The most anticipated fashion show of the year is going on right now, but it can’t be found in New York, Paris or Milan. The real “catwalks” showcasing the hot-test styles and youthful trends of the fall season are the hallways of high schools. Vintage shirts, graphic tees, corduroy comebacks, traditional hoodies, worn-in jeans, cargo pants, velour v-necks and mesh tops are all making appearances in Kimball Area High School (KAHS) hallways this fall. For senior Sarah Wysoski, the comeback of corduroy is a major attraction. “There is a lot more corduroy out there,” Wysoski said. “A lot of corduroy pants and jackets. I just had to get some.” Other students, like senior Andrea Miller, prefer the more enduring but ever-evolving denim jeans. “A lot of kids wear jeans and T-shirts,” Miller said. “My favorite jeans are Silver (brand). I don’t wear any other kind.” Junior Chris Sheehan is a bit more flexible. “I wear mostly jeans and T-shirts, pretty much whatever I pull out of the drawer,” Sheehan said. Senior John White describes his style as urban. “I wear a lot of baggy pants and loose clothes,” he said. White admits his style is not part of the majority when it comes to fashion at KAHS. “I kind of stand out, but individuality is important to me,” White said. But how do students decide what to wear? Wysoski hypothesized the way people dress may be more contingent on their individual moods than on trends. “I like stuff that is different, but what I wear depends on how I feel,” Wysoski said. “When I am happy I may wear more bright colors and when I am in a bad mood or I don’t really want to go to school, I may wear darker clothes. When I feel more laid back, I dress casual.” Miller, who has worn pajama pants to school when she was sick, agreed. “I think a lot of people dress for comfort,” Miller said. “I like hoodies because they are so comfortable, and they are extra nice if you aren’t feeling well.” Miller said that after a 24-hour bus ride to New York with fellow high school band members, her concern for how she dressed decreased. “On that trip, everybody saw me at my worst,” she said. Typically, Miller determines what she is going to wear to school in under five minutes. “I get up at 7 a.m. and pick out a shirt, then matching pants, or I pick out pants and find a matching shirt,” she said. “By the time I am in the shower at 7:03 a.m. I’ve got it figured out.” For Wysoski the process can be a little more arduous. “Sometimes I try on three different outfits because I can’t make up my mind,” she said. At that point, Wysoski calls for a second opinion. “I ask my little sister and she tells me what she thinks looks good.” Students are aided in their fashion decision-making process by the Student Handbook. which contains dress code guidelines that are updated yearly. According to KAHS Principal Karen Imholte, the dress code outlined in the hand book is generic enough to cover a lot of situations. “We try to avoid spaghetti strap [camis], halter tops, or midriff-bearing shirts,” Imholte said. Although students are encouraged to dress modestly, at times trends make that difficult to achieve. “The problem with girls clothing is there are a lot of scooping necklines, really tight shirts, shirts with only one strap, and low-cut jeans. These can all be distracting,” Imholte said. In the warmer weather, students are allowed to wear tank tops and shorts, but tank tops must have at least 2-inch straps and shorts must have a 2-inch inseam. “That’s stupid,” Sheehan said. “People should be allowed to wear whatever they want as long as they aren’t completely naked.” However, Sheehan said he did support the dress code’s prohibition of “clothing advertising illegal substances, containing sexual innuendo or profanity,” because those messages are truly offensive. “That stuff really is obscene,” he said. White identified one area where the dress code could be improved. “It would be really cool if we could wear hats,” White said. Wysoski said she wanted to at least have the option to wear spaghetti-strap camis, especially in warm weather. “Some people shouldn’t wear them because they don’t have the right figure,” Wysoski said. “But dress with common sense.” Miller agreed that the dress code sometimes seems extreme, but is necessary. “I think some girls might wear nothing if you let them,” Miller said. Despite some minor complaints, Imholte said most students adhere to the policy. “I like colors and I like variety,” Imholte said. “I like to see different styles. but some of the styles seem to be created just to make life tougher for school administration.” Imholte, who has been involved in school administration for nine years – four at Kimball, said the most memorable trend she has seen was when she worked as assistant principal for a high school near Duluth. “Students dressed gothic,” she said. “[It’s categorized by] a lot of black, and painted faces,” Imholte said. “What was a concern to me then were the huge spikes some kids wore, because they could become a weapon so easily.” Imholte said most Kimball students generally wear jeans and T-shirts and that suits her just fine. Whether they dress sporty or formal, urban or gothic, Wysoski said the definition of “style” isn’t just a passing fad. “Style is individual,” she said. “Style should reflect what you feel, what is comfortable and what you like to wear.”
