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Sorajo shows off their outfit. Photo by Anna Oleynikova

As the temperature slowly rises and winter comes to an end, it’s time to retire the puffer jackets, reorganize wardrobes and open up new possibilities for outfits. However, Washington’s spring weather can be fickle, changing from warm and sunny to cold and rainy in minutes.
“I like to be prepared for rain or anything that might come on,” junior Ayane Sorajo (they/them) said. “Like, yesterday was pouring down rain and freezing, but now it’s sunny and warm.”
Junior Sam Sekora (he/him) said that while wearing T-shirts and shorts is more fun, a good rain jacket is essential for the spring, even if it may be annoying to carry around. Similarly, freshman Cassidy Anderson (she/her) always brings a coat regardless of the weather.
“When my friends say, ‘Oh, I dressed too lightly today,’ that’s never me,” Anderson said. “I suggest always bringing an extra jacket, and you can just shove it in your locker or whatever you have. Normally, kids have room in their backpack, so I don’t know why we’re not bringing jackets.”
Along with her signature jean jacket, Anderson is a huge fan of accessorizing. One of her favorite items is a brown embroidered flower belt she purchased at a market in Florida.
“I think belts are a really good piece, because if you’re wearing lots of jorts and stuff, I think it helps add a little bit of detail, because detail is everything,” Anderson said. “This outfit wouldn’t have been this good without the jewelry.”
With so many accessories and clothing pieces, Anderson has taken organization to the next level with an app called Indyx.
“It’s my digital closet. I have my entire wardrobe scanned, like my hats, shoes, belts, all my different shirts and stuff,” Anderson said. “So that way, when I’m at school or something and I’m like, ‘What am I gonna wear for tomorrow?’ I can just make them right there. It’s my personal Dress to Impress.”
Spring also brings inspiration and new opportunities to experiment with different styles. For many students, confidence plays a big role in how an outfit comes together. Anderson said that as long as you think an outfit looks good, then it looks good.
“Once I got into fashion, I was like, ‘Oh, this is a cool way to feel good about yourself,’” Anderson said. “I’m making myself look presentable, and so when I’m going to school, I actually feel confident.”
Anderson said when she was in middle school, she debated whether or not fashion was worth the money, but thrifting was a great way for her to commit without having to worry about prices. Sorajo also enjoys thrifting — most of their nice clothing pieces are from browsing around second hand stores. However, Sekora often buys his clothes from Alderwood and Bellevue malls because of how easy it is to try them on.
“Just searching online, trying out new clothes — don’t be scared to buy — there are a lot of places you can actually return,” Sekora said.
Whether it’s online, at the mall or at thrift stores, all of these different shopping methods allow students to express themselves and be unique.
“You just kind of have to try different styles through different outfits and see what really sticks and don’t care too much about what others think,” Sekora said. “Just do what you like to see yourself in.”