The student news site of Westwood High School.

Westwood Horizon

The student news site of Westwood High School.

Westwood Horizon

The student news site of Westwood High School.

Westwood Horizon

Fashion Forward: Popular Aesthetics Sweep the Student Population

Sophomores+Sophia+Cortes%2C+Faith+Mason%2C+Chiara+Pellegrino%2C+and+Tyler+Galaviz+showcase+their+different+styles.+Each+student+could+express+themselves+with+their+aesthetic+-+not+just+with+clothes+but+also+accessories+like+shoes%2C+belts%2C+and+jewelry.
Hadley Norris
Sophomores Sophia Cortes, Faith Mason, Chiara Pellegrino, and Tyler Galaviz showcase their different styles. Each student could express themselves with their aesthetic – not just with clothes but also accessories like shoes, belts, and jewelry.

With certain aesthetics gaining popularity, it’s important to have an idea of what the most common trends are. From emo to preppy and leisure to cottagecore, each aesthetic is fascinating in its own way and allows you to look great with little to no effort. 

Back to Black

The e-girl, emo, and alt aesthetics are both simple and chic, pairing baggy pants like JNCOs and graphic tees with your favorite bands. The emo aesthetic for girls features thick eyeliner paired with a dark or nude lipstick. For emo boys, a loose-fitted tee and baggy pants are the way to go. This grunge inspired alternative aesthetic is further accentuated by dark colors (especially black), studded belts or chains, layered necklaces, rings, and bracelets of various types and sizes. 

A Twist on Classic

Movies such as Mean Girls or Princess Diaries have influenced people everywhere to embrace  the soft girl or “preppy” aesthetic. This aesthetic adds a modern twist to the classy older looks, extending beyond just dresses and skirts to dress pants and blazers as well. The use of bright pastel colors is a defining feature of the preppy aesthetic. Guys wear a simple sweatshirt paired with nice pants and an expensive pair of shoes, mostly Jordans. Girls wear fancy shoes, dainty jewelry, and a nice button-up shirt tucked neatly into a skirt. The simple jewelry and clean lines of the clothing are accentuated by a soft makeup look featuring pastel pinks and subtle mascara. 

Comfort First

Not everyone dresses up for a long day of learning. In some cases, just wearing joggers and a soccer jersey creates a very comfortable and practical look, even if the aesthetic is subtle. Girls wear Lululemon shorts with crop tops and hoodies paired with Air Forces or Jordans and dress this look up with makeup or some nice jewelry, such as pieces from Kendra Scott or Tiffany & Co. The laid back style extends to pajama pants with a simple tank top or crop, offering a winning combination of good looks and comfort. Guys sport this look with shorts or sweatpants and some even wear pajama pants with plain shirts, adding a chain on occasion. The main goal of this style is to be comfortable but also up to date with fashion trends.  

Back to Nature

Cottagecore, a style that draws inspiration from a romanticized idea of country life, has been hitting the streets recently. Girls wear long skirts, nice frilly shirts, and crystal accessories, resulting in a charming fairy-like appearance. The colors are simple yet very unique and contrast well with a more natural brown makeup palette. The very earthy tones of this aesthetic are colors like sage green, hunter green, and of course brown. Guys wear this look too, opting for nice knit sweaters and accessories like pearls to create a cozy, nature-inspired feel.

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About the Contributors
Charly Obermiller
Charly Obermiller, Dreamcatcher Staff
Class of 2026 I love photography and anything artistic! Taking pictures and drawing are my favorite things to do :) I love reading and writing too!
Hadley Norris
Hadley Norris, Graphics Editor
Class of 2024 I look forward to designing graphics this year, you can always find me in the caption :)

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