Trending Fashion at DA!

Written by: Daysha Campbell

School is back in session, DA! As this new year starts, what are you wearing? What fashion trends have you in a frenzy? As this high school year starts, DA students have been showcasing their own fashion statements—as they should. 

Welcome to “What’s Trending, DA!?” where we discuss the latest trendy conversations for our school. Today’s topic? Current fashion trends at DA! As a fan of fashion myself, I’ve noticed that as fashion trends come and go, DA student’s attire fluctuates as time goes on. Exploring the many fashion trends of the youth of today along with DA fashion will let us know what’s trending at DA! 

What’s Trending Now? 

As the summer season starts to simmer out, fall fashion is slowly coming into fruition. I say all of this to say: patterns are coming back! 

At DA, I’ve noticed trendy things like polka dots. Colorful polka dots are very nostalgic of childhood patterns we’d often see. To see them resurge in our school asks the question; are there any other patterns coming back to see the light? My answer? YES! 

According to the article, My Favorite Wearable Fall Fashion Trends for 2026, coming from the fashion and beauty publication Danielle Gervino, states that another pattern-based design coming back is stripes! “Stripes are always around in some capacity, but this season they’re feeling a little bolder and more intentional. Think thicker rugby stripes, higher-contrast color combinations and knits that make more of a statement than your typical everyday striped tee.” 

What we have to note as we investigate DA’s fashion choices is that Gen Z consumes fashion in their own unique way. Gen Z, amongst other generations, is the age group that thrifts the most, according to Printful, noting that Gen Z’s fashion style is also “…built from a mix of resale finds, trend-driven content, and pop culture references…” This generation is more committed to building their own unique style rather than following what is trending in fashion, and you can see that clearly if you look at every student’s unique fashion. 

As we move a few weeks into the new school year, necessities like school supplies and new clothing are becoming more in demand. Circana, a website that records data about big tech companies, noted the new trending shoes that students are wearing. “Circana’s research confirms that sneakers are the top category on the cusp of a new school year. As the peak season approaches, low-profile and Mary Jane-style sneakers are attracting interest and ringing up sales.” Mary Janes and sneakers are perfect for the upcoming fall season, and it seems like DA is keeping up with the weather. 

What’s Trending at DA? 

What do DA students think about trending fashion here at our school? Well, senior Zoe Richburg, when asked about what she’s seen around campus, says, “I see a lot of knee high converse, plaid jorts and shorts, and a lot of shirts from a 2000s collection called love and let live. I also see a lot of short-sleeve hooded henley shirts.” It’s clear that DA’s fashion style is adjacent to the overall Gen Z fashion styles: trending 2000s fashion. 

As for Richburg’s personal fashion style, she states her fashion style is “a mix of Aliyahcore, Heisei Y2K, Manejin Gyaru, and playground prep,” noting she’s not sure what she’d exactly call it. Richburg’s styles are subcultres of styles originating from America, and different eras of Japan, like the Heisei Era, mixed with the popular Y2K fashion style. 

Fashion does not have to be one pinpoint style. It is a mixture of styles, preferences, and trends of the times. Our generation’s fashion at DA reflects that idea and tells us that each of us is unique and distinct from each other. It’s important to have that identity as we are in our high school years.