The fashion evolution

By: Bailee Farrens, Contributing Writer

Isn’t it the most fascinating concept that fashion reinvents itself, almost like a revolving wardrobe?

 Deeper than that, the concept of a device holding all information about fashion, its trends, what’s in and what’s out, is the center of most Gen Z’s lives. What is fashion like for someone now, and what was fashion like for the other generations?  

For Tonya Schmidt, chemistry teacher at Centralia High School (CHS), fashion as a teenager meant a load of different things. Her style was anything from high waisted jeans, leg warmers and shoulder pads, to inspiration from the “Brat Pack”, otherwise known as anyone starring in “Sixteen Candles” or “The Breakfast Club”. Technology was non-existent, so inspiration through a computer screen or phone was unheard of. “Whatever the teenage stars and magazine models were wearing, I tried to copy when we went shopping at the mall. Everyone wanted to be ‘cool’,” said Schmidt. 

Not only were there no cell phones to use on a daily basis, movies were as advanced as the technology that was available. VHS tapes playing several classics such as the “Goonies”, “Star Wars” and “Top Gun” was how Schmidt spent her teenage years, along with reading fashion magazines. 

In today’s world, a couple of swipes on your phone can show you all of the latest trends in fashion. Pinterest, tiktok, instagram, or even online shopping is the fastest way for teenagers nowadays to find exactly what they are interested in wearing or watching. 

CHS junior Braylin Brunkhorst is an expert in terms of fashion. Having an eye for what is trendy, she also enjoys dressing unique.  “I used to not care about fashion but as I got older, I felt that fashion is a way I could express how I feel and inspire others,” said Brunkhorst. While being influenced by models such as Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner, Brunkhorst feels as if social media is how she can see changes in style every day. Although most pieces are newer, Brunkhorst also shares how she incorporates vintage into her everyday wear. “I wear lots of older pieces that are hand-me-downs from my parents and grandparents,” Brunkhorst explained. 

The difference between a teacher and a student and what their lives looked like in a similar time of their life, is striking. From no social media and relying on magazines or movies to see the hottest new arrivals in the fashion industry, to social media being the biggest influence on style, you can see how time has evolved immensely. While some trends never find their way back, the revolving and evolving wardrobe always stands strong. 

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