One of my most memorable experiences at school was being dress-coded. You may ask, “What did you get dress-coded for?” It was a bra strap. My. Literal. Bra. Strap. Was. Showing. Apparently, the bra strap was “too distracting” for the other students in my class. This was the moment I realized that the old dress code was unfair and unrealistic.

Don’t get me wrong. I understand why there’s a dress code. Of course, students shouldn’t be wearing clothing that has offensive material, and students also shouldn’t show up to school with a bikini or swim trunks (unless Homecoming week calls for it). Thankfully, I haven’t seen either of those things happen yet – phew. 

However, I believe that the old dress code targeted mostly girls, and that was a huge problem. Bra straps, cleavage, crop tops and tank tops are considered  “feminine” clothing, and the dress code is aimed at these clothing items. I can ask pretty much every one of my female friends about whether they’ve been dress-coded, and they’ll say “Yes, of course.” However, being dress-coded doesn’t seem to be a common experience for guys.  

Deciding what to wear in the morning – or if you’re a planner, at night – felt like a minefield. Questions like “Will this shirt be too short?” and “Is my bra strap showing?” are unrealistic to the standards of the real world. Nobody is going to care about showing your shoulders, your short shorts or a crop top. And neither of those things hinders another student’s ability to learn in the classroom. If another student has a problem with any of those things, then that should be addressed one by one, not as a code that affects all students at the school. 

In the past few years, the dress code has changed. According to the new dress code, or more like the lack of dress code, no longer do shorts have to be fingertip length, and no longer do we need to hide our bra straps, ahem. Students being able to express themselves with clothing at school ushered in a new era, which was exciting, especially after the turbulent virtual 2020 school year. 

I love walking down the hallway during passing periods and looking at all the different styles. It’s almost like a mini fashion show – you don’t know what kind of design you’re going to see. Whether it’s a TV mounted on a chest so students can watch a movie while walking past, or a really cute fit, I love that the school and district understand and honors a student’s ability to express themselves.

While the new dress code offers students a channel for self-expression, I understand that it can sometimes have negative effects. From a teacher’s perspective, I can see how a student showing up to class in pajama pants and an oversized hoodie might make a lazier impression than a student who shows up in a more active getup. I definitely have my off days: the days when I cannot bother to look good for school, or days when I’m not feeling my best. It’s just important to know that it’s up to the student’s discretion on the impression they make on their teachers. 

Overall, the new dress code has its ups and downs. The virtual lack of dress code is realistic and gives students a method of expressing themselves, but it can also affect the impressions you make on teachers and even other students. I believe the new dress code is something worthwhile and important, but I also recognize that there must be a balance between dressing to express and the impressions you make with that expression.