Until recently, pencil pants, high waist skirts and Clarks were not styles associated with school. However, as times continue to change, youths continue to turn a blind eye to the fact that one's personal style and the word 'uniform' just don't go together. In fact, the whole idea of one's personal style influencing one's uniform defeats the purpose of having a uniform. My great aunt once told me that in secondary school she had three sets of uniforms, One was for daily use, the other for Physical Education and the last was a dress uniform. They all consisted of way too much clothing for our climate and were overdone.
Her daily uniform consisted of a hat, a long skirt, a long sleeved blouse, a jacket, high socks and flats. Cute? I think not! Can you even imagine walking through Port-of-Spain after school in this day and age, in that ridiculous uniform? Not only would you be dying in the sun but you would make quite a spectacle. My great aunt had me know, however, that back in those days her uniform was her pride and joy and she would not have even thought about changing it if she could. Thankfully, times have changed and now despite colour and slight style variations, most secondary school uniforms look the same. Apart from the few schools that insist on maintaining the 'overall and blouse get up' which we all could not wait to get rid of in primary school, most teenagers wear a skirt and blouse or pants and a shirt to school. Most girl schools do not have a dress uniform while the boys' dress uniform is usually a bit more formal with a tie or darker colours.
The uniforms are suited to our climate and are therefore much thinner and shorter than they were previously. This is all for our comfort. However, as teenagers, we sometimes like to express ourselves in various ways and so we see the need to add our own little touch to our school uniform. It just takes one person to start a trend for the majority of the teenage population to follow suit. This innate desire to fit in, or express ourselves through the modification of our uniform, has resulted in the rise of altered school uniforms which make Port-of-Spain after school hours look like some sort of walking runway. From high waist skirts to tighter shirts which ensure that 'heavier' persons can barely button their blouses much less breathe; uniforms are being changed more and more every day. When talking to some students the excuses for altering their uniforms were interesting.
One girl told gie Magazine that she had to cut and hem her skirt because when her skirt touched the back of her knee it felt uncomfortable, 'and plus it does make too hot to have a long skirt'. Her friend agreed with her saying, 'I have to take in my school shirt... it does make me look square and shapeless'. While comfort is important as one wears the uniform daily, a school uniform should not be altered in such a way that it makes you look different from the rest of the school population. Furthermore, school is not the place to show off your shape, or lack thereof, as it should be noted that no amount of cutting or taking in, is going to make a shape which does not exist, magically appear!
Another style which has now become almost a norm is the cutting of their school pants by boys to make the uniform into khaki pencil pants. Personally, the pants look like what my grandmother would call 'ying pants', especially when they are not cut well. Regardless of what I think, the point is it's a style and if you are going to do it, you might as well do it well. If you're tired of being the only loser with wide pants which are sweeping the floor and decide to cut your pants, please don't do it blindly. Find someone who can do it and seek assistance.
Many persons now also see the need to accessorise their school uniform. Despite the fact that most schools state clearly that only a small black or brown wristwatch and small studs or hoops should be worn, both girls and boys have taken it upon themselves, to wear large, coloured earrings and bands which match keep their school uniform. Then there are those students who go to another level and ensure that their sneakers and schoolbag match with their school uniform and the ridiculous ones who wear different coloured socks or use thick, coloured or gem filled belts to hold up their school uniforms. This is not even saucy, it looks tacky! The mixture of casual clothes and the school uniform should not exist!
While we all have a sense of style which we should embrace, school is not the place to do so. Furthermore, we need to realise that not all styles suit everyone and many fashion faux pas are made time and time again with the alteration of school uniforms. The fact that everyone else has decided to convert their school skirt into a high waist or mini skirt does not give you the right to do the same. Neither does the decision by half of the male population to follow a pencil pants trend give you permission to follow them blindly. It may do us well to leave the uniform be, regardless of how much we believe we can improve it. Some things actually look better unaltered and most uniforms were made with comfort in mind so this should not be an issue. Have respect for your uniform and the school rules by leaving your uniform unaltered.
Paige Andrew
Senior Press Pass Correspondent
St. Joseph's Convent, Port-of-Spain
