From plaid to polka dots, camo to florals, these prints do more than decorate an outfit—they tell stories. Whether it’s a leopard headband passed down through generations, or a gingham button-up reworked into something new, each pattern holds memory, emotion, and personal flair. For these students, prints and patterns not only add texture to outfits, but to life.
Anny Wang ‘26 (right)
“I [am] wearing a skirt that has a plaid pattern. It’s mainly red, but there are some hints of brown and green. I really like the color, it’s very vibrant, and this pattern is also a good balance between preppy and casual. The skirt has honestly been with me on pretty, meaningful occasions. I[‘ve] attended a lot of my senior friends’ recitals with this skirt. [It’s] very versatile, it’s a little bit formal because of the patterns of the grid. The skirt definitely matches my vibe, because when I’m very happy I want to present myself as someone who’s vibrant and energetic.”
Autumn Christian ‘27 (right)
“I’m wearing a camo hat that has these American flag antlers in the center. I got it from a company called Realtree, which is a company that sells camo clothing. Camo print is really significant to me because I grew up in the south and my family hunts a lot. We would always have a lot of camo clothing, so the print really reflects my childhood. I chose this pattern to wear because I enjoy camo and because having a staple hat is essential. It’s definitely one of my cooler hats in my collection. I like how sometimes it doesn’t match the style or pattern that I’m going for, because that way it adds my own touch of personality to my outfit.”
Blake Herndon ‘25
“The print that I’m wearing is this leopard print. It’s a classic leopard print, so it’s brown, a little bit of yellowish and black spots around it. I got it from Amazon. I like this pattern a lot because even though it doesn’t necessarily match a lot of things, I’m able to build on it in ways that a lot of other people wouldn’t see because it’s such a bold pattern. My outfits typically center around my accessories, so this headband is definitely a unique piece in my closet. I was inspired by my mom and grandma. My mom wears a lot of leopard print, and so does my grandma. There aren’t any patterns I would avoid, honestly, because I can see the vision for anything.”
Nevada Charity ‘26
“I’m wearing a black polka dot top with a lace trim and thicker spaghetti straps. I got this top from my mom. I was in her closet looking for an outfit, and I spotted the shirt and I asked her if I could wear it. It was one of her favorite tops, and then after that I just kept asking her to wear it so she finally let me keep it. My mom wears a lot of prints and colors, so she experiments with a lot of different fabrics. My greatest fashion inspirations are my mom and my dad. They’ve helped me develop my own personal style over and over again. They’re the ones that told me that fashion is supposed to be fun. That you’re supposed to experiment with colors and patterns, because if you feel good wearing an outfit, it’s going to look 10,000 times better.”
Jonathan Oh ‘27
“[I am wearing] a J-crew button-up that I thrifted and then cropped. It’s a red and white gingham [which] I like because of how it’s a softer color and because the check lines are so close together. I tend to wear things that are pale or less saturated so the shirt adds to my collection. There’s this one guy that I know on Instagram. He wears button-ups layered with a thermal, and that’s what I’m wearing right now. I layered the button-up over a thermal with some jorts, some long socks. It’s a good balance between preppy and casual. Which makes it super versatile, especially in terms of layering. I don’t mess with cheetah print and camo, [but] patterns do create a contrast and I really like that. They really add texture to an outfit, making it look more 3D.”
Gemma Park ‘27
“The dress I am wearing is pink and it’s made of satin and has flower patterns on it. I got it at Aritzia [and] I like it because although it’s not blatantly clear that it has flowers, it’s still pretty. I don’t really like super constraining dresses, so I like the flowiness of it. [The dress] reminds me of my grandma because she has a lot of carpets that are similar to this floral pattern. When I wear the dress, it’s like a piece of my grandma traveling with me throughout the day. [I feel like] patterns can be associated with different moods and emotions based on what the color evokes within me. Pink for example makes me feel vibrant and energetic, whereas colors like blue make me feel a bit more calm. Color is definitely a huge component in how the pattern makes me feel and how it is perceived.”
