Whether you’re walking through the hallways or sitting in class, there is no doubt that there is a “Lake Forest” way of dressing. While some people may consider the style as ‘preppy,’ I believe it is so much more than that. The Lake Forest uniform has been a recurring phenomenon throughout history, reinventing itself countless times over.
Across the tiled landscape of the Commons, it is clear that one shoe reigns supreme in the four walls of the high school. It is no surprise that the New Balance 574 shoes are on the feet of many students with their durable build and incredible style potential. The 574’s didn’t start out this way. Before you ever saw the iconic silhouette, it was worn by rappers like Raekwon and Mos Def. Because of this, the shoe gained a domino effect in popularity and could be seen worn by many fashion-forward people in the 1990s. These New Balances would ascend to become one of the most recognizable sneaker silhouettes of all time.
While I’ve seen many different types of pants, the go-to has seemed to be Khaki pants. The Khaki pants are deeply rooted in classic Ivy styles of the 1950s and 90s and have had a resurgence with pop culture’s newfound fascination with Quiet Luxury.’ However, Khakis have always been the Lake Foresters go-to pant, with different shades and cuts of the pant phasing in and out of the trend cycle.
Finally, we have the classic quarter zip long sleeve. Whether it’s from Vineyard Vines or Ralph Lauren, you can always spot at least one quarter zip in the classrooms of LFHS. The quarter zip first became popular in the 1930s after the Talon Zipper Company crafted the concept of the zipper. The quarter zip was initially intended for athletes with the zip being used to quickly regulate temperatures, Since then, it’s been adapted by everyone, from your average LFHS student, all the way to celebrities at the MET Gala.
Even though this is considered to be the stereotypical uniform for Lake Forest, there’s no doubt that the preferred way of dressing is always ebbing and flowing as society and culture evolves. With the randomness and obscurity of fashion, one can only guess what is to come.
