FORENOTE: WHILST WRITING THIS BLOG, I TRIED TO FIND HILARIOUS PHOTOS OF ME IN UNIFORM. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN I WAS 15 I GOT EMBARRASSED AND DELETED AL EVIDENCE OF WHEN I WAS A FREAK, SO I CAN ONLY INCLUDE A FEW WHICH I STOLE FROM OTHER PEOPLES FACEBOOK PROFILES.
A few weeks ago, I was having dinner with some friends from school when the topic of school uniforms came up. As our school was probably one of the few remaining in London which was uniform-less, it came as a bit of a shock to us that that has now been changed. Not only a shock, but as we all agreed, a bit of a shame.
Here is an example of giving no fucks at school
I suppose the idea behind a uniform is that it kind of creates an equal ground for (in this case) students, to lessen the chances of bullying for the kid who isn’t typically ‘cool’ and as is often the case in preppy private schools, those who can’t afford head to toe designer clothes ages 12. Which makes sense. It is inevitable that in any school, especially between the ages of 11 and 18, you will at some point feel insecure about how you look or what you’re wearing. This doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the fact you’re in school – it’s probably more due to the fact you’ve hit puberty and feel hideously self conscious and hormonal, but inevitably we have all felt a little competitive with one another when in comes to what we are, and lets be honest, the coolest kids in school are usually always dressed pretty well.
But is it better to throw a uniform at the problem, in a desperate make everyone the same? Not really, because you only really then postpone the issue to when they’re 18 and as a school you don’t have to deal with it. As we all agreed, although not having a uniform initially feels competitive and loads of effort, after you get used to it, it’s the best fucking thing ever, because you kind of get to figure out who you are and what you like about ten years before everyone else. You also care way less about impressing everyone after by the end of your first uniform-less year, someone has at one point come to school in their pyjamas. Strapped for time first thing in the morning? Who needs to get dressed! Through on your hoodie and leave the house stress free. At the end of the day, if you’re going to have problems with other kids in school, the real problem is not going to be because of how you dress. And if it is, kids need to learn to not care what people think of how they dress as young as possible, as me and my friends were lucky enough to.
Clearly unable to look at the camera because I knew my hideous uniform was hiding underneath
At my previous school (where there was a very STRICT uniform code), I used to get detentions all the time just from not tucking my shirt into my skirt. I know it’s a small rule, but how fucking dumb is that! I distinctly remember the many anger issues 90 percent of the students had against the strictest teachers, which all began with a minus point for having a corner of your shirt un-tucked. In my opinion, removing a uniform removes a LOT of petty student teacher arguments, which are so awkward to witness (and be a part of). I also remember once a term having a non-uniform day, which was possibly the biggest stress of the century, because it was one of the few days which the whole school see what you ‘actually’ look like, and the immense pressure to be better dressed then about 2 thousand other people.
SAD ABOUT UNIFORM
As I’m studying at a fashion college, I see a LOT of people who make a huuuge effort on a daily basis. On the one hand, I totally get it, fashion is awesome. As Rachel Zoe perfectly sums up, it is ‘a way of saying who you are and what you feel without having to speak’. Very true. Fashion is amazing and many people live their entire lives in it. It affects all of us whether we like to admit it or not, and it’s literally everywhere. As easy as it would be for me to say I don’t care for it, it’s not true, even if momentarily I do often question peoples outfit choices, and there are definitely items of clothing I wouldn’t be seen dead wearing (one of them is black tights, I can’t be dealing with more reminders of school uniform).
But being allowed to have my own style and wear whatever I like since the age of 13 has also made me realize fashion is also pretty fucking stupid, which is really liberating. I don’t need to spend my time ‘experimenting’ with new styles because I already have one.
Whilst I would always appreciate the approval of my nearest and dearest when I’ve bought something, I also don’t really give a shit what anyone else thinks because I’ve bought it for myself and not them. I love fashion and I love clothes, but I’m amazed at how seriously people take it, because for so long now it’s not been such a big deal to me. I am so embarrassed for people who take fashion so seriously, because the whole point of it is that it’s supposed to be fun, and different from other slightly more uniform practices. Is the Instagram whore with 5,000 likes on her and her bag an interesting person? Probably not.
Word to the tracksuit wearers
Unfortunately for most people, some form of uniform follows them into every day life and controls what they are able to wear and on many levels, their comfort. If I was a llawyer, I probably wouldn’t be able to go to work wearing my gym leggings and a PINK hoodie, because no one would take me seriously. (Can’t decide if this is ok or not). Luckily I’m not and I can dress like a fucking idiot all the time. It seems a shame, therefore, to stop children and teenagers from having the freedom to dress as they please for what might be their only chance.