Many experience awkward stylistic stages in middle school, during which they experiment with new styles to find the one that truly suits them best. Starting her freshman year of high school, junior Ella Haughey found her style. Even now, fashion remains her way of showcasing who she is through the outfits she wears.
Before high school, Ella never truly felt comfortable with her wardrobe. Skinny cargo pants and leggings were not exactly “her”. When she purchased her first pair of baggy, low-waisted jeans, she quickly discovered that her style made her feel more like her true self.
“I started getting into fashion and making my outfits more unique when I was a freshman,” Ella said. “I honestly don’t know why I started dressing differently, but I felt more comfortable wearing clothes I personally liked.”
Putting together outfits curated for herself is Ella’s creative outlet. When sitting in school all day, while following teachers’ strict instructions, it isn’t easy to be creative. Thrifting on weekends and gathering new, unique pieces for her outfits to plan out for the week is Ella’s way of expressing her creativity in a world full of “boring”.
“I get inspiration for my outfits just from my imagination,” Ella said. “Sometimes I’ll just be sitting, or even lying in bed before I go to sleep, [and] I’ll think of an outfit in my head. Then, the next day, I will put the outfit together and hope it turns out how I imagined it.”
Everyone has their down days, though. It’s easy to just throw on an oversized hoodie with a pair of baggy sweatpants to feel a little bit of comfort on a bad day. Ella tries to do the opposite.
“Whenever I’m feeling down in the dumps, I do the opposite of what others would usually think,” Ella said. “Instead of putting on a comfy outfit, I try to make an outfit that will make me feel my best, and what I feel confident in so that I feel better.”
Many students are unable to express their true selves and personalities until later in life due to the constant fear of judgment. Throughout her middle school years, Ella found herself dressing for others and not for herself. Through these hard moments, she learned who she was.
“How my style has changed over time has definitely made me feel a lot more confident than how I felt in the past,” Ella said. “Before, I always used to dress to fit in and not what I really wanted to wear. When I discovered my true style, it honestly made me realize that people don’t really care about what you wear, and it made me feel way more confident in my outfits.”
Judgment, in some cases, is unavoidable. However, Ella has learned to take criticism as a compliment rather than an insult.
“Sometimes, I do feel judged for my style,” Ella said. “One time, when I went to a party for one of my family members, everyone was making fun of my pants for being ‘too big,’ and I handled it by realizing that, in conclusion, I was the best dressed in the room.”
Through her fashion journey, Ella has learned that although judgment is unavoidable and sometimes embarrassing, it’s essential to dress for yourself, not for others.
“Nobody really cares about how you dress,” Ella said. “Even if you usually dress pretty basic and you want to try something new, but are afraid of judgment from others, in reality, people are mostly just paying attention to themselves. Just wear what makes you feel the best.”
