We can agree that no one likes the school dress code. (Ok, maybe some people.). They limit a lot of potential creative intentions by suppressing and discouraging people from exploring styles and combinations that otherwise could have showcased their personalities.
In the student-parent handbook, the only clothing that is technically allowed during school hours is ICSA polos and PE shirts. There have been many issues in the past with the dress code, but the most prominent one to me is individuality. With a dress code, we all look the same while limiting creativity and the only way that we are technically allowed to dress differently is by wearing sports team jerseys or club shirts.
With a little bit of creativity, we can take our basic uniforms to a whole new level.
Accessories
With such a restricting system in place, one thing that hasn’t been outlawed is accessories. These can be in the form of piercings, belts, or jewelry. They are a great way to switch up the everyday school attire in a subtle way. With our school uniforms being a blank canvas, a simple necklace or a couple of rings could turn a simple polo or hoodie into a fashionable and expressive alternative
When walking around campus, the thing you see the most is backpacks. Everyone has one and depending on whether or not you are an athlete, you may have more than one. This is a great place to express yourself as it is rare that backpacks or duffle bags are different from your usual Nike, Under Armour, or Kipsta bag.
Your choice of bag doesn’t always have to be the same as well. Other types of bags like tote bags, messenger bags, or satchels can still carry all your school supplies while still being a fashionable alternative.
Playing with Colors
ICSA’s dress code provides many more options in terms of color. We have three different colors to choose from that can allow for quite a variety of combinations between pants, shoes, and other attire. Knowing what colors go together and what colors highlight one another is crucial.
The school’s main colors of black, white, and blue are a great color scheme to follow and my personal favorite. Black and white are colors that go with anything, and adding another color like blue as an accent brightens the whole outfit. For the red polo, a combination of red, blue, and black work well together, as the warm red and cool blue provide an even contrast to the black accent.
Unique Footwear Choices
When it comes to footwear, the restrictions are almost limitless. It’s an overlooked part of clothing that deserves more attention than it receives. It has the potential to make or break a whole outfit. However, when executed properly, it has the power to completely change someone’s aura.
Crocs, for example, have more customization than many others. Their unique ability to have charms that snap to the front of the croc allows you to tell people about yourself without using words. This ability to have a slight idea about someone’s interests just by looking at their shoes is the ultimate form of expression.
Dress Code Events/Spirit Weeks
Most of the recommendations that I have talked about can be put into practice during normal school weeks, but spirit weeks are the time to truly express yourself.
Usually, the only requirement for spirit weeks is a color or vague theme. This leaves the door open to a multitude of ideas that won’t be flagged for dress code reasons, as long as they abide by the base guidelines. Students should take advantage of these opportunities as they’re a great way of showing school spirit while still maintaining their personality.
To get more students to partake in the Spirit Weeks, fashion shows or contests should be held with rewards to encourage participation.
Maintaining Professionalism
“The dilemma with that is that there is this culture of trying to show off for each other and people trying to fit in while having the right clothes or the right shoe.”
-Mr. Pontius, High School Principal
While interviewing our principal, this aspect of having to fit in came up. While wanting to express one’s self is important, we must do it in such a way that no one is affected in the process. There’s no right way to dress or clothing standards that anyone should be forced into. Respect should always come first and nobody should be outcasted for anything they wear.
While expressing oneself is an important part of life and a great way to put ourselves out there, we must do so while still abiding by the rules. Many people want to receive compliments about their new shoes or questionable choices that work well, but no one wants to get dress-coded.
It’s important to know what our requirements are and it’s highly advised to read the student-parent handbook which contains a detailed description of all the rules that everyone must follow. No one is exempted from them and I take no responsibility for clothing-related reprimands.
This article was a way to show different ways ICSA students can express themselves in a way that doesn’t break the rules.
