When I arrived at Ferris, I knew that it was going to be a lot different than high school. I expected harder classes, more work and a lot more responsibility.
However, never while preparing to take this next step in my life did I consider the differences in what people would be wearing transitioning from high school to college.
In high school, whether people tell you differently or not, you are judged by what you wear by a good amount of your peers. In college though, it’s a whole new ballgame, as many people consistently walk around in hoodies and sweatpants. In retrospect, it makes sense given the fact that college tends to be a very exhausting experience for many people, resulting in students having less energy to put toward their outfits.
What is most interesting about this trend, however, is how it has extended into other aspects of life for people of this age group, such as what business casual means to these individuals.
Not only that, but it seems like this change in dress code is more than just the result of being tired. Perhaps it’s a more forward thinking type of fashion that will be the main focus as we head through the next few years.
As we’ve progressed into 2019, the emphasis has been shifting toward the value of the individual. On top of this, we as a society have always said that it doesn’t matter what a person looks like on the outside, but what’s on the inside that counts.
So why hasn’t that rule applied to the fashion industry?
Now it seems like it is. As what you wear has become less important in exchange for what you know being the most valued trait, it seems like this is the way of the future.
As more and more businesses scale back their dress codes in order to accomodate to individuals of the younger generation, it seems that the realization is setting that dressing for success may be great, up until that person isn’t very successful. Companies such as IBM and General Electric are two companies that have decided they’d rather just take the best people for the job, even if they wouldn’t win any awards for “best dressed.”
When taking a subtle look at all of this, the concept makes sense. Most people do better work when they’re feeling the most comfortable. Now, this isn’t to say that teams are just going to make shorts with socks and sandals the new business apparel across the country; however, it is saying that we are moving in a more casual direction.
It just so happens this trend is represented every day by students of all walks of life on Ferris’ campus.