Fashion Awakening: from Uniforms to Self-Expression

Fashion. A form of art and lifestyle; it could determine your whole being. Through the existence of humanity, fashion and style have varied — your societal class, personality, job, ethnicity, marital status, and even intention. One thing’s for sure, we’ve developed since the beginning of the world’s creation from either the big bang or the big man upstairs himself. I mean, Adam and Eve’s big leaves are so ten billion years ago, right?

Filipino clothing culture

Growing up in the Philippines, most people were conservative in their mindsets and lifestyles, at least when I was a kid. The country is largely influenced by religion — Catholicism — so you probably already know what that’s like; being conservative is rooted in the beliefs and traditions that we have. Most people wore clothes that covered skin that wasn't necessary to be shown.

In my elementary years, I studied in a school run by nuns. We had a school uniform: skirts that are long and thick, specifically knee high socks and no other minor kaartehan like nail polish, dyed hair, nor makeup. One time I came to school with a henna on my leg, which was seen by one of the sisters, and I was brought into the principal’s office. It wasn’t too crazy though, she just emphasized that people with tattoos are often perceived negatively, and it was probably a bad representation of that specific school. 

In my last two years of high school though, it was similar to the elementary uniform, except we — girls — had to wear shoes with an inch or more of heels. Not gonna lie, it makes you feel like a beauty queen catwalking on your runway, the school corridor.

Pictured above is my sister in her girl scout uniform in over a hundred-degree weather.

Despite the scorching heat, jeans are what people wear the most — and sweaters outside school corridors! Seriously though, why do we Filipinos wear sweaters? It wasn’t until before I left that people became more adventurous. I was told wearing a bikini is maselan or vulgar, but now super short crop tops are okay! Talk about finally dressing for the weather.

After I started studying in the US

It was an absolute tectonic plate shift when I came to the United States. Here, everyone was free to wear whatever they wanted and however they wanted to wear it. It’s a liberating feeling not needing to wear the same set of clothes every day! In school during summer, people wore clothes that fit the weather, despite being on campus. Be it shorts, a skirt, a cute little tank top, tube tops, mesh jackets! Of course, I had to get used to it first. It was pretty shocking since where I was from, showing your shoulders is offensive. Aside from the stylish side of things, you get a feel for someone’s personality too! You’re able to express yourself unrestrictedly.

How this has helped me

The growth has been undeniably huge for me. I had a minute obsession with boots when I was 12 — whereas here I have to use boots for the winter. I chased trends; namely, crop tops, ripped baggy jeans, and makeup fads that didn’t last long, nor suit me. Navigating my sense of self in fashion has been quite a journey. I mean, if you’re in a whole different continent that should inflict a change in you besides moving between different environments like school and home and trying to be comfortably stylish. Now, I’d like to revert back a little and stay true to the classics, or as they call it “old money” fashion. Or so I’d like to think.

Alaine Obra from the Philippines is studying for an associate’s degree in computer science at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada.