In the iconic lyrics of David Bowie’s hit song Fashion, “They do it over there but we don’t do it here.” Fashion depends on the time and area where it’s being observed. So what exactly are we doing over here at Gallatin High School? With our large school there are many different fashions roaming the halls. The alternative style, the ‘basic’ style, Y2K, about any style you could name you could also find in the halls of GHS. So let’s break down our school’s fashion.

According to sophomore Benjamin Gilmer, “It’s shocking how much style right now is just the '90s again.” The converse, originally a basketball shoe, walks every hall in every color and style. Although this shoe originally was used for the game of basketball during the late '80s and '90s, this shoe would appear again in wild popularity in the retro style casual footwear seen today. Another trend GHS that seems to follow from the '90s is cargo pants which had predominant popularity in the late '90s and early 2000s. This piece was prominent in Y2K style and grunge style. Senior Camile Catron leans towards this alternative style stating, “I like combat boots and grommet/studded belts with chains.” This shows the diversity of a decade found within our very own high school.

Another staple you cannot miss within our high school is the letterman jacket. A symbol of extracurricular achievement representing school pride. You can’t walk into a single high school in America without seeing this timeless piece. This jacket originated on the campus of Harvard in 1865 according to United Sport Apparel but waited till the '50s to claim it’s throne in high school apparel. This jacket was associated with jocks. Senior Maiya Stohlmann claims, “The athletic vibes at GHS are absurd.” As Stohlmann formerly attended Petra Academy till her junior year of high school, she has seen many sides of style. Where Petra Academy has a uniform, at Gallatin, we roam free with our individual choices of style. However, we still go back to school apparel. Depending on the season, you’ll see a variety of sports plastered on T-shirts, hoodies, jackets, and pants. This comes from our school’s heavy activity in sports which allots for the gear from different sports to make its way around the school.

But what does Bozeman, Montana foster in fashion that much of the nation doesn’t? Plain and simple: granola takes the crown. Granola fashion is a low maintenance style that gives an outdoorsy vibe, which in Montana, there is no shortage of wilderness enabling this style to take flight. Key brands to this style are practical brands such as North Face, Patagonia, and Birkenstock. These brands provide comfortable clothes made to face the weather we find in Montana and a fun outdoors adventure.

In general, fashion is a fluid thing where trends come and go. It establishes individualism in us all and allows for self expression on all kinds of levels. It offers a variety of fit for every person and gives birth to new ideas everyday. Our own GHS shows many styles and it’s a fun journey to discover the world of fashion and how it can blossom, even in smaller towns such as Bozeman, Montana.