Fashions and Fads

Fashion, as always, is a mirror of mood — and at Santa Barbara High School (SBHS), that mirror reflects something raw, inventive, and deeply personal. Thrifted denim, statement jewelry, and frayed hems walk beside structured military blazers and metallic accents, creating a tapestry of contrasts across campus. But what sets the style here apart is more than just the mix — it’s the origin story behind each piece.

Thrift stores, garage sales, and flea markets are the hunting grounds where fashion is found, flipped, and reimagined. For many students, getting dressed each day is an act of creativity, not consumption. “My outfits kinda just find themselves to me, I go for more of a calm 2000s vibe,” says SBHS junior, Olivia Loza-Mercado. There’s an easy confidence to this generation’s approach — less about following rules and more about following feelings.

Emotion is often triggered by nostalgia. For student designer Samuel Zelli (11), inspiration starts with memory. “I’ll see something I was wearing when I was a kid and think, ‘I kind of like that. I could remake it — but make it better, elevate it.’” Memory becomes a launchpad. Fashion, in this sense, is a kind of personal archaeology — digging into childhood closets or thrift bins to uncover new ways of seeing the world around us.

Color and concept are also shaping what students wear. “My outfits are inspired a lot by my favorite album covers,” Loza-Mercado shares. “I go by color schemes and shapes.” It’s a uniquely visual approach to styling — one where music, emotion, and fashion collide in curated chaos.

At SBHS, trends coexist with individuality. It’s a place where high-concept meets secondhand. Right now, the mood feels divided but deliberate. One current leans into excess: glossy metallics, sequins worn shamelessly in daylight, and sculptural accessories. The other opts for restraint — minimal tailoring, muted tones, silhouettes that whisper instead of shout. Thrift culture thrives in this tension, offering students the freedom to explore both extremes and everything in between — without breaking the bank.

For Nicolas Anderson Alvarado, fashion is about freedom and feeling good. “I think my personal style is just my personal style. If I find something visually appealing and I think I look good in it, that’s what I’ll wear,” he says. “I’m big on wearing whatever makes you happy.”

Alvarado’s sense of style was shaped by someone close to home. “My brother is someone who inspired me the most. He got me into thrifting and reselling, and without him, I wouldn’t be able to dress the way I dress now.” His approach mirrors the DIY independence that defines much of the SBHS fashion scene — style not as competition, but as collaboration and community.

When asked about current trends, Alvarado observes the return of early-2000s silhouettes: “One trend I’m noticing is probably the skinnier, tighter look coming back. I personally like this look — I think it’s very versatile.” Looking ahead, he predicts a cozy shift: “One fashion trend prediction I have is that fur boots and jackets will come back in the coming months as it gets colder.”

Certain pieces will always remain timeless. As Loza-Mercado puts it, “I’m lowkey predicting individualism. I’m tired of seeing cookie-cutter fits from most people. It’s not about what you wear, it’s about how you wear it.”

That line could be the motto for SBHS style culture — a reminder that true fashion has less to do with price tags and more to do with presence. As fall sets in, gauzy summer layers are replaced by heavy trenches, vintage knits, and soft-shouldered blazers. The shift isn’t just in fabric — it’s in feeling. On campus, fashion moves like weather: part past, part future, and entirely filtered through a secondhand lens.

So, is anatomy-based fashion the next big thing? Zelli pauses, smiles slightly, and says, “I think.” And in that quiet answer is the loudest truth about SBHS style — it’s thoughtful, evolving, and entirely its own.