At GCSU, students navigate a delicate balance between dressing nice for class and looking like they just rolled out of bed. From athleisure to casual wear, students have admitted their anxieties about fashion, though opinions vary on whether anyone truly notices.
“The best part about college is that you can totally reinvent your style,” said Seventeen Magazine. “It doesn’t matter who you were in high school, because this is a totally fresh start.”
This sense of freedom to redefine personal style is reflected in the diverse range of outfits seen on GCSU’s campus, where comfort and individuality often take precedence over strict fashion rules.
“I always notice other people’s outfits,” said Jackson Austin-Cruse, a sophomore biology pre-med major. “Fashion is an extension of a person’s personality. If I don’t vibe with their style, there’s a good chance I won’t vibe with a person, and that’s okay! But fashion is a first impression.”
First impressions can go a long way and expressing one’s personal style to meet new friends is a common strategy.
“I have multiple campus crushes on people who have cool style and have made most of my friends due to walking up to them and talking about fashion,” said Lulu Whitener, a sophomore psychology major. “I love seeing people express themselves, even if it’s not in the way I do. For instance, I usually wear all black and prefer a gothic style, but one of my best friends wears all pink. I love that our campus inspires individuality.”
Individuality is important on campus to create a diverse student body that is accepting of people showing who they truly are. Sometimes that happens to be the comfiest outfit on campus to get through that one test everyone has been dreading.
“For class, I definitely prefer a mix of comfy and cute, maybe a cute sweatshirt and leggings,” said Ella Mundy, a sophomore psychology major. “I love seeing what other girls are wearing so I can kind of stay in the loop and get inspo. When I’m not in class, my outfit depends on the day, but I usually wear a similar style, just not as put together. If it’s a weekend, I will probably be wearing a T-shirt!”
Weekends are a whole different story compared to the calm weekday life on campus. Students may choose to have a night in with pajamas or prepare for a night out in their most stylish outfits.
“I typically don’t wear different clothing on the weekends,” said Austin-Cruse. “The only main difference is whenever I go downtown, I’ll dress differently. From there- again, I’ll pick out one piece, like a rhinestone tank top, a mesh shirt, a nice jacket and then pair the rest of my outfit to highlight that one piece. Since it’s getting colder, I’ve been a fan of wearing really larger, over-exaggerated clothing.”
From casual athleisure during the day to polished looks at night, what students wear often reflects both their mood and the demands of a busy day.
“Outside of class, I’m usually more formal but also more out there,” said Whitener. “I’ll wear more jewelry, such as spiked chokers or my layered crosses, because those aren’t functional in a psychology lab. Beyond that too, I’ll also do more impulsive things like wear pieces that don’t quite match, like mesh and lace, or wear my five-inch platforms because it’s always fun to be taller than the men around you.”
Practicality, comfortability, and the true essence of oneself are what matters when dressing for school. Yes, school is the place for academic success but college is the time to try new things, outfits included.
“Fashion is a great way to play around with your aesthetic or sense of self,” said Austin-Cruse. “Like if you don’t like one outfit, it’s not the end of the world, and you learned what doesn’t work for you. You can move forward and try something new. A lot of people have comments about what I wear, and honestly, it doesn’t have any weight to me. If you like how you look, that’s literally the only opinion in the world that matters.”
Dressing for class allows students to balance comfort and personal style, fostering confidence and individuality on campus. As students embrace diverse fashion choices, they contribute to a vibrant, inclusive community where self-expression thrives.
