Written by Erin Speed
Photos by Erin Speed
Does our clothing have meaning beyond its function? We polled various students to find out how Bryan College views fashion.
While the majority of the responses reflected a very casual attitude toward clothing, many participants agreed that to some extent, one’s fashion style makes a statement about the kind of person you are. From the type of music you enjoy, to how much you are or are not an outsider – many students quietly observe one another’s appearance to see the type of person they are.
60% of students who took the poll were female, while 40% were male. Out of a long list of favorite colors to wear, the first favorite color was blue, the second favorite color was green and the third favorite was black. While everyone agreed that price and affordability were the most important aspects to them, 95% of students agreed with the proposal that clothing can make a statement about a person, and 65% admitted they cared about the clothes they wear.
When students were given a list of words with which to describe their own style, 30% chose “classy,” 25% chose “comfy,” while 10% claimed “academia,” a second 10% chose “alt” and the last 10% chose “whimsical”.
When faced with the question, “What do you want your clothing style to say about you?”, many responded with their wish to be seen as a positive and relaxed person to be around. Other responses included, “Idk, that I’m just a chill guy ig?” and, “That I am both terrifying and beautiful”.
The question “What kind of judgments do you make about people based on the clothing they wear?” received some interesting replies. While many commented that they observe one’s music tastes or sense of confidence through their clothing, some stated that they can get a sense of where the wearer stands on the ideological spectrum.
One anonymous user summarized their thoughts neatly with, “I think other people’s clothing helps me understand what their interests are or what they value. Whether it be an AC/DC T-shirt or a blouse with flowers on it, I feel like I have a glimpse into a person’s unique personality.”
The amount of data gathered from this survey, however, is limited to the number of students who took the survey. While these specific responses may not reflect the perspectives of the campus as a whole, they give us helpful insights into the different types of students who attend Bryan College and what fashion means to them.
