatpants to school ever. I’ve never even worn pajama pants to school except maybe once for a pajama day. I’ve always had a unique style ever since I was a little kid and I want to keep that even at school.” Maylan explained that she takes a lot of her inspiration from Bella Swan, the protagonist of the Twilight series, another cute detail that adds to who she is.
Maylan Johnson showing off her beautiful style!
What makes your favorite outfit your favorite? Well, for Junior Jaeden Olsen, it’s something that reflects who he is as a person. “My favorite outfits are the ones that make me feel the most like myself: comfortable, confident, and unique. I love wearing earthy tones—greys, tans, and soft greens—I feel they go best with my skin.”
Jaeden Olsen in some of his favorite outfits!
You can really learn so much about a person based simply off of the clothes that they wear. From making your own clothes, to connecting with those around you, to even simply adding small details that reflect who you are, fashion can be so much more than just throwing something on in the morning. After seeing and hearing from all of these passionate, fun, and colorful people, I hope we can all be inspired to add a bit more color into our lives, and of course our wardrobe.
