Fashion- The Great Uniter by Nicole Geier

CONA brings teens from all over the United States to debate and illustrate their fashion trends. Well, most of us do! Every individual has different taste in fashion. He or she may or may not follow a certain fashion trend in their region of the U.S.
The northern region of the U.S. is incredibly cold in the winter and slightly warmer in the summer. To shield from the harsh winter, delegates from New Jersey wear classy scarves, chunky sweaters, leg warmers, and cozy jackets to stay warm. Boots! Boots! Boots! Everyone there loves boots. From Nine West rider boots to vintage cowboy boots there are many varieties to fancy your style. New Jersey’s fashions are influenced by New York’s urban style. For the most part, everyone in Jersey has their own individual style. Delegates from the North are not used to the hot weather of the South. They had to dress cooler than normal. A few days this week it was chilly, and Southern delegates are not accustomed to the cold weather. Many delegates were huddling for warmth because they did not pack jackets.
Delegates from the Southern region fight horrific heat and humidity almost year round. To stay cool on hot days, girls from Alabama wear sundresses and shorts. If you visit the South, during anytime of the year, he or she will see almost everyone wearing flip flops. Even though mothers say it’s bad for one’s feet, Alabamians wear them year round, even if they lose toes due to frost bite. In Texas, everyone rocks a cowboy hat, certainly if you have a bad hair day. Boys in Alabama try not to have a bad hair day. They spend hours in the mirror perfecting the famous side “Swoosh”.
California, here we come! But what should we wear? West coast style is similar to the Southern region’s style. When delegates return to Cali they may wear shorts and sandals. The style there is very laid back; and carefree. On the West coast people tend to follow three major trends: clean cut preppy, Phat Farm, or punk. West coast people are mellow which is revealed in their carefree, seaside influenced style.
CONA taught us that it is okay to be an individual. So if you have a unique style and are afraid of showing it don’t be!
As my mother always said, “Opinions are like noses, everyone has one.” Don’t be afraid to dress a differently from everyone else in your region of the U.S. In the end your opinion of yourself is the only opinion that matters.