Kids Corner

(Olive Press/Phoenicia Times September 10, 2009)

One day I went to school with a shirt with spaghetti straps. Someone in my class told me that I had to keep my coat on because shirt straps had to be “two fingers wide.” I don’t like this rule. There are so many cute shirts with straps that aren’t two fingers wide. I also don’t know why they have this rule. I have heard some schools have really strict dress codes, like you have to wear uniforms. I would hate that. It’s like the school is trying to make kids their minions, making them all the same. I just got new school clothes. They’re not even close to uniform (except one skirt I have is plaid). When I put on clothes, it’s a way to express feelings. When I’m sad I can wear blue, when I’m tense I can wear black, and if I’m excited or confident I wear things that make me look sharp, like fun and funky patterns and colors. One time I wore a tie to school and two boys said to me, “why are you wearing a tie? Ties are for boys.” I told them, “clothes have no gender,” because that’s how I feel about it. What I really wanted to make my wardrobe pop this year was a sailor shirt. Unfortunately, sailor shirts aren’t in the stores right now so I’m still looking. My teacher from last year, Ms. Warren, has very organized fashion—she always looks clean and put together, like she knows what she is doing even if it’s not what I would wear. I don’t feel comfortable in shrugs, but I saw Danielle wearing one last year and she set a trend because she looked so cool. I can appreciate the way other people express themselves through fashion. I heard someone say, “fashion is pain.” I think this means HIGH HEEL SHOES. I do not like these kinds of shoes, but what’s funny is I don’t think there’s any dress code about them. How about telling me what your fashion sense is.