Fashion changes: throughout seasons, between generations, and from person to person. But one thing remains the same: personal style is one of the best avenues to show people who you are, at least at the surface level. Our school is an extremely diverse community, which means our student body has a varied sense of fashion. Jatour Johnson (senior), and Gabi Barger (junior) have some of the, in my opinion, most unique styles within the school. Here’s what they have to say about their drip and how they got it:

Barger’s style is very eccentric. She truly has a look that only she can pull off- it is hers. The uniqueness of her fashion sense truly speaks volumes about her as a person- she is not afraid to be who she is, which is something that millions of people struggle with. 

“I would describe my style as old school, rock fashion. I really enjoy the fashion from the 60s, 70s and 80s, so I lean towards that kind of vibe. It’s also a little bit hippie alternative,” Barger expresses. 

Her signature look has become clashing patterns. It feels counterintuitive, but matching colors and patterns and textures make outfits boring, even though it’s “safe”. 

“I’ve learned that… it’s all about just pairing stuff that you wouldn’t expect to be paired together. That’s how you make your style more unique and different from others,” she says. “Wear cheetah print with a flannel with cowgirl boots if you have to! I wore a tie dye sweatshirt once with these plaid pants, and I was getting stares that day, because people probably didn’t agree with that outfit.”

In a world run by social media, it’s hard to avoid the trend cycle and doing what everyone else is doing. It seems like new microtrends pop up every single day, and go away the next. At some point, we have to stop ourselves and ask: “Is this something I really like, or do I just want it because other people are wearing it?” Fashion is not one-size fits all, and social media is a great place to draw inspiration from, but it also stifles individuality.

“You gotta shut that noise out. Always stay true to yourself,” says Johnson. “A really big trend was joggers. I wasn’t into that. Everyone was wearing them, and if you weren’t wearing them you were broke, or not fresh. I just [did] my own thing, and it later paid off because it really helped me develop my wardrobe.” For Jatour, avoiding certain trends has helped him develop his personal style because it allowed him to explore what he liked, even if everyone else was doing something different.

When everyone seems to have an opinion on pretty much everything, it’s impossible to please everyone. Although they both have very different looks, Barger and Johnson both agree that making unconventional choices is the only path to personal style. Growth only happens outside of your comfort zone, which looks different for everyone. “Obviously it’s gonna be uncomfortable, and it’s gonna be hard. But, you will learn that people will appreciate you more if you continue to show them you’re confident even though you’re different,” expresses Barger.

For Jatour, dressing has always been ‘natural’: “I’ve always stood out. Ever since I was little,” he explains. “I’ve never been like the type to do something because he’s doing it, or because it’s flashy right now. I’m always stretching myself to be fresh,” he said. “Dress how you want to dress; somebody’s gonna like it. You might as well just do what you do.”

It’s so interesting to learn about where people get their fashion inspiration from; it’s just like learning about the story behind a painting. Fashion is art, and art is everywhere– even in the most unexpected places. “As a kid, I really enjoyed watching movies from the 80’s; Weird Science (1985) was my favorite movie as a kid. I also liked John Hughes movies, and other movies with young Leonardo DiCaprio, or young Johnny Depp” said Barger. “Those movies always inspired me and I always really liked the fashion in those movies. I would also look at the style of specific music artists from the 60s, 70s and 80s. I love how their style is so punk-rock-ish and rebellious. I think those are the truest styles because it’s like a big ‘F-you’ to the world. I love it.”

She also finds a lot of her inspiration just by walking through Denver and people-watching. People wearing “crazy” outfits are sometimes the best people to look at. Even if you don’t like their outfit, embody their confidence to be who they are without fear of judgement. 

Johnson’s inspiration primarily comes from his racial identity: “I feel like black people are most influential with dressing, and we’re looked up to the most with our clothes and how we wear them. My wardrobe is definitely influenced by Atlanta, GA and my favorite rap group, Migos.”

In developing their signature looks, Johnson and Barger both have certain elements that they never leave the house without. 

For a ‘Jatour’ outfit: “You gotta have chains. The chains give 80% of the fit,” says Jatour. “[The] shoes got to be clean. You got to have a cologne too– always gotta smell good.”

For a ‘Gabi outfit’: “Jewelry. Chunky shoes. Layering. Coco Chanel once said: ‘Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off. I’m totally against that,” says Gabi. “I feel like anytime that you’re about to leave the house… add one more piece of jewelry, because that will make your outfit more more.”

Barger and Johnson have two entirely different looks, but they can both agree on one thing: be you. 

“Do one thing a day that scares you,” Barger advises. “If fashion has to do with that, then go for it. Wear whatever you want. No one cares. You will start to realize that no one is looking at you– everyone else is already so self-occupied. You just gotta do it for yourself.”