It is no secret that most of us spent the past year in sweats, pajamas, and comfy clothes- not a waistband in sight. With no reason to look “presentable”, a lot of us gave up on the idea of “dressing up”. Now, as everyone slowly converts back to what used to be our daily routines, there appears to be a difference in how people are showing up to school. I walked into this year expecting a flurry of sweatpants and slippers, instead I saw impressive makeup looks, repurposed/ thrifted clothing, and stacks upon stacks of jewelry. I couldn’t help but make a connection to the trends we have been seeing a lot of on TikTok, Pinterest, and Instagram as of late. Could our entirely virtual year have impacted the way we want to present ourselves for this upcoming school year? 

I know I am not alone when I say that my “pre-quarantine” outfits were far less than impressive. Many people, including myself, seem to have taken advantage of  lockdown and used the time to find and develop their personal styles. While we were at home spending what seemed like every second of our time online, we collectively reinvented the idea of what’s currently “trending” through social media.  There has been a complete 180 flip in fashion trends since the last time we were all in school together. Since apps like TikTok have blown up over the past year, nearly every student is being kept in the loop with what is in and what is out. These platforms have also helped encourage us to push out of our comfort zones and experiment with what we look and feel best in. Turns out that it is no longer trendy to play it safe. 

Gallery • 8 Photos

The “preppy” look is something that has come back from last year. Polo shirts, sweater vests, headbands, and tennis skirts seem to have taken over many wardrobes yet again and this outfit is a great example of how to style this aesthetic for school!