It is widely acknowledged that starting college is a major milestone in our lifetime and it undoubtedly offers a multitude of opportunities to discover who we are. As we delve into our Trinity experience we embark upon a unique journey of self-discovery, which permeates our entire college duration. Following a long day of arduous lectures followed by an extra study session in the Boland library, we’re lucky if we’re able to squeeze in a quick society meeting before we’re forced to retreat to the confines of our cramped student lodgings. As we navigate our assignments and feel the anxiety creeping in as deadlines and workloads accrue, it is easy to feel some major FOMO (fear of missing out) because it appears that our classmates are living their best lives at the Pav nights while we’re spending our Friday evenings holed up in our bedrooms reading coursework. It is at times like these that students are sometimes on the brink of an existential crisis as we ask ourselves “How do I want to spend my life at Trinity?”,” How will I find my feet?” and most importantly, “Who even am I?”
As we yearn for an answer to those pertinent questions, we long to fully immerse ourselves in the college experience and take advantage of the seemingly endless opportunities for self-growth which await us. Experimentation characterises a new student’s adventures and a playful way to embody a wide range of identities before we find our true calling can be through our fashion. Some people say that fashion is a compelling form of art and that a true artist is a brilliant storyteller. Therefore, our style choices could be utilised to communicate our personal stories to our new potential friends. Additionally, some of my friends from abroad mentioned to me that their personal style serves as a powerful way to maintain their cultural identity as they settle into a new country. Whether you strive to embrace your individuality, or blend in with the crowd, if you are a trendsetter, or if you prefer following the latest trends, Trinity College is the prime location to strut your stuff on the catwalk of student life. As we sashay down our personal runway, we consider whether our true self is reflected in our clothes, or if our latest look should be tossed in the trash. Showcasing our confidence whilst dressing unapologetically true to ourselves often leads us to like-minded individuals and friendships, or relationships form. Our newfound companions become our personal tribe as we collectively seek to discover who we are while dressed head to toe in runway ready wear.
Personally, I arrived in Trinity in September 2025 drenched with nerves as I was still unaware regarding what university encompassed, or to whether I would fit in with my new classmates. In Freshers’ Week, the mere prospect of striking up a conversation with strangers was rather daunting to me. Each mundane initial encounter with my fellow Freshers felt almost like a job interview as I feared making a bad first impression by saying something dumb, or, even worse, suffering every new student’s worst nightmare: being unforgettable and fading into obscurity among the sea of Junior Freshmen. I longed to perfect the right balance of being memorable, but not appearing as if I was trying to be memorable. I wished to be engaging, but not to seem like I was trying too hard. I craved a way to make myself known without becoming known for the wrong reasons among the Trinity gossip chains.
I still recall the moment when, during a murder mystery themed Players’ Society event in the throes of Freshers’ Week, I had an epiphany. While curiously scanning the room for potential new friends, my eyes landed on a girl who ostensibly owned the room. Everyone gravitated towards her and absorbed every word that she spoke as she soaked up the party atmosphere. I wanted to be just like her. Suddenly, something about this girl stood out to me. She was dressed in head-to-toe glitter and did not seem to conform to the stereotypical student hoodie and jeans combo. However, despite this, she radiated confidence while simultaneously dressing for herself and herself only. I pondered whether I could do the same thing and mused on whether or not dressing how I wanted to would result in me acting how I wanted to (confident, friendly, charismatic, you name it!) before deciding that the only way to find out was to give it a try. The next day, I showed up to Trinity donning a bright pink jumper and fluorescent red leather trousers, complemented with a white faux fur coat and finally the cherry on top, my flamingo pink beret: which I purchased on holidays in Paris the previous summer. To say that my beret was a prized possession would be an understatement! However, I was initially reluctant to wear it at Trinity as several relatives warned me that less is more when it comes to fashion at college, but conversely, I decided to follow my instinct and attempt to stand out from the crowd. Suffice to say, my efforts immensely paid off as several conversation starters followed because many people admired my hat and asked me where I got it, which, in turn, led to exchanges of stories of holidays and further destinations that we wished to travel to in the future. It is a common sentiment that confidence comes from within and as my confidence soared due to finally letting my personality shine through my wardrobe staples, my carefree interior soon matched my exterior. Therefore, in no time, starting up a conversation was as easy for me as breathing. Additionally, fashion was also the force that bound myself and my now close friend together as we bonded over our shared love of French fashion when she complemented my beret and I, in turn, complemented her Smith’s t-shirt, which paved the way for a chat about our favourite musicians. The rest, as they say, is history! From that day forth, my beloved beret became not only a style staple, but a life staple for me!
It is undeniable that college life invokes a certain societal pressure to figure out who we are and what our life should look like by the time we’ve achieved our degrees (fingers crossed!). However, the continuous search for a solid answer to those questions often robs of us the ability to fully indulge in our college experience. When else will we have four years of little responsibilities and the chance to party (nearly) as often as we like, not to mention the opportunity to make new friends at society events dedicated to every interest under the sun? Sadly, the answer is probably never again as the harsh realities of adult life await us when we graduate. Therefore, we should make the most of the time we have at Trinity before it’s gone. Also, remember, figuring out who we are is not limited to college life, as we have our whole lifetimes to do so as we find our fashion feet in Trinity and beyond. For many, experimentation is a must as we reinvent ourselves day after day, year after year. Evidently, we will continue to grow and evolve as the years go by and our fashion will, undoubtedly, see some major shakeups as we reevaluate who we are at each stage of our lives. That is no problem. It is inevitable that as who we are transforms, how we dress will also because our fashion mirrors ourselves in the best possible lighting. With fashion, nothing is off limits, but there are two rules that I believe are worth following: always dress authentically for yourself and (as the fashion designer and Real Housewife of Beverly Hills Dorit Kempsley says) “Dress like there’s no tomorrow, but then tomorrow do it again!” (Great show by the way if you’re looking for your next binge watch!)
