Fashion as Expression: A Look at MHS Culture

Fashion teacher Angie Anaya with Fashionable Arts Club President Joy Paler.

By ANGELINA ARELLANO  
The Tower 

MANTECA – From the look of students walking across campus, their outfits spark creativity and style. Oversized clothing, disheveled jeans, graphic tees, and bold accessories hold an expression of personal identity at Manteca High.   

In the fashion world, it has been a significant topic for Gen Z to showcase their style and culture. By revolutionizing fashion with bold choices, students across campus have a motive to express themselves differently. With our two sources that will speak on this, they offer insight into this aspect.   

Angie Anaya is an instructor who teaches Fashion and Interior Design at Manteca High. She understands cultural and fashion trends through the colors worn on campus, reflecting our community, and how it's one of the ways we express ourselves through fashion.   

Fashionable Arts Club president Joy Paler showing off her stylish outfit.

“Fashion trends that represent our school community the most definitely, color. So, green is our color and then see the buffalo. To me, that represents our school community, and that represents who we are,” said Anaya   

By identifying how we express ourselves in clothing choices, there can be other ways Gen Z uses trends and culture to resemble their fashion.   

“You see fashion changing through pop culture. I noticed when there are some big events happening, such as sport events, you can see them in jerseys or their colors. But for us, it's more seasonal. Such as certain people who are impactful, like Sabrina Carpenter and her impact on everyday fashion. It’s through color, texture, or even makeup or hairstyles,” said Anaya.   

From other people's perspectives, it seems that many aspects can influence fashion, To our community here at Manteca High, many students are very sophisticated to bring fashion to another standard. Through trends and culture, Anaya gives her thoughts on keeping herself up to date on trends and how she expresses herself.   

“I’m fearless about trying trends if I like them. I definitely am not a trend follower though, but i like to stay up to date with trends. I tend to dress myself in a classic, but funky and stylish way. Although I don't really chase trends since I can't afford it,” said Anaya.   

Bethany Joy Paler is a student at Manteca High who favors fashion with wearing fur boots, stripped tights, band t-shirts, while layering. She offers her insight into the students and their fashion sense.   

“I would say there are so many things I’ve gotten inspiration from, like from the places I’ve been, people I’ve seen on the street, online platforms like Pinterest, music to art,” said Paler  

Paler is a reliable source for her innovative sense of fashion, and for being a part of Gen Z. And for her resemblance to self-expression, she greatly serves what students are about when it comes to fashion through trends and culture.   

“I think clothing shows a lot about your interests, and people don't even realize it. Whatever patterns or prints you wear, it reflects you down to the shoes you choose to wear or accessories like necklaces and bracelets. It all means something and truly embraces who you really are and present yourself, it may be something you don't think about a lot, but it's the truth,” said Paler  

Through a perception in fashion, you can gather students walking around campus, such as self-expression, conceptions, and style. And how trends and culture significantly impact it.