Fashion is a form of self-expression and a way of showcasing who you are. Many girls at Hamilton Girls' High School seek fashion as an outlet and a way to discover their unique identities.

Self-expression is a vital part of a young woman's upbringing. This can be through someone's way of speaking, someone's style, or how someone stands out in a crowd. Self-expression can be silent, not always loud. It shows a person's vulnerability, confidence, and transparency. Neglecting to display self-expression causes your emotions to be compressed, affecting your mental health and overall Hauora. Identity is a major part of self-expression. You show your strengths, weaknesses, your best qualities, and your worst flaws. You can embrace every part of yourself and be proud of who you are.

Around the world, fashion is influenced by culture and tradition as well as what is popular. Some iconic fashion trends through the recent decades were bell-bottom jeans and platform shoes in the 1970s, perms and neon attire in the 1980s, scrunchies and acid-wash jeans in the 1990s, and finally low rise jeans and small cropped shirts in the 2000s. Each style revolution in each decade is so unique; showing how people expressed their own identity at that time. The twenty-year rule is a common way to predict which styles will come back into fashion. You look back 20 to 30 years from now and find the style inspiration many are drawing from today. This is happening currently with trends from the 2000s resurfacing, and who knows, maybe skinny jeans will make a return in the future.

It is no lie that one's personal style is an outlet for figuring out who you are as a person, but how do you actually find it? In our social-media-influenced society, many constantly changing micro-trends circulate our feeds. It may be easy to stay ‘on trend’, but by stepping back and thinking before you shop, you can pick out pieces from all eras of time to help build a closet that describes you. You can construct outfits that turn people's heads, and simply give the people around you a glimpse of who you are through what you wear. Whether it’s using unique or plain colours and patterns, by finding your style you can pop out while walking down the street.