Authors: Ju Eun Song ('25) and Esther Lindley ('24)
When the new online behavior system was introduced in August, the BAIS community had mixed responses. This was especially true for the updated dress code, with teachers emphasizing the importance of following the school’s standards in preparation for working life. The presence of a dress code (and the lack of a uniform) inspired The BAIS Times to conduct interviews on how students dress daily.
Walking through the BAIS hallways as students transition between classes, people’s styles and influences shine. While not everyone dedicates time and effort to developing a personal style, people’s choices reflect their personalities and preferences, even if they can only wear a PE uniform.
How much effort do BAIS students put into their clothing?
How long does it take to get dressed?
A global study shows that the average time people get dressed is about seventeen minutes. But how long do BAIS students take to get dressed? The BAIS Times has researched this question through a school-wide survey to see how much effort BAIS students put into their daily fashion choices.
The survey showed that around 50% of BAIS students spend between one to five minutes choosing their outfits. In comparison, about 40% of the students take five to ten minutes, while 10% take fifteen to thirty minutes to get dressed.
The survey shows that BAIS students take less time to get ready compared to the world's average time.
How do you choose your outfit?
Gibbeum (Joy) Kim (‘25) said, "When choosing what I want to wear, I match my top and my bottom to see if they match in color and style. It takes me less than ten minutes to pair up my clothes because most are casual, making it easier to match."
Joy prefers a casual look because it’s easy to match with other clothes and is popular among people. While some people enjoy standing out in the crowd, Joy prefers to go with a safe style that is easy to coordinate and will not fail, which makes it easier for her to coordinate her style.
Photo Courtesy of Joy Kim
Responding to the same question, Jiseop Yoon (‘25) noted, “I just go through my wardrobe and imagine what shirt and pants would match the best.”
These responses made it unclear whether BAIS students were making the most of the relatively free dress code. So, The BAIS Times reporters asked further questions regarding their choices and styles of fashion.
Do people care about fashion?
How would you define your fashion style?
Layla Matanick (‘28) describes her “fashion style as minimalistic [with] simple colors and styles. I prioritize comfort over looks, so I wear whatever is comfortable.”
A school-wide survey revealed that about 40% of students shared this affinity for comfort over fashion. Yet, other students specified more niche fashion preferences.
Clarine Tantowi (‘23) said, “I prefer a downtown girl or coquette aesthetic. This is because I love mini skirts, poofy dresses, and doc martens, which are the essentials of my aesthetics. ”
Photo Courtesy of Clarine Tantowi ‘23
Ella Truloff (‘25) said, “I think I dress kind of retro, but mostly pretty casual; a lot of people tell me I dress retro though.”
Does the media influence your sense of style?
With easy access to the internet, students are exposed to celebrities and influencers that inspire different fashion trends. A famous movie or a TV show from a different time might have a big influence on the style people dress. Fashion trends are very cyclical, with trends from the 2000s and 90s being in again in the 2020s.
The BAIS Times interviewed students on their various influences.
Ella said, "I really like Vada Sultenfuss’ style from the movie My Girl; she dresses very casually, in a kind-of 70s style."
Around 30% of the BAIS students surveyed said that the media influences them. Platforms such as Instagram or Pinterest influence students to follow different aesthetics and trends on how to dress.
Eliza Stanford (‘27) said, “ I dress in a preppy style, and I get my inspiration from Pinterest boards.”
What completes a look?
People have different focus points in fashion. Some might say that shoes finish a look, while others say accessories complete the look. From The BAIS Times’ survey, over 50% find that hair completes a look, with most others picking shoes or jewelry.
Joy said, “shoes complete the look because if you wear a dress with unmatching shoes, it’ll look weird. So shoes are essential when looking at the overall balance of the outfit.”
On the other hand, Jiseop said, “everything is important because it all adds to create a look. It doesn't matter if you have really good-looking shoes; the match and components must flow well.”
How has your taste changed over the years?
Ella said, “I’ve learned how to dress for my body shape. I’ve also kind of been able to figure out my style.”
Jiseop said, “Compared to 2 years ago, my taste has become more mature and casual; it’s also less colorful than a couple of years ago. I don’t like colorful clothes now because it’s hard to match, while less colorful clothes are easier to match.”
Why do people care about fashion?
While not everyone cares about fashion, some BAIS students said their style has increased their confidence, focus in school, and is an outlet of self-expression, one which would be removed with a school uniform. BAIS students have the choice to take advantage of the relatively relaxed dress code, but most people don’t. But is that a bad thing? The student body can fumble around in their closet and toss on the first thing they find or spend 30 minutes matching the just right shirt, pants, and shoes. If anything, there is just as much learned from someone who curates every outfit they wear to school compared to someone who wears the same hoodie shorts combo all year. Choosing to wear the same outfit all the time is still a form of self-expression, despite not being very glamorous (or interviewable). So, for students who enjoy fashion and those who could care less, the same message applies: the benefits of our dress code greatly outweigh the downsides, which reflects how BAIS treats its students. BAIS has created a healthy space for students to take the opportunity to grow and find themselves. While students may not always have this freedom in the years to come at college and jobs, middle school and high school remain the time to experiment and discover.
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