Let’s face it, jeans are a fashion staple. Everyone has a pair of jeans, from flare, skinny, straight leg, boyfriend fit to ripped jeans. We’ve come a long way- jeans are a classic symbol of American fashion. Personally, my jeans are one of the most personal things I own, and I tend to get attached and wear them until they are worn out. Although types of jeans go in and out of style, the secret to jeans as a fashion staple is their versatility. Just as flare and boot cut jeans were the trend of the 70s, ripped jeans are the popular trend today. Girls wear ripped jeans in 2017 to sport an effortless look that appears put-together while on-trend and stylish.
So why is it that everyday girls are getting JUG for ripped jeans? Why should fashion trends be punished? Don’t get me wrong, many items of clothing are inappropriate and show too much skin for a professional environment, although ripped jeans do not fit that category. Many Prep girls have passionate thoughts about this rule and eagerly approached me to share. Fashionable senior Anya Lewis ‘17 is frustrated because she has received JUG for ripped jeans several times when her outfits have been put-together and covered up: “our dress code is in place because teachers and faculty want the students representing our school to look presentable. But it’s frustrating that people wearing ripped jeans are given JUG, while those wearing sweatpants go unpunished even when they look less presentable.” Girls argue that ripped jeans are a more presentable option over wearing sweats to school.
In addition, people feel that the dress code rule has not been consistent and the administration has not been enforcing it until recently. Junior Fiona Scanlan shared her experience and difficulties with the rule, “they should not be enforcing a rule at the very end of the school year when everyone has already been wearing and purchased rip jeans for the year. I only own ripped jeans…so am I now supposed to go out and buy new clothes?” Lex de Suduiraut ‘17 received her first JUG in 4 years this past month for holes in the knee area of her jeans, “this ripped jeans rule is ridiculous, not only has it just recently been enforced, but it also makes people feel bad about themselves for trying to dress in a trendy way.”
The ripped jeans dress code rule is also controversial since man in the student body believe it is strictly “a girl problem.” “Why do my knees cause a bigger distraction to the Prep community than the Varsity Boys Lacrosse teams’ entire legs while wearing their game day jean shorts?” adds Lex de Suduiraut. Are ripped jeans such a distraction that they hinder teenage boys from learning in class? Does this imply that knees are provocative and must be hidden? From a male point of view, Mark Layton ‘17 answers these questions, “seeing girls knees through holes in their jeans doesn’t distract me. If anything it is just another way for people to express themselves. Style and fashion goes in and out, and right now rips in jeans just happens to be ‘in’ at the moment. If some holes in girl’s jeans are distracting, then maybe it’s not the holes in the jeans we need to be worrying about…”
Along with the passionate student body, I believe that we need to reevaluate the dress code rule banning ripped jeans from school. Although the rest of the students still have the opportunity to continue to fight for change, the class of 2017 only has a couple days to walk out of JUG in their favorite pair of ripped jeans for one last time.