Senior photos are cottage core to the max. Photo courtesy of Pinterest.
San Luis Obispo High School students are evolving in the fashion world. In other words, society has made style the new way of life. This year’s class of 2026 portrait appearances attain landscape, flowy silhouettes, and laid-back luxury. Expressions reached out to our local fashion experts to ask, Is this chic or chopped?
Expressions: What is your opinion on this year’s fashion taste in our community at SLOHS?
Fashion Teacher Leone Avery: I don’t really think there’s fashion, I just think that people get dressed everyday. I just don’t see a ton of experimentation. I see a lot of comfort, a lot of pajamas being worn like post COVID. I also see a lot of athletic wear or jeans, t-shirts, sweatshirts or tank tops from the trending brands such as Brandy Melville, and things like that.
Expressions: What recent fashion trends have caught your attention outside of SLOHS?
Avery: I saw a TikTok that was all about hands as accessories but in an art form. It’s like a bag where you put your hand in a glove but it’s connected to the purse. Or there’s this hand figure that is in a pinching form to another object or piece of fabric. So hands, as a motif or design. The other big trend is a hybrid print between Zebra and Tiger that’s all over bags. I think that print will be pretty popular and on clothing, skirts, purses, and other things that are known for patterns.
Expressions: What is your take on our school’s back-to-school/post summer’s style?
Senior Tindra Iiga: My take on our schools back to school/post 25 summers style I have to say was pretty bland. Of course people wear popular items or styles because it’s good or universally liked. But it can be boring. Just seeing everyone wear the same thing all the time. Most of it was good pairs of light washed jeans, tops and hoodies that are either from beach brands or beach influenced. One of the biggest and newest trends this year was definitely flip-flops, which I have to say I actually like, I think it’s very Californian of us to do as a school and it suits us. There was a lot of clothing this year with more laid back beach vibes and honestly I’m here for it.
Senior Noor Shamsi: The style reflects living in a beach town. People aren’t trying too hard, it’s more about easy outfits that work for warm weather and everyday life. It feels laid-back with casual pieces that still look intentionally fun.
Senior Elisa Coatti: The style revolved heavily with pastels. I also loved that people wore more shorts; ripped especially, paired with spaghetti strap tank tops and flirty sandals.
Expressions: What do you think about some of our seniors’ portraits? Do you think that the delicate theme of landscape and valley nature is befitting?
Iiga: Now moving on to senior portraits, I have to say I was incredibly disappointed with some. Given I thought people would take it more seriously yet they did not. People wore the most casual outfits, outfits you’d wear to school everyday. Some just showed very little effort. But some were very nice and professional. Some people were very formal and had good camera quality. Everyone was a little basic and chose the beach mainly. Nothing wrong with that but it’s a bit sad that most people had the same idea and no one had more unique ideas but regardless I think that some senior photos are very good I just wish more took it seriously.
Shamsi: I think it really highlights the beauty of San Luis Obispo and how unique it is. We have so many different terrains like beaches, valleys, hills, and open spaces. The portraits capture that variety really well. It makes each photo feel connected to where we grew up.
Coatti: I think the theme is well fitting because it emphasizes originality and self expression through nature.
Expressions: Share with us one trend or fad that piqued your interest this year.
Iiga: I think one trend that kinda grew on me throughout the year would have to be the people who started wearing flip-flops. I thought at first it was extremely kinda informal but it grew on me the more outfits I saw. That were very relaxed yet stylish.
Shamsi: I’ve been really into how people are leaning more into individuality and personal style instead of following one specific trend. I also like seeing styles from around 2012–2016 come back in a more relaxed, modern way. It feels nostalgic but updated, and people are making it their own rather than copying looks exactly.
Coatti: One clothing piece that piqued my interest is the authenticity of woven sweaters.
As the year unfolds, students are embracing the lively local culture that SLO offers in all of its greatness. Our community and school provides diversity and collaborative opportunities, following the versatility each year and the styles ahead.
