Fashion as Art in Ajax Ontario
By Adanna, Miss Teenage South Eastern Ontario 2017
Fashion is truly an art form. The way we chose to present ourselves to the world is an expression of who we are. For some, it can take a lot of courage to wear what they want, and others feel more beautiful when they follow current trends. Regardless of what you wear, the clothes we put on every day are a representation of our personalities, our cultures, and our tastes. Here we will be exploring the styles of four Ajax teens and what Fashion means to them.
Maryam, 17
Jeans: H&M- $10
Top: H&M – $15
Sunglasses: Forever 21 – $7
Maryam has recently recognized the significance of the clothes we wear. “I never used to be that big on fashion”, she states in an interview, “but the past two years I’ve really been trying to find my style and what I like/how I like to wear certain clothes”. Like most teenagers, Maryam is discovering herself and growing into her own skin. She likes the diversity that you see in clothes and styles and tastes and she really believes that fashion is an importanf aspect of everyday life. “I think fashion should mean something to everyone, everyone participates in it one way or another, I know it’s cliché, but fashion is a way someone can express themselves.” – Maryam
Louis, 18
Shirt : H&M – $20
Pants: H&M – $50
Shoes: Zara – $50
Louis is an artist. He sees the world from a very unique perspective. He’s fearless and confident and all of this is made apparent in the way he likes to dress. Fashion is a way for him to express his creativity and his artistry to the world on a daily basis.
“I believe fashion is just another window for self expression, its another form of art.” – Louis
Holly, 16
Shirt: Thrifted
Pants: Thrifted
Shoes: Thrifted
Thrift shopping has become a huge trend since Macklemore’s 2012 hit single “Thrift Shop”. People can find really great clothes at very low prices. Because thrift shops don’t usually carry anything “trendy”, they almost force you to create your own style.
Holly absolutely embodies this idea. She unapologetically wears what makes her happy. She understands the connection between the clothes we wear and our lifestyles and she embraces that every time she gets dressed. “Fashion is something that everybody has, either if it’s a trend or a unique style, it’s something that everyone can own, so own it!” – Holly
Barrington, 19
We’ve discussed how fashion is essentially a form of self-expression, but what do you do if nothing you find in stores represents you accurately? At age 18, Barrington launched his own street skate brand called “Suspended”. The brand has been doing well having launched multiple collections and is now able to ship Canada wide.In designing the shirts and sweaters, Barrington has kept versatility in mind. “Fashion to me is doing whatever you want but being comfortable and still stylish at the same time. Turning basic clothing and putting clothes together and mixing different colours that complete outfits. Also adding little accessory can make an outfit pop and doing little things. Fashion is important because everyone’s fashion is different, everyone thinks about fashion differently but we still share the same things. That’s what I think fashion means to me” – Barrington
Being fashionable means something different to everybody. However, the bottom line is always the same: be true to yourself and do what makes YOU happy despite what anyone else thinks. Fashion and your own sense of style can be a powerful tool when it comes to owning your happiness and learning how to be comfortable with who you are. So use it wisely!