Young people expressing themselves through fashion is hardly a new thing, even though some of us who are older and wiser—or at least, we’d like to think—would rather certain trends stay in the past. But when it comes to fashion school students, you would think that dressing your most authentic self is practically a requirement.
So when a video taken from outside of New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology went viral this week, many were quick to clutch pearls over looks such as head-to-toe denim that would have made Y2K Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake proud, what can be best described as “Maleficent-core,” Oktoberfest chic, the second coming of Clueless, cursed doll, anime-lite, and so on.
“The zoomers have gone insane,” posted X user @aero_wulf, along with the 42-second long clip, which didn’t specify that they were undergrads at a fashion school.
The zoomers have gone insane pic.twitter.com/3NxAuQSWgI
— ????????????????. (@aero_wulf) September 13, 2023
Okay, so maybe some of the outfits are admittedly on the outlandish side, but that’s also kind of the point. As the clip began to circulate online without the added context, many were quick to note as much.
“They’re FASHION students for christ’s sake,” one user wrote. “You guys do this every time a Tik Tok fashion school video makes its way over here; it’s getting old! the only insane ones are those who ridicule people brave enough to realize that happiness is a terrible price to pay for societal conformity.”
they’re FASHION students for christ’s sake. you guys do this every time a tik tok fashion school video makes its way over here; it’s getting old! the only insane ones are those who ridicule people brave enough to realize that happiness is a terrible price to pay for societal… https://t.co/kEHJ1xdfgP
— ???? ★﹐ (@FlLLEFATALE) September 14, 2023
Others had similar sentiments:
oh no fashion students expressing themselves by dressing how they want https://t.co/6DPm5jT0rL
— rae ୨୧ (@6arbiedoll) September 14, 2023
this would’ve been a good tweet if you didn’t choose a video where everyone looks cool https://t.co/NjXnXfmvHj
— Hurt CoPain (@SaeedDiCaprio) September 14, 2023
we should break office dress codes so that people feel free to completely express themselves through clothes at work and we get offices like this https://t.co/rpY3xxFlWU
— derek guy (@dieworkwear) September 14, 2023
Breaking News: Fashion students at fashion school experiment with fashion. https://t.co/7VuEJN9cCh
— Cora Harrington (@lingerie_addict) September 14, 2023
However, not everyone was so quick to defend the students. Others pointed out everything from the fact that the students are allegedly bad tippers to the fact that a unique style does not guarantee a career in fashion, or even graduating for that matter.
I work across the street and all of these children are evil and do not tip a cent https://t.co/jQwrgmTACo
— rachel yara (@bugposting) September 14, 2023
everyone I know that went to FIT ended up moving back home cause they couldn't handle the fact that their individuality complex didn't get them a career and they aren't as unique as they thought https://t.co/5maaefeGgp
— ian (@ianisuglyyy) September 15, 2023
As someone who is currently studying in a creative field where a lot of people run around like this I can guarantee you that half of them will not make it past the first semester and are only there to be the worst drinking buddies you wish you never met https://t.co/HUlFAmqU8I
— B0l (@Bolverk15) September 14, 2023
no one talks about it that much but about 5 years ago all trends died and now its about customizing your avatar https://t.co/D31i1QAaed
— garlic (@garlicblog) September 14, 2023
Hey, it could always be worse. At least they’re not all dressing identically, as a clip of college students at the University of Alabama showed.