Starting college opens new avenues to start exploring who you are and the person you want to become. This might be through exploring new career options, new friendships or even exploring new clubs and hobbies. Another way of exploring yourself is through your style. Whatever your style may be, everyone should feel comfortable in the way they express themselves.
On-campus resources are available for students to start creating their own style. Chris Finkle, manager of the Innovation Lab (located in the DuPont-Ball Library), discussed how students are able to express themselves through the different art forms available through this program. “The whole idea of the Innovation Lab is to give people resources that they wouldn’t otherwise have access to,” Finkle said.
The Innovation Lab has two sewing machines, multiple state-of-the-art 3d printing machines and embroidery and Cricket machines to spark student creativity.
“Students have used the dress form that we have in the past, to try to tailor their own dresses,” Finkle said as he reflected on past creations from Innovation Lab students. “There’s been a student that has started trying to make his own fashion prototype fashion line.”
Amanda Martinez ’28, a psychology major, expresses herself through “…y2k, mixed with baggy clothing, while also occasionally switching gender norms.” Martinez talked about how she uses many different styles to present herself based on however she’s feeling day to day.
“I feel like it embraces you to be more feminine or masculine, if that’s what you want,” said Martinez. “Being in college, there are no uniforms. Which is great, I feel like it’s a great opportunity for students to find a sense in their own fashion, embracing their clothing or the pieces that they choose to put together.” She emphasised how many students are now able to freely express themselves without having to conform to whatever barriers there might have been in their past.
Faculty members are also able to explore their fashion sense on campus. Director Of Diversity And Inclusion Erin Doggette expressed her view on the ability to explore yourself on campus as well as her personal journey. “I don’t personally find myself to be fashionable, I just operate based on what makes me feel good,” she explained. “I feel like if you don’t love yourself, then no one else will.”
Doggette then went on to note that her favourite clothing item are her Jordans, because she did not have access to shoes that fit her growing up. “My shoes kind of dictate what my outfit will be, so I wanna make sure my shoes match my outfit,” Doggette said. For many people shoes are a unisex item of clothing, which allows them to express themselves however they see fit.
Doggette also discusses how she breaks professional norms by creating her own sense of business style. “I wear tennis shoes just about everyday, and as a director in a professional setting, this is not the place,” she said.“But says who? Who says that’s not professional?” She believes students and staff alike should be able to feel comfortable in their professional-wear. Dr. Doggette is proud to have women come up to her and share how she has inspired them to wear what they feel comfortable in while in the workplace.
Whether you prefer a Y2k Style like Martinez or a relaxed professional look like Doggette, your fashion choices are meaningful. Fashion does not always have to be innovative, it just has to be you.