Since the start of the Fañomnakan 2023 semester, University of Guam Tritons can be seen shining brightly as they walk through campus wearing the latest trending fashion.

Student fashion encompasses a lot of campus life as every student has a different sense of style and level of interest in deciding what to wear to classes.

One student, Yna Ysabelle Poquiz, a third-year social work major who is a fashion enthusiast and style icon shared why she believes that student fashion is the key to self-expression. 

“I think fashion is a way for people to express themselves and you can tell a lot about a person based on what they wear,” she said. “There’s so many ways that you can tell someone’s mood based on what they’re wearing on a certain day.”

When asked about her personal style, Poquiz expressed how her biggest inspiration is music, specifically K-pop because she believes idols are trendsetters in the fashion industry. 

“I would describe my style as being really girly and preppy,” she said. “I really admire K-pop groups such as Blackpink, Twice, and New Jeans because they have good style!”

She explains how she coordinates her outfits for a week on campus, “I tend to focus on color when putting an outfit together,” she said. “Personally, I love pastels and always try to incorporate them into my closet.”

Ultimately, fashion begins with purchasing clothes and when it comes down to it, Poquiz recommends ensuring that there’s a balance between shopping online and from local businesses. 

“When I buy clothes it’s a mix between shopping online and shopping on the island because it’s always good to buy local and support the community and local boutiques,” she expressed. “But as a student, what matters most to me is affordability and sustainability—fashion at the end of the day is about how it makes you feel.”

She believes that dressing up for classes can positively impact students’ academic performance. 

“I feel like when people dress up, they tend to feel better about themselves and focus more on lectures,” she said. “Really, I think when you look good you tend to feel good about what you’re doing.”

However, other students disagree and believe that there is a negative side to student fashion. 

Daniella Reginio, a first-year social work major is also interested in fashion but believes that fashion could negatively impact students as much as it could positively. 

“It really depends on the confidence and self-esteem that students have,” she said. “I think fashion could improve but also discourage students. Some students may feel empowered when looking at fashionable students, but others might feel discouraged for economic reasons or because they think current trends might not suit them.” 

Poquiz shared her aspirations on what she plans to do after graduating from UOG, “I really love being in social work and enjoy helping people and want to focus on helping women once I graduate from college,” she said. “But right now, I simply hope that students can find fashion as a means of expressing themselves and instilling confidence in themselves during their time in college.”