Looking back on the last four years, so much has changed for the graduating class of 2026. From heavy post COVID-19 and TikTok influence, to now, their time has been a journey to remember. And each student’s experience can be easily shown through their fashion journey. Fashion is a way of self-expression whether it’s fitting in with the times or standing out. The graduating class of 2026 has seen a drastic change in what’s trending since the beginning of their freshman year.
“Freshman year, I definitely tried more. I feel like now I’ve kind of given up and I just wear comfy clothes,” said Senior Norah Busch. “But freshman year, I remember trying hard to be different.”
Heavily influenced by the popular “preppy” style of the time, Busch dressed fancier than she does now, often incorporating her Mary Jane Doc Marten shoes and a skirt or dress. As her style has developed, she is realizing that dressing up for school is not as important as she once thought.
“I just feel like I tried harder in freshman year, and now, everybody’s just giving up,” Busch said. “Especially in the last couple weeks.”
In the 2022-2023 school year, some current seniors could argue it felt opposite to the current trends. With a heavy increase in social media due to the growing popularity of Tik Tok, students saw a big influence in style. With young freshmen looking to explore their style, they often turned to popular influencers for inspiration.
“There was a lot of colorful shoes; Airforce Ones and Jordans were very popular. People used to wear them with shirts that matched the colors,” Busch said. The whole year was based around color and making a statement.
“I loved my ultra-high-rise jeans and my pink Nirvana sweatshirt from Urban Outfitters with a crop top,” said senior Mae Merriman. “I wore that almost every day.”
Merriman enjoyed her high-top Converse shoes and a variety of colorful crop tops to match like she had seen on Tik Tok from several influencers.
“The whole style was very post- indie,” Merriman explained. “I definitely felt very preppy and Tik Tok inspired.”
Whether in the last couple weeks of a four-year adventure, or just beginning freshman year, fashion has been a constant on these students’ journey of self-expression. Clothes are heavily influenced by pop culture and influential people of the time, and history itself can be shown through clothing. The graduating class of 2026 has changed drastically over their high school journey, and their fashion choices are an excellent reflection.
