Katie Mueller, 12:
How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? “It really depends. Last year, I used to wake up at 7 and then get ready in 10 minutes and go to school. Sometimes it can take me like an hour. Sometimes I put on an outfit, and I change until I like it. Sometimes I immediately like it. Sometimes I don’t.”
What is an appropriate level of “formality” for school? “I’ve seen school used as a training ground for a job, so you’re supposed to be professional. I feel like that’s a reasonable perspective, but also, we’re here all the time and it’s stressful, and we’re kids who are exploring our identities. So people should be able to dress in a way that they enjoy and also dress in a way that’s comfortable to them.”
How would you describe the way you dress? “It’s kind of eclectic. I’ll wear a bunch of bright colors especially. I buy a lot of clothing items because I find them kind of ridiculous.”
Do you judge people based on how they dress? “I feel like I do judge the vibes of their personality, not necessarily in a negative way.”
Rasheed Mantara, 12:
How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? “Every morning I wake up about an hour and a half early. I take a shower, I put coconut oil in my hair, and then I put on lotion, all the self-care stuff, and then I absolutely drip myself out in outfits.”
How long does it take you to drip out? “It’s just natural. I’m natty dripped out.”
How would you describe the way you dress? “My style usually takes one of two routes. It’s either early 2000s Kanye, or I dress like I’m about to ask a teacher for homework. It’s just whatever color is appealing to me in my closet that morning. I usually try to dress in graphic shirts or colorful shirts. I feel like too many people just wear plain black, plain white — all that stuff is lazy to me.”
Who do you dress for? “I just dress because it makes me feel good. My motto is you’re only as fresh as you feel.”
Do you judge people based on how they dress? “I’m not one to judge anybody as far as dressing goes [but] the way you dress says a lot about you. I feel like a lot of people don’t really think about how they dress themselves. They don’t realize the way other people see you is what they’re seeing on your body.”
Annabella Lombardi, 12:
How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? “15 to 20 minutes.”
How much of that time do you spend getting dressed? “About a minute.”
What is an appropriate level of “formality” for school? “Casual [but] I personally don’t care.”
Who do you dress for? “Myself. I dress what I feel comfortable in.”
Do you judge people based on how they dress? “No — I think they can just wear whatever they want.”
