Alice Vol. 5 No. 2

like to think fashion is open to interpretation. If you like
it, you should wear it and not care what others think.
That being said, there is a notable difference in the style
of clothing people choose to wear on the east and west
coasts. There is a casual and relaxed vibe on the west coast —
which ultimately embodies the carefree beachgoers who live
there, while style on the east coast tends to be more refined,
sleek, and put together. People living on the east coast are
inclined to wear more traditional and crisp garments that give
off a preppier attitude.
The term “laid back” came to mind easily for California
natives, Maggie Higgins and Taylor Tomko when describing
style on the west coast.
“Growing up it was always like a staple pair of high waisted
jeans and a nice white t-shirt and fun accessories and cool
sneakers,” Higgins said. “Elements of the quintessential west
coast fashion girl are ‘effortlessly cool, very casual, boho/beach
chic, and definitely in denim.’”
Tomko recognized that she dresses differently in Alabama
than she does when she goes home to Pasadena.
“I don’t bring half my closet to school because here people
wear more dressed-up and nicer clothes. At school, I wear big
t-shirts during the day sometimes, but at home I would never
do that,” Tomko said.
Taking a different approach to defining east coast style,
Caroline Crafton, an Alabama girl through and through, sees
style developing from the wearer’s current stage of life.
“I would say there is not one style but more of a generational
evolution that the east coast follows,” Crafton said.
She has observed that once one person decides something is
going to be a new trend, people will follow.
“You have to choose to go with the current or go against it.
It’s solely based on your personality and the value you place in
your appearance,” Crafton said.
Is there a noticable divide in the style on each coast? Yes.
My favorite thing about fashion is that it is always evolving—
and that style is always personal. Society compartmentalizes
by nature, but that does not mean that living in Virginia is
stopping you from looking effortless in denim and a t-shirt and
vice versa to a girl in Arizona wearing a nautical striped shirt.
Nonetheless, it is also important to remember that it should
not confine your individuality.
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