The Rise of The Natural: A New Sophisticated Look

The West Coast adores athleisurewear. The dressed comfy look that pairs items from brands such as Lululemon and Alo with daily clothing has been a commonality in the region for over a decade now. However, it lacks originality. This style of clothing, mainly consisting of polyester and nylon, is often seen as “basic” but easy to work with.
So even though every school year starts like a fashion show with freshly washed hair free of split ends, clean sneakers showcasing the latest trends, and new linens, blouses, or sweaters to finish the look, it quickly becomes a norm for students to care less about style and more about ease.
This has been the case for many students at Sacred Heart — particularly given over 80% of the student population plays a sport. Wearing the same or similar clothing to what is worn at practice makes it easier to prepare for the day.
Yet the outfits we start the year with are a testament to our student body’s joint love for what clothes have to offer. They express who we are as individuals. The extra time put in to curate intricate outfits is beneficial to all students. With higher expectations on what is deemed normal to wear to school, you can place more intention behind your looks, therefore increasing the value of your style.
An easy way to level up your look is by incorporating more items with natural materials such as cotton and linen. This helps not only create a more sophisticated look but also increases the breathability of your clothing. NICESTUFF found that when wearing natural materials such as cotton, less sweat pools on the skin which allows your body to perform its natural functions more efficiently.
Also, Vogue has called this season to be one dominated by Boho chic, with effortlessly fitting clothing consisting of forever fashionable materials like linen and silk. This style is a simple first step into expanding your forever closet as it incorporates more comfortably fitting patterns athleisure often mimics.
When trying to find a new style or establish a long-lasting wardrobe, often the hardest part is finding affordable pieces. Some great sources for more accessible naturally sourced pieces are thrift stores or even websites like Goodwill.com. These stores have big markdowns from original pricing and can be worn like new after a cycle in the wash. Finding forever pieces that make you feel more comfortable and help you express yourself should be a goal because what we wear can easily define to others who we are.