Walking through the hallways of HTLA, you’ll see hoodies, sweaters, and baggy fits, but occasionally, you will see a uniquely styled outfit with accessories and layers. You will see a combination of mismatched fits designated for comfort and at times trendy outfits carefully styled, even with our uniform restrictions. This noticeable mix of outfits raises the question, what does our school prefer: comfort or style?
For lots of students, comfort is always the way to go. Long school days, classes, and activities make comfort the easier and more practical option. For instance, students at our school like Isabella Chukulyan and Anush Vardanyan stated that they always lean more towards comfort. They stated that, “We wouldn’t want to be in an outfit that isn’t comfortable, even when that means putting style second.” They said that they build their outfits with comfort in mind, tending to favor easy sets or favorites, such as sweatpants, hoodies, baggy sweaters, and sneakers. For many students, dressing comfortably does not always mean not caring, but feeling more relaxed throughout the day.
Another factor that pushes students to dress comfortably is the time spent choosing an outfit. Some students stated that choosing a stylish outfit for school takes a lot of time and thought, which not all students like to put in, especially at such an early time in the morning. With homework, tests, and after school activities, students rather be comfortable and focused than keep up with trends.
On the other hand, some students at school don’t feel the same. Style still plays a large role for many students, especially as a reflection of their personality and vibe. Students like Ethan Fam and John Halajian stated that they prefer style. They stated that, “Looking good makes me feel good,” and that looking presentable is a large part of their stylistic choices. Ethan said that choosing an outfit for him is a process; he breaks down the colors he wants to wear, separates between clothing categories, and styles his fit based on what he’s feeling. He says even with uniform, he is able to turn regular clothes into a stylistic statement. Like many students at school, accessories are a large boost to his style. Layering, wearing boots, cool jackets, and unique pants allow them to stand out even with dress code.
To meet in the middle, some students actually say that they prefer both. Arthur Alaverdov stated that he chooses if he wants to dress comfortably or stylish depending on the day and occasion. He takes into consideration how he is feeling that day and dresses accordingly. Although he wants to ensure he is always comfortable, he also feels like how he dresses is an echo of his personality, creativity, and confidence. Many students like to take in account their setting and decide how they want to dress. Even though students at school don’t always want to dress stylish, some days, like Casual Fridays, or school events make students dress up and elevate their fits, making them lean more towards style.
So, does our school prefer comfort or style? The overall look of our school is a mix of both. While comfort seems to dominate students’ choices, style is not invisible. Students may not lean towards style everyday, but when they do, they are able to show a different side of themselves. School events and especially Casual Fridays show HTLA students’ real fashion tastes and personalities. Overall, it is obvious that most students at school fall in between the categories, balancing what makes them feel good with what they feel is a reflection of themselves.
