My style and choice of clothing throughout my freshman year at TCU changed about as often as Rachel changed her mind about Ross on Friends. One day I would wear Chacos, and the next day I would wear black leather boots. I was constantly torn between what I felt I was “supposed” to wear at TCU and what I actually wanted to wear.
My first couple of weeks at TCU, I noticed a sort of uniform on campus for girls. The typical TCU style can be a bit of a shock to people who have not experienced the phenomenon of extra-large T-shirts and Birkenstocks. I immediately felt the pressure to conform to this style out of fear of standing out or looking like I was trying too hard if I actually wore jeans to class. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my yoga pants, my baggy T-shirts, and my Chacos. Nothing says 8 AM class more than a comfortable sweatshirt that is 3 sizes too big. But I also love to wear jeans and boots or the occasional dress from time to time. For some reason, though, I felt uncomfortable with wearing anything other than what I had determined was the uniform of TCU. I missed wearing T-shirts that had something other than my Greek letters on them, or my favorite pair of jeans with the holes ripped in the knee, or a nice top that I liked just because I thought it actually made me look somewhat like a person who showered regularly and had her life together. Later on in the year, I finally decided that I was going to wear what I wanted to wear regardless of what everyone else was wearing. As I started to choose clothes based on my own taste and the way I wanted to dress, I realized that I felt more confident, and I noticed that I had a better day in general when I felt that I was in control of my own style and self-expression. While I still wear my huge sorority T-shirts from time to time, I enjoy having the freedom of choosing my own clothes every morning.
So, if you too want to wear something other than the clothes you feel you are “supposed” to wear on a daily basis, I encourage you to embrace your own style and be confident in it. College is the best time to explore your sense of identity, taste, and style and to express yourself in the clothes you wear. When else will you be able to get away with wearing white converse and a formal dress?
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