Started in a crop top and ended in handcuffs. A few years back there was an incident here at pitman high school where a student was dress coded for a crop top and leggings when she refused to change into a t- shirt she was asked to leave campus.
¨Words were exchanged that should not have been exchanged, and I came back on campus at lunch to apologize for my behavior.¨
Is what the student replied. This is when the school’s resource officer arrested her for trespassing. This incident caused a protest with about 100 students involved.
Modern day fashion with teens consists of oversized t-shirts or crop tops, always one or the other. It seems no matter which of the two you wear there’s always something negative to be said, whether it be a comment about too much skin showing or too much being covered. Crop tops became popular in the late 60’s and early 70’s but really boomed during the 90’s. Baggy and ripped jeans are also a huge fashion item right now. Every teen has at least one pair of baggy ripped jeans in their closet and have been told the phrase ¨Did you get those half off?¨ Mini skirts are also a big statement piece nowadays. They originally became a big fashion trend in the 60’s however clothing that resemble mini skirts can be dated back as far as 1390 B.C.
“Everywhere we look, there are crop tops, and I simply don’t feel they’re appropriate for school or public,” says Billerica’s Amy Dearth.” Is a quote from the Article “Here’s What Bothers Parents About KIds fashion ” published by BostonGlobe.com where parents were interviewed and asked about their thoughts on modern day teen clothes. Another parent states they “Struggle to support the wear what feels good movement.” As you can guess, the “wear what feels good movement” encourages people to wear what they feel comfortable in no matter what. “Finding long shorts for females is not happening, I can’t even find an appropriate length for myself and I’m an adult.” is what Alethea Favreau says.
Now it’s time to get some student/teen insight on how they feel about modern day fashion. I asked Sophomore Jasleen Johal what she likes and dislikes about the dress code at Pitman.
“I don’t like it because I should be able to wear strapless shirts at school like I am at home.”
I then informed Jasleene the reason for this rule is because there is fear that the shirt will slip down as there are no straps to secure it and keep it up.
” I don’t think the shirt would fall down because most have an elastic on the top making it more secure.”
She then went on to share what she favors about the dress code by saying “ But I do like how they allow crop tops and skirts that don’t have to be past my fingertips. And I do like that there is not a type of shoe that we can not wear like we can wear sandals with no back strap and not get in trouble.”
I also interviewed Marwah Al Amahd a sophomore here at pitman and asked what are some popular trends she would like to try and what were some trends she did not like at all.
“ A big trend I don’t like is unbuttoned folded denim jeans. Why are you not wearing your pants properly and it looks awkward. I have also seen celebs wear body suits out as bikinis and I think it’s weird that they would walk around like that. I get when you’re going to the beach and stuff but to just go shopping it’s weird.”
Marwa went on to talk about some things she enjoys wearing.
“ I like dresses with lots of glitter and sequin are something I wanna try for like HOCO or something I enjoy wearing day to day are cargo pants with an oversized shirt look.”