Fashion sense. Most of us have it in some way, shape, or form. We’ve all picked out amazing outfits that make us feel on top of the world. Although fashion sense is something that most of us have, there are times when there is self-doubt or fear regarding clothing. Picture this: you go shopping and try on something that makes you feel like a model, but the second you bring it home you ask yourself: when will I ever wear this? As you sit there on your bed with your new clothes in your hand, you run through the list of places you could wear it. The mall? No, too flashy. The theme park? It could get dirty. With my family? Am I kidding? School? School. You can’t think of any excuses not to wear it to school, but you let it hang in your closet until you finally decide to give it away. What a waste. Is this fear of fashion caused by self-esteem? Other students? Or just the fear of trying something new?

Sadananda Reddy, Prasad Kannekanti, and MD Ameer Hamza wrote “A Comparative Study on Self Esteem and Stress among Private and Government High School Students.” In the study, Reddy, Kannekanti, and Hamza said “[self-esteem is a] subjective and enduring sense of realistic self-approval.” To explain, self-esteem is the way a person thinks about themself, based on the way the person has been perceived in the past. In order to have good self-esteem, one must ignore the way others see you and try to see yourself through your own eyes. In other words, see the real you.

Cash Riker who can be caught wearing outfits with a style that he titles “45-year-old man in Las Vegas,” enjoys wearing clothes that make him happy, and that are affordable. Riker says that “style is all about how you wanna [sic] express yourself, but also how you’re perceived.”

Being afraid to have a different style isn’t all about self-esteem, it’s also about having the motivation and correct mindset to find the right outfit. Mindy Deitrick is known for having a style with an alternative design. Deitrick talked about what she does to motivate herself to dress up every day. She dresses up to make others see her as a well-presented person, who didn’t “only [get] two hours of sleep.” Based on the article “Dress to Impress: Does Suiting Up Bring More Confidence?” Deitrick isn’t the only one who feels more confident when dressed up. It seems to be a common trend that when people are dressed up in clothes that match their style, their self-esteem is boosted. To summarize, “dress for success.”

In the end, what you wear to school, is completely up to you (as long as it follows the dress code). If you feel happy in sweats and a tee, then rock it. If you want to wear a ballgown, no one’s stopping you. All in all, what you should take from this is that everyone has a style, and the views of others can affect your thoughts on it if you let them. The question is, will you?