The clothes we choose to wear and how we dress is a key part of self-expression and identity. The years before and during high school are some of the most formative years for people our age, where teens break out of the shells of childhood and define their own sense of style and direction; one way this comes across is a personal sense of fashion. For some, school used to act as a venue to express this individuality and impress peers with their fashion, even coming to be colloquially known as “busting fits”.

However, when stuck inside all day, you’re at least going to want to be comfortable. During the pandemic, it was almost impossible to avoid the rise of comfy clothes like sweatpants, hoodies, and sweaters. Over the course of the last year, as the global pandemic drags on and all school activities have been called off, the avenue for expression that school provided has been stripped away, being replaced with the comfort of our PJs and bedrooms. Despite this culture of comfort, getting dressed as part of a normal routine can help manage coronavirus-related anxiety, and generally improve your mood;

There are plenty of clothes that allow for expression without conceding comfort. Whether it be stylish “athleisure”, polished loungewear, or your favorite pair of jeans, there’s no limit to what one can do with their clothing, even during the quarantine. When asking our peers, there were a variety of responses. Carly Garrett ‘21 had this to say about her daily routine and clothing choice, “Getting dressed for school every day allows you to change your mindset from “home” to “school”, and gets you energized for the day”. Another student, Cameron Shaw, who is in Lane Tech’s class of ‘22 had this to say, “Even though we aren’t physically in school, I still like to show my creativity in the clothes I wear. When we are in Google Meets, people still see the top of my fits, and dressing my best makes me feel good.” No matter what you decide to wear, as long as it represents you and makes you feel good, it’s perfect to us at the Beacon.