Our Hometown Styles: From the Prairies to Across the Pond
I am originally from Bloomington, Illinois, a smallish city in the Midwest surrounded by cornfields and plains that stretch endlessly on towards the horizon. As much as I complain about its dullness and general lack of excitement, I can’t help but appreciate the unique beauty of the plains during the haze of an evening sunset, or when morning frost coats the prairies in the fall and winter. It can be, at times, otherworldly and truly beautiful.
I haven’t spent much time at home since leaving for St Andrews when I was eighteen. Fashion at my high school seemed to encompass mainly sneakers, socks with slippers, and black leggings with big hoodies. I struggled to feel connected to the fashion of Bloomington, or the lack thereof. The interpretation of the word “dress-up” was a far cry from the way the word is interpreted in St Andrews, where walking to a tutorial in a pair of comfortable heels or knee-high heeled boots is not out of the ordinary. To pin a specific or distinct fashion sense to Bloomington is nearly impossible. There is no staple piece, no special vibe to go off of.
Upon reflection, I find the main difference between my hometown and St Andrews to be the sense of freedom with which one can express oneself with fashion. In both towns, there is, of course, no set rules as to what people can or can’t wear. However, at times in Bloomington, it feels as though there exists an unwritten understanding of what ought to be adhered to, a mutual interpretation of what is considered too ‘extra’.
When I was applying to St Andrews, I was aware of the its fashion scene reputation had, but I was not prepared for the extent to which fashion was a pervasive theme in and around town every day, not just on special occasions. I realized how much more comfortable I was in St Andrews than in my hometown, not only in terms of fashion, but in other aspects as well. The freedom to wear whatever you want, no matter how dressed up or dressed down, was so appealing to me. You can strut down Market Street wearing all designer clothes, or sweatpants and a hoodie, and no one will care. Perhaps most importantly, I love how students can stand out as much as they want, without fear of becoming a sore thumb, which is what it often felt like at my high school.
In my eyes, comparing Bloomington to St Andrews is nearly impossible. They are located in different countries, with different cultures and different traditions. I would conclude that, in terms of fashion sense, they are far more different than similar to one another. If I had to choose to settle in either city, I must confess that it would be St Andrews, which feels more like home now than my true hometown ever could.
