At Berkeley High School, opinions about fashion are as diverse as the student body, but when interviewed, students all seemed to agree that style is an important tool for helping a BHS student stay afloat in the big river that is Berkeley High. For many students, Berkeley High opens their eyes to the possibilities of self-expression through clothes.
Style also makes it easier for students to flourish within their creative “It shows what culture I’m more influenced in … it makes me feel more comfortable,” said Leevon Taylor, a BHS skater. Wearing a particular kind of shoe or pant lets students code themselves as a skater or hype beast. It helps them distinguish their own group from other groups, and it also gives them a way to recognize each other as part of the same group. Students have long been interested in fashion.
So, what sets BHS apart from other schools? Many students that were interviewed suggested that the unique style at BHS might have something to do with the lack of a nearby mall, which forces students to get a little more inventive, buying from thrift stores or online dealers. “Berkeley has many people from so many backgrounds, we get all these different ideas about just everything about style and fashion,” said freshman skater Thomas Levy. When students arrive at BHS, they branch out into a personal style that’s more unconventional or “weird” and might not feel as uncomfortable as it might to a kid raised in a more conventional town.
BHS senior Thyra Chaney influences many students with her style, which she describes as “sporty, useless, colorful, egocentric, celestial, and arc.” Chaney can be found at various thrift stores searching for a special piece of clothing. Whether it’s a vintage chemise to layer over a classic Thrasher shirt or a hat from someone else’s vacation, Chaney finds the piece and styles it perfectly.
BHS students have shown time and again that they can rise to meet the style pressure. As with slang, Berkeley High has a legacy of style leadership that includes the rap group the Pack, with their famous tribute to sneaker love, Vans model Aerin Creer, and Kidrobot founder Paul Budnit. The legacy of trendsetting, born out of a unique and intense style environment, means that Berkeley High School’s influence reaches outside the school walls, across the Bay Area, and around the world.