Unique to Uniforms: Fashion and style has gotten lazy 

Clothes are such an integral part of our society. They keep you warm, they give you confidence and most importantly, having them on keeps you out of jail. But over the last few years, I have come to notice that everybody looks the same: from their shoes to their pants, shirt, jacket and even down to the little tote bag slung around their shoulder. I see this because I looked in the mirror one day and that’s exactly what I was wearing: same everything, even down to the little tote bag slung around my shoulder. 

With my observations, I’ve seen the rise of a “uniform,” something so common because it is so popular, widely socially acceptable, easy or all three. That’s why you have seen things like UGG boots become synonymous with colder weather and align with the fall aesthetic, alongside North Face fleeces and whatever seasonal latte your local coffee shop is offering. That’s a uniform. Obviously, it all depends on the social context. Of course, we’re all going to wear sweats in the gym and not a fancy suit, because that just doesn’t make any sense. But when I’m on campus I see the same thing all the time: jersey, baggy pants and shoes that barely go past your ankle. In fact, I’m wearing that right now as I type this. It’s easy and I know that I’ll be perceived in a positive light. 

That’s where I believe a lot of the lack of customization in people’s closets stems from: the fear of not being liked. Instead of wearing something you personally deem interesting, you choose to put on your uniform and fall in line. Obviously, we dress for the sake of being perceived positively, and I do understand that sometimes you just want to throw something on that you know works. I get that. I’ve been there. But the soul and self-expression are lost when it comes from a place of constant need for approval. I personally believe that the constant desire for public approval rips the heart out of art and creativity, and you can see that through what a lot of brands put out today. 

Consumers are chasing this idea of “vintage.” There are “vintage” shirts everywhere now. Who was sitting on thousands and thousands of shirts from the ‘90s? You could get a “vintage” shirt of damn near anything now. Why do you have a vintage Franz Wagner shirt on? He’s 23-years-old. He is nowhere close to vintage. Also, why him out of everybody? But I digress. Brands everywhere have been trying to, and are successfully, profiting off this lost and misconstrued idea of “vintage,” which leaves no room for new ideas.  

I’d also like to blame social media and influencers for this lull in creativity as well. There was a point in time where blank tees with either ironic or shocking statements screen-printed on were popular. I can understand hopping on trends — that’s why they’re trends — but I feel like seeing people wearing blank shirts with the text saying “I LOVE DRUNK DRIVING” or something like that, is a very obvious tell that people are lazy. It’s not even a new idea as t-shirts with ironic and shocking text is very 2000s/’10s. 

This idea of the uniform and a quest for approval leaves a void for my generation’s defining “style.” I do think you could argue that the ambiguity is a positive though, as everyone isn’t defined to one style. But chasing the illustrious idea of “vintage” and falling in-line with our uniforms leaves us unoriginal. Funny enough, I do think we are revisiting every major era of clothing trends. Right now, we’re in the ‘00s, so I think eventually we’ll find something to call our own soon enough. 

But with that being said, no matter how hard you try, there will always be an international student on campus outdressing you. So why not dress for yourself rather than the perception of others? Wear that nerdy graphic tee, that jersey, those pants you’re too scared to put on or that blank tee with screen-printed words on it if you want. Throw on that UConn dining services shirt if you got one. Who cares? Wear what you want, but don’t fall in line. Wear it for you.