As I snooze my alarm in the morning, my first thought most likely centers around get- ting out of bed, a task that’s never fun. But after I roll out of bed, I, like many Berkeley High School students, consider what I’m going to wear. For some, this task is a breeze, while oth- ers take their time in deciding the day’s outfit. This process is often stressful, as students fret over whether their hair looks good enough or contemplating if someone will notice that they wore that shirt two weeks ago. Beauty and fashion standards are broadcasted from TV ads, “For You” pages, family members, or friends. What are these standards, and how do they influence students and people every- where?
Dressing “Y2K” has been extremely popular recently, with Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch, and low rise jeans all the rage. Along with the early 2000’s clothing trends coming back into style, so has the desired body type. During this era, being extremely skinny was extremely hot. Teenagers were exposed to these images in the media often, encouraging a near skeletal frame that was likely achieved by eating disor- der tendencies. Today, there’s another way to attain a highly desired 2000’s-esque physique. Ozempic and other GLP-1 weight loss medi- cations are readily available. With the rise of these products has come a downfall in the popularity of the body positivity movement. As the 2010s progressed, acceptance and posi- tivity had encouraged everyone to feel confi- dent in their bodies. Now, with ads for weight loss drugs on TV often, the message being sent about weight is not as inclusive.
Although fashion standards depend on the time period, they can also be determined by the economic status of a country or region. For in- stance, the desired body type in Jamaica is full curves and a larger frame, which signals you have lots to eat and are financially stable. Dur- ing the Great Depression lots of makeup was preferred, as only folks with money could af- ford the commodity. These examples highlight a pattern of fashion and beauty standards aim- ing to flaunt your financial status. Throughout the past century, most trendy looks have been expensive and therefore, exclusive. However, in the mid to late 2010s, the Kardashians took the price of beauty to a whole new level. Kim Kardashian got her first butt lift around 2010, when the plastic surgery industry was valued at $10.7 billion dollars. In 2026, that number has grown to $66 billion dollars. This provides insight as to just how much influence celebri- ties have over the beauty industry.
What we wear and how we appear heavily affects how we are perceived by others. As a high school student, it can be a challenge to find ways to present yourself that resonate per- sonally. In a time when social media platforms are constantly providing images of how oth- ers are dressing, the task becomes even more complex. Although getting ready in the morn- ing can be stressful, presenting in a way that makes you feel confident walking out the door is often worth the time.