WOODBURY — As students return from winter break, new fashion trends are taking over the halls of NHS. From footwear to accessories, certain styles are dominating the scene, influenced heavily by social media and shifting seasonal preferences.
Yet as quickly as trends emerge, they also fade, making fashion an ever-evolving cycle.
“I’m definitely seeing that everyone is wearing Uggs coming back from Christmas,” said junior Nicole Dicello. “Some popular brands are Nike and Lululemon, and everyone wears hoop earrings now.”
The power of social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok is undeniable when it comes to influencing clothing choices.
“I’m very into trendy and popular clothing and brands like Lulu or Nike and Uggs. I’ll see it on TikTok and want to buy it,” shared Ayla Albon, another junior.
Is fashion more about self-expression or fitting in? Sophomore Sadie Turchuk believes that following the crowd is an easy route in deciding between clothing choices.
“I definitely think it’s about following what’s popular, what others wear and do or whatever, because people wanna fit in,” Turchuk shared.
The trends at Nonnewaug have changed dramatically over the years. Senior Emma Jones has observed shifts in both clothing and accessories.
“There are more trending styles now. You don’t see people wearing tall boots anymore, the shorter the better. Jeans have gotten baggier,” Jones explained.
While some trends gain traction, others spark controversy.
“I can’t get behind the Ugg trainers,” said sophomore Sophie Caron. “They look like sneakers, but they’re not, and I like more country shoes like boots and Hey Dudes.”
Junior Jocelyn Coscia feels the same way: “I can’t get behind the barrel jeans. I just don’t like anything about them at all and how they look.”
Teachers at Nonnewaug have watched fashion trends evolve over the years, recalling their own high school experiences. Science teacher Josh Kornblut remembers the prevalence of certain styles.
“Preppy was a big thing — polo shirts, Ralph Lauren, and polo hats were everywhere. We also had different groups: the farm kids, jocks, emo kids, nerds, the artsy group, and popular kids. Skinny jeans were big, as well as Converse, Vans, and DC court sneakers. The skater looked huge,” Kornblut shared.
English teacher Rebecca Gambardella reminisces about the dominant brands of her time.
“In the ’90s, Adidas was huge, tank tops with spaghetti straps, low-rise jeans, flare or bootcut jeans were popular,” she said. “Gap, Abercrombie, Hollister, and Tommy Hilfiger were all major brands.”
Marketing teacher Devon Bares noted how accessories and statement pieces defined fashion in his high school years.
“Hats were very popular when I was in high school. It was a big deal when they said we couldn’t wear hats anymore,” Bares said. “Band T-shirts were also popular, as well as low-rise jeans and baseball hats.”
