American photographer and designer Bill Cunningham once said: “Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.” 

This is especially true in high school, where students may feel judged by their peers everyday. Some students choose to use their personal style as not only a means of character expression but also as a personal confidence booster. 

“My personal style depends on the day,” senior Michael Castelli said. “If I’m feeling happy or good I’ll wear something more interesting. My clothing really reflects who I am.”

However, not all students have always gained confidence through their clothing. Junior Zoe Schapp has felt insecure about the way she wanted to dress in the past.

“I cared a lot more about what people thought in middle school,” Schapp said. “I just wanted to fit in, but I soon realized I wasn’t being myself with my style.”

Other students have faced bullying due to their stylistic decisions. Even at a relatively accepting school such as WCHS, judgment still runs rampant. 

“I was always called ‘gay’ because of what I wore, and a lot of people would say ‘why do you dress like that?’” Castelli said. “It was stupid, and it really brought me down.”

However, as he grew older and matured, Castelli realized he wasn’t being true to himself. He decided to cut out the haters and express his creativity however he liked.

“I don’t care what people say. I can wear a tank top and I wouldn’t care what people say,” Castelli said. “It took me 3 years to notice that.”

It also helps that WCHS has a fairly relaxed dress code. This allows for more stylistic freedom in what students wear. 

“No one really enforces the dress codes. I don’t wake up in the morning and think ‘Oh I need to wear this because someone will yell at me if I don’t,’” senior Wysh Anstine said.

Anstine uses this freedom to stick to her unique and noticeable style. She can often be seen in a crop top or ripped jeans, and she sees this as a way to make her stand out and feel good.

In schools with uniforms or stricter dress codes, students may feel constrained. In a time where fashion and style manifest in so many different ways, inhibiting this expression in any way is harmful to the emotional wellbeing of students.

“It’s nice that administration trusts us,” Castelli said. “If we had a strict dress code I would not be too happy.”