Fashion has always been one of the strongest and finest forms of self-expression. It lets a person portray their perspective, ideas and thoughts in a creative and harmless way. It acts as a vessel to showcase one's beliefs and personal style. Fashion trends change every few months and there are new collections for every season. These trends are temporary yet set the mood and let other people judge someone based on how she wears her hair, the colour combination of her dress, or the way she does her nails and makeup.
WCC has always been known for how innovatively students dress on campus days, as well as on regular days. Students generally choose the saree as the preferred option during campus days. Nevertheless, the trends dictate the outfits. Sarees are popular in college because the custom of wearing sarees is fading among today’s youngsters, and wearing it to college makes it exotic. In addition, Gen Z re-interprets and reinvents the concept of saree, letting them explore various ways one can wear it. Another reason may be that it makes the person more photogenic when she wears a saree.
The students of WCC never cease to express their feelings, moods and beliefs through their clothing. If someone feels lazy, she comes in sweatpants and a t-shirt with a messy bun, but if she is up for it, she puts on a gorgeous dress, wears her hair down, and sports bright nail colours and makeup. In terms of hair, a number of WCCites have dyed their hair and most of it is cherry red in colour! Nearly all students wear scrunchies, matching their outfits. I have always wondered how girls coordinate scrunchies with their outfits but then realised how it makes the outfit more complete and chic. WCCites generally prefer bright and vibrant colours in their hair clips, scrunchies, oversized t-shirts and graphic eyeliners.
During hot summer days, one needs comfortable clothes that are stylish. That is when wide-legged pants come to the rescue. A variety of wide-legged jeans, cargo pants, baggy jeans, and palazzos can be seen on campus. And students creatively style these with tight shirts, crop tops, graphic t-shirts and straight cut kurtis. Usually, the combination of big pants and small tops or short kurtis are paired with tote bags. Students are often seen with tote bags because of how comfortable these bags are to carry, while also being spacious, easily available, affordable and eco friendly.
Fashion trends and standards are set and changed every year at WCC. The necessity to "glow up" or "be transformed" spurs students as they pass from year to year. It is one of those unspoken expectations that goes around, though some students still stick to conventional styles, such as straight A-line kurtis or long kurtis with jhumkas. Jhumkas and ethnic jewellery are one of the prominently seen trends in WCC. Not a day goes by without spotting at least six to seven girls wearing ethnic jewellery on campus. In the context of ethnic jewellery, piercings are one of the hot takes, especially nose piercings and stacked ear piercings. “I got this nose ring just to get my grandmother and mother off my back but I also feel like it helps me get back in touch with my roots," said a student from the Zoology department. Jewellery always has an impact on women and it helps them enhance and embrace their femininity and get back in touch with their culture. Similarly, nose rings and stacked ear piercings help youngsters deal with identity crises.
Another fashion trend that has been winning hearts are tattoos. In the past year, students have been seen with minimalistic tattoos. Tattoos, which originated for the basic need of healing and as a form of punishment, have taken a different turn and have now become symbols of empowerment and self-expression. Ranging from wrist tattoos to hidden shoulder tattoos to huge forearm tattoos, students seem to have adopted this form of fashion to express their preferences for pop culture, declaration of love, and words and symbols of empowerment.
To conclude, the students of WCC have the privilege and liberty to experiment with various styles and choose what suits them best, while adhering to the prescribed dress code. By this, they also get to identify who they are and their preferences. After all, like Bill Cunningham once said, "Fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday life.”
Student wearing loose pants and a long overcoat with a pop of colour. Credit: Sanjana R
Student with dyed hair. Credits: Sanjana R