Earlier this week, Lauren Sauer, an opinion columnist for A Plus, wrote an article to make a point about today’s fashion. Sauer did an experiment where she dressed like well-known ‘It girls’ Kendall Jenner, Alexa Chung and Gigi Hadid, and she tested whether the reason society reacts so positively to the relaxed looks of style icons was because they are skinny. Sauer pointed out that, in comparing the way the same clothes looked on herself versus Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and Alexa Chung, the biggest difference was that she is not 5’10” and 120 pounds.

Sauer’s argument makes sense. Normcore, or fashion that is meant to seem unpretentious and uncoordinated, is the newest trend seen on everyone, from big name celebrities to Insta-models. One factor most of the celebrities have in common is their size. So what is it that society is loving: their clothes, or their waistlines?

Obviously, there are people in the world of fashion that truly enjoy the laid-back, no-fuss nature of this new trend. However, there is nothing new happening here. A lot of what these girls are doing is not foreign to college students. ‘Normcore,’ in all actuality, is college kid chic. It’s baggy t-shirts and track pants, monochrome outfits and lots of hats.

Normcore is easy. It’s fashion for those who have realized that maybe silk slips and leather skirts aren’t their forte. It’s fashion for the everyday girl, with less time to worry about whether her jeans are Diesel or Seven (when they really came from the local Goodwill).  

The everyday girl isn’t a model, and she isn’t always going to have a perfect blowout or feel comfortable with her midsection exposed. But if someone wants to chow down on a cheeseburger while wearing a crop top and some trainers, they should be allowed to do it without fear of persecution. 

Unlike Sauer’s description, we shouldn’t put these looks in a negative light. Sauer imitated the double-denim look Kendall rocked to an airport and said she, “knew (as) soon as I pulled on the denim-on-denim travesty it wouldn’t end well.” However, the look is a classic normcore move, and double denim has made a huge comeback and looks great if done right.

Style icons are meant to be examples of clothes that are fashionable, and their body shape shouldn’t be a factor in how tasteful the clothes look.

I think the lesson we can take from Sauer’s experiment is this: whether you are 5’10” and 120 pounds, 5’4” and 150 pounds or anything in between, if you love yourself it will show through your style. 

A black tank and leggings is not Gigi Hadid’s signature look; she doesn’t own it, and if someone wants to wear it and feel awesome, they can do just that. 

Leave size labels aside and wear whatever makes you feel fierce and beautiful. Clothes were made to cover bodies, but fashion was made to allow self-expression.

Aspen Gage is the assistant features editor of the Kentucky Kernel.

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