By: Iman Ahmad
Picture this: You’re in high school, or even middle school – and you’ve just learned how to put on eyeliner, or maybe you’ve dyed your hair a different color, or you finally got that new jacket you’ve been eyeing online, and you go to school excited to showcase your fashion choices, but instead you’re stopped at the gate with a disapproving glance because: “This is a school, not a fashion show.” I know we have all been there because trying to express oneself within the bounds of “education” has not necessarily been appreciated. However, if we have learned anything from Elle Woods in the iconic film Legally Blonde – fashion and intelligence toward studies do not have to be mutually exclusive. LUMS serves as the epitome of this argument, as it is hard to observe even a day where at least one or two people’s outfits don’t catch your eye. But how did LUMS become a fashion hub and evolve into what it is today?
For Anonymous ‘23, fashion is constantly evolving on campus; every year, given increased social media trends that generate specific fashion “aesthetics.” For instance, Anousheh Arif ‘25 considers herself to be a mix between a “soft/pastel/cottage core/y2k girl.” While these words may fly over someone’s head, specific aesthetics like boys or skater girls play a large part in how people present their personalities. For instance, in conversation with Mahnoor Hamid ‘24, she expressed that she leans towards a specific “colourful” aesthetic and does not incorporate a lot of black in her outfits as she considers herself cheerful and outgoing. For many students at LUMS, wearing a specific aesthetic can be a gateway to exploring themselves or, instead, who they want to be. We’ve all got to fake it till we make it, right?
However, the increase in aesthetics also coincides with a new era of experimentation and creativity. In discussion with Tanner Jannat ‘24, for example, she explained how she does not like being tied down to a specific aesthetic as she likes to wear what she thinks looks good by experimenting with different clothing. Similarly, when asked where most students get their clothes, Jannat ‘24 and many others said, “Most of the clothes I get are hand-me-downs from my Nani, and some are from small businesses other than the classic stores like Outfitters, Khaadi, etc.” Mariam Asif ‘24 also added that “online thrift stores are rising in demand” and are becoming popular amongst LUMS students looking for more sustainable and affordable ways to buy unique clothing not typically available in outlet stores. For instance, the emergence of Instagram accounts like @vintageatlums or @lumsthriftstore in the recent 1-2 years allow people to shop for foreign brands and buy clothing like skirts and dresses that are unavailable in Outfitters. Hadiyah Shaheen ‘25 says that “thrifting just allows you to be more unique because pieces are one of a kind – and I think that’s why so many people gravitate towards it now because you see if you’re wearing a shirt from Outfitters, for example, it is very likely that you will see multiple people wearing it just on your walk to the khokha.” The culture of hand-me-downs in LUMS also extends to the Facebook LUMS Girl Power Group, where many women have been able to list items for sale, whether its because they’ve ordered the wrong size or want to make room in their closet or just need to earn some quick cash – thrifting is the new in.
Another facet of experimentation and DIY’ing clothing in LUMS extends from the fact that fashion is becoming more inclusive within LUMS. Of course, while dress-coding, policing, and peer pressure still exists and inform what many students in LUMS choose to wear, Mariam Asif ‘24 says that people in LUMS are generally welcoming and do not judge people for wearing clothing that may go against fashion or social “norms.” So, do not fret that there are no Gen-Z prejudices against those who still wear skinny jeans and side part their hair instead of mom jeans and the trendy middle part. Additionally, Jannat ‘24 also finds LUMS an opportunity to dress up in various ways that rebel against stereotypical ideas of what hijabis can/do dress like, i.e., her mother sewing her “detachable” sleeves that she fashionably wears with half-sleeve T-shirts. Likewise, other students have also found new ways to DIY their clothing, like turning scarves into halter tops, cutting jeans into shorts, crocheting, and painting onto jeans and sneakers because fashion no longer has borders.
Moreso, Mahnoor Hamid ‘24 adds that “fashion is a favorite pass time of hers,” and getting to plan out her outfit and all the minor details down to which rings she is going to wear allows her to express herself on campus. After all, fashion is a big motivator for one to go to class because even if you expect to fail your exam, you might also be serving looks while wearing a cute ‘fit.’
There is much to say about the LUMS campus and its direct relationship to fashion. As Anonymous ‘25 says, “The Campus is a runway” and on its catwalk include a rise of prominent LUMS students who have risen to fame through online fashion blogs and pages. For instance, in a conversation with Instagram fashion blogger Anoosha Fatima ‘23, she explained how LUMS plays a big part in her page and increases her following. More specifically, she details how many outsiders are interested in the LUMS lifestyle and looks to bloggers from LUMS to get an inside scoop on what its like to attend classes or even dress up on campus. To her, even if she feels bad about herself, putting on an outfit and being able to take cute pictures is one of the ways she is able to uplift herself, noting that “[her] outfit has not gone to waste.” Additionally, LUMS gives bloggers opportunities to shoot fashion-related content because of fewer restrictions and the number of photo-ops on campus, from the library windows to the tennis court and to khokha.
Although fashion may not always be central to everyone’s university experience, we can still see how students at LUMS use fashion as a vehicle for self-confidence and self-expression. Though fashion might constantly change from new TikTok trends or rising influencers, it remains an integral part of many’s lives.