The past few years have seen a slow and steady takeover of fashion consciousness not just among college students, but also school students.
Where a flyaway hair was frowned upon, school kids are getting away with much more these days and are becoming adept at moulding fashions and trends to a school-friendly setting.
There has been a marked shift from neat plaits and maybe a serviceable watch to cleverly styled fringes, coloured lenses, branded spectacles, bags and even light makeup.
The mysteries of ‘lotions and potions’ no longer have any allure since many young girls have their own makeup collections and can pick their way around cosmetics with ease. In addition, kids are becoming increasingly brand aware and image conscious, which has contributed to a large number of them wanting to enhance their looks and change the way others perceive them.
Strictly speaking, a school always strives to enforce uniformity.
“It’s quite prevalent among the senior classes and although it is disapproved of, nobody comes out and says anything. There are girls who streak their hair gold or bright pink and even wear coloured lenses to school,” says Sai Sanjana, a student of class 12 at Timpany School. “Some of them wear eyeliner every day!
It’s just a bid to differentiate themselves from the rest. In fact, whenever we get to wear a civil dress for any function, people discuss others’ clothes and makeup for days afterwards! ” she exclaims, and wonders how far they’ll push the envelope.
The boys on the other hand want to avoid getting a haircut as long as possible since long hair and spikes are the only vanity they allow themselves. A few have been known to use gel to make their spikes retain their shape while others simply dab a bit of water to achieve the same effect.
Girls too like getting their hair cut in flattering styles, and fringes and bangs are an all-round favourite. However, they do pin it back with a hairclip or band while in school so as to avoid being hauled up for shabbiness.
Although Sanjana feels that peer pressure motivates school kids to try and outdo each other appearance wise, her outrage is not shared by many others.
After speaking with some of her peers, it is evident that a hint of gloss and kajal is widely accepted by them. Nikhila, a student at Sri Chaitanya simply acknowledges that makeup, when used in moderation and in keeping with the sobriety of the school environment, is not inappropriate at all. But she does feel that streaked hair, foundation and rouged cheeks are a step too far, one that she wouldn’t care to take.
Harshini Ramesh, a student at Narayana, admits that a little makeup goes a long way in transforming appearances. “I personally like applying lip gloss and kajal, and it makes me look good. No makeup looks unattractive,” she firmly states.
However, it must be noted that some schools in the city stand firm and do not allow student to deviate from the standards they enforce.
