Zoom from home outfits

USD students share their favorite online school fashion pieces and places to shop from 

Anna Valaik / Asst. A&C Editor / The USD Vista

Online school does have its perks. One such perk is that students can show up to class in their pajamas and no one will ever know. However, the flexibility and comfortability of Zoom means many people have not been flexing their fashion skills as much as they would have on campus. There’s no need or pressure to wear a new shirt, change according to inclement weather, or put those jeans on for the dreaded 8 a.m. In this new online world, students have altered the way they dress for class, many choosing comfort over style. Here are some USD students’ own take on their “Zoom from Home” outfits.

Kiara Dias, a junior at USD, describes her style as “grocery store chic.” Dias has some go-to’s when dressing for class. 

“I’m constantly wearing mom jeans and a tank top,” Dias said. “My top brands are Cotton On, Zara, Urban Outfitters, and Target.” 

Dias says her style has, in fact, changed since going online for school.

“I would say, my style has transitioned to be a bit more casual and comfortable,” Dias said. 

She also noted how USD’s campus culture was something that greatly shaped her style when in-person. 

“Compared to last year with all in-person classes and wherein campus culture had students dressed immaculately, it’s been nice to develop a more relaxed style given the only people I see daily is my close circle and Zoom,” Dias said.

Megan Shannon, a sophomore, shares a similar thought process when putting on clothes for class.

“For Zoom class I always dress comfy on the bottom, such as leggings, sweatpants, or sweat-shorts,” Shannon said. “When I need to look a little more put together, my go-to tops are cardigans and sweaters because they look nice and are still comfortable.” 

Shannon makes sure to never forget her slippers, too. Some brands she particularly likes and recommends when looking for Zoom clothes are Set Active, Free People, Patagonia, and Aritzia. One tip she has is to check out  a local Goodwill or Salvation Army.

“Make sure to always scour your local thrift stores. At thrift stores you can find the best comfy sweatshirt and t-shirts,” Shannon said. 

Junior Lauren Smith’s perspective on Zoom dressing has changed over the school year.

“During my first semester on Zoom I was a huge fan of pajamas in class; but lately, in an effort to battle fatigue, I’ve been finding any excuse to get dressed and ready,” Smith said. 

Smith gave a full run-through of her outfit, which sheds light on her style and fashion sense. Smith cares for the environment, and those beliefs are reflected in her clothing choices.

“I’m a big advocate of repurposing clothing since so much waste occurs in the fashion industry. For example, the jeans I’m wearing have made it through a few generations before me,” Smith said.

To Smith, these are more than just jeans; they are actually a family heirloom.

“Originally, they were a pair of overalls back when my great-grandfather wore them working in the mines. A perfect item of clothing for protecting your legs from dirt, rocks, and misplaced pick axes while also looking chic,” Smith said. 

Her jewelry was all recently purchased at a local boutique during her trip to Hawai’i. Her shirt was another repurposed item, but this time it wasn’t from her own closet.

“Since nothing beats an oversized shirt, I got mine from my brother’s closet, but he doesn’t know that, so I’m hoping he’s not going to see this anytime soon,” Smith said.

Lastly, the shoes are bright pink and surprisingly name brand, something Smith says she rarely wears. However, she still purchased them as a conscious-shopper. 

“The shoes are a pair of Ralph Lauren’s that I thrifted because I don’t wear brands often, but when I do, I only wear the ones with my name on them,” Smith said.

As all students know, Zoom comes with its pros and cons. Although dressing up for class was sometimes stressful and simply a nuisance, it did provide an opportunity to show some personality and flair. Even though students and teachers can only see the top-half of one another on the screen, these USD students and many more have still found a way to be themselves and have fun with their clothing.