High school is known for being the time of self-discovery and transformation, a time to experiment with styles and trends to see what fits one’s personal mold the best.

Many Blue Valley students have embraced this idea with open arms and have applied it to different aspects of life — one being fashion.

As a senior, Victoria Peña has had the opportunity to reflect on how her clothing choices have changed over the past four years.

“I like to stand out from other people and send a message to other teenagers that it’s OK to be yourself and not care what other people think of you,” Peña said.

Using fashion as a trial-and-error process, Peña has explored different avenues in finding pieces to build her wardrobe.

“I like to look at thrift shops and see what I can find — maybe I’ll find things I can alter into how I want it to look,” Peña said. “I also get clothes from my sisters and make them my own.”

Peña, along with many other students, has shown that finding style does not require a lot of money to be spent. Thrifting has become a vital part of finding unique and interesting fashion. Sophomore Dylan Wicklund gets most of his clothes from thrift stores, but he also visits other websites and shops to supplement pieces.

“My favorite stores are H&M, Forever 21 and Hot Topic,” Wicklund said. “I occasionally visit places like PacSun, Spencers and even Target has some great stuff.”

Following creators on various platforms is an effective way to find inspiration. Junior Jorian Sanchez tends to use social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram for her “goth, emo and punk” fashion. Unlike Sanchez, freshman Kate Mahoney creates their ideas from both physical and digital media.

“I spend hours and hours on Pinterest,” Mahoney said. “I like to look at people on Instagram. A lot of my outfit inspiration is from @luizacorderoy, @momiiblade, @kayllaalee, and @rui.gaoo. I love to look at old FRUiTS magazines, too.”

Through the process of figuring out her style, Peña emphasized making sure you “kind of fall in love with it instantly” is key to knowing when something is working for you. Fashion is typically used as a form of self-expression and is an outlet for many.

“Don’t let anyone tell you what to buy or wear, and always be open to new ideas and creative ways to incorporate your expression into an outfit,” Wicklund said. ”Most importantly, make sure you feel comfortable.”

To wear a more loud or alternative outfit can require a lot of confidence due to inevitable judging from others.

“Wear whatever you want — even if you’re nervous about being judged or what others think, it doesn’t matter,” Mahoney said. “If you want to wear a skirt, do it. If you want to wear a crop top, do it. If others judge you for it, why do their opinions matter? If it makes you happy, that’s what’s important.”