Unconventional

Style: Brandon Roberts, Amelia Schincariol

Words: Evie Shadoff

Photo: Griffin Lantz

Glam: Emma White, Ateeyah Abdul-Wasi

Spread Designer: Sabrina Seldon

Models: Faith Miller, Ajay Suresh

Our generation grew up watching shows like “The Wizards of Waverly Place” and “Shake It Up,” which featured people who knew themselves and dressed how they wanted when they wanted. We grew up idolizing Harper’s marker dress and Tinka’s colorful multi-layered prom dress. But somehow, we wound up in a world of minimalist business-casual normalcy. The way we present ourselves to the world is the first real look anyone has into who we are. Fashion is our outermost layer, the wrapping we use to say, “Hello world, I am here!” For years, we idolized those who dressed in the most unconventional ways, so why are we so pressured to conform to trends, popular styles, and the taste of others now?

Recently, there has been more of a movement to go against the grain, as playful styles tend to be viewed as childish and are written off as unfit for wear in daily life. Major fashion house, Moschino, is pushing back against the misconception by creating original styles featuring bright colors and the use of children’s toys, all while maintaining a sleek silhouette paired with the fresh hair and makeup characteristics of high fashion. The masterful blend between business wear and child’s play leads to head-turning looks suitable for wear for red carpets, editorial shoots and the streets of any bustling city. These looks are intriguing, intricate and ultimately strive to achieve personal expressive freedom. By pushing the limits of what is considered acceptable fashion, we work towards a future revolving around creativity and individuality. We find new ways to bring out a forgotten, yet integral, part of childhood. Everyone deserves the space to play around with self-expression, so it is important to keep pushing for acceptance of more thought-provoking ensembles.

When taking steps to dress outside of societal norms, we are making strides toward bridging our childhood desires with modern-day sensibilities. Therefore, we are paving the way for future generations to feel unconstrained by societal expectations and are allowing everyone to be whoever they choose to be.