The classrooms and hallways of Columbia Heights High School (CHHS), offer a variety of clothing styles and looks, with students expressing themselves either with makeup or through their chosen aesthetic, such as grunge or just plain old comfort. Whether a simple pair of plaid pajama pants and a hoodie or a carefully cultivated and sourced outfit, CHHS proves that self-expression can change or reinforce the average person’s outlook on teen fashion as a whole.

When looking at iconic teen movies such as “Mean Girls” (2004), or even its 2024 musical remake, high school fashion seems to mimic each character’s personality, social class and/or interests. In reality, these stereotypes don’t apply to high schoolers, including right here at CHHS. There are no Plastics or band geeks here setting strict dress codes that help differentiate them from the rest of the students around them. Instead, there is overlap and natural diversity regardless of cliques or societal expectations.

Most Heights students don’t dress to impress others. It’s clear that the vast majority believe that students should have the freedom to dress however they choose, and while staff and teachers don’t enjoy the same privileges, largely conforming to a business casual style, with the periodic exception of Fridays or spirit weeks at school. Some may say that it’s because they are authority figures, but teachers are people who want to be comfortable while at their place of work, and some don’t have the luxury to do so. Business casual helps Heights teachers look more like a community which is always a positive thing, but we don’t often get to see teachers expressing themselves through what they wear.

On the topic of self-expression, students here at CHHS have their own ways of expressing themselves, but of course, sometimes this vulnerability leads to unsolicited opinions and feedback. Some students might like to dress in an alternative style, but they might get judged for it and that’s why they might seem more reserved. Other students, meanwhile, end up sporting cool outfits that look like they have been styled by a designer and wind up getting judged for following popular affluent trends. It honestly depends on the level of comfort someone feels at school to be able to express themselves in certain ways, and the confidence to not care about what others think about it.

Clothing isn’t the only thing that can be considered fashion, of course. Currently at Heights, we have a rise in popularity for shoes such as Uggs especially during the winter season. Wherever you walk, you are guaranteed to see someone in these chic boots, slippers and shoes, and they never fail to make it look good. There has also been a rise in Nike Techs, which while not a very defining detail, this footwear can be a simple piece that can be dressed up or down by nearly any wearer. 

“ I find the different variations of streetwear and colorful designs very enticing to see,” Rosa Palchizaca Guman (9) said.

Hylander makeup trends also vary from ordinary natural makeup to a full face, a spectrum that has gotten destigmatized as of late, letting teens tell the story they want to tell through their makeup. This also goes under the same umbrella when it comes to jewelry. Accessorizing always tends to make a major impact on an outfit and even change the vibe the student is going for. A simple pair of hoops, for instance, can make a modern look like it’s straight out of the 60s.

Wearing clothing and accessories popularized by older generations may be perceived as trying to be more mature, but it (almost) always ends up looking good. Trends change at a quick rate so consistently that the average person may not realize when one has died and another has caught on, to the point where some staff at CHHS even notice trends returning that they already witnessed, either as students themselves or as younger teachers or administrators. 

“Although it has changed a little bit, the bottom line is that [students] mainly dress the same,” Assistant Principal and junior dean Mr. John Kulick said

After taking a look at a wide array of fashion trends and seeing how they apply to Heights students, it’s easy to predict the increase in even more new trends this year as well as, perhaps, even more comebacks of the vintage or retro variety. Crocs may disappear, just to name one seemingly undying fad, but who knows, other trends may show up that have an even bigger impact on many students and society worldwide — not just here at CHHS.