Fashion crime

My first and only fashion crime occurred when I was still in High School, back in Indonesia. In Indonesia, all the students in a school always have to wear a uniform that has been determined by the school law. This uniform consists of white shirt, short sleve, a gray tie, belt (for boys only), gray pants, and black shoes. When wearing the uniform, boys are expected to always keep their buttons tidy, always wear the tie during school time, always button up the neck so that the tie and the clothes will look nice, and never wear any shoes that are not completely black. Whether the student likes it or not, the school always demanded the student to always follow the rules regarding school uniform.

This was very troublesome for me during my high school days, as I was quite rebellious towards my clothing. I always love to wear clothes and pants that are comfortable and a little loose in my body so I can wear it freely and have my body able to move around easily. But most of the time, the uniform that the school provides were very tight and stiff, it restrict my movement and often time make me feel uncomfortable. So one day, I decided to rock my own fashion by deciding to not unbutton my sleeves, unbutton the neck area for the tie, loosen the belt so that the pants will be hanging even more, and wore white jacket most of the time to school. Everyone was shocked when I came to the school as I looked very different. Everyone was questioning my act and asked “What were you thinking? You will certainly get into trouble for this”. The students were exaggerating their comments because all the students know that the school has a very strict policy towards not wearing the uniform properly. Then immediately the news of my rebellious act got heard by the school’s principal. He was furious and demanded me to come to his office immediately. When I came by to his office, the principal’s face was already red like a tomato. He told me to button up all the buttons in my shirt, wear my belt properly and to never wore that jacket ever again. He told me on how my uniform was very untidy, unprofessional, sloppy, and rebellious. Then he continued on complaining on how my sense of fashion resembled an act of mutiny towards the school law and order. He also complained how my disobedient act will not help me to succeed in my upcoming future, how people will often times look at me badly. Moreover, he complained how my fashion was a disgrace for the school, and how it made the school look bad by not being able to control the student properly. Afterwards, he called my mother and asked her to come by the school and give proper lesson towards my rebellious act. When my mother came, the principal came to an immediate anger, probably just to show a sense of authority and respect within the school. My mother immediately apologizes to the principal and ensures him that she will make sure that I will always wear my uniform properly. Eventually, the one-day-rebellious-act that I did was a huge disaster for me.

Apparently, the school does not realize the fact that asking all students to wear the same uniform is actually not helping the students to socialize better with each other, but more into making every student feeling left for not being able to express themselves through what they wear. The efforts of educators to enforce a school dress code are just another way to evoke student’s rebellious side. Uniform creates the feeling that each and every student is the same, and this contradicts human norms on how each person is unique and one-of-a-kind. The school needs to realize that uniforms are uncomfortable, boring, and distract the student mind from being able to express themselves. School should try to allow students to express themselves through what they wear and not banish them from going against the society. They should follow schools in America that allow students to express themselves through what they wear.