(Photo credit: Fox Quattrone)

   Fashion is used as a form of expression by a lot of students on the hilltop. Tops and bottoms are commonly mixed and matched to create the perfect outfit that fits the latest trends. Students, everyday will reveal a plethora of shoes whether they’re plaid Air Forces, tie dye Jordans, Converse or many more. But, why do students think about their shoes when putting together an outfit? A trip around campus revealed the 20 unique shoes and the perspective that students have on how important shoe are. Most students talk about how the shoes look, and the importance of having good style. Some spoke on sustainability and how important it is to buy used or recycled sneakers. Overall, the student opinion highlighted that the importance of shoes doesn’t stop at looking cool in the halls; 9th Grader Giulia Sorvillo mentioned how important footwear is for her self expression even within the restraints of the Hackley dress code. If students choose a plain outfit, a creative touch on the feet can make them feel confident going into every school day. All finding concluded that shoes can be the sole outlet of expression for students on the hilltop, and it is important for all students to get creative with their choices in order to feel more comfortable during the day.

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Photo credit: Fox Quattrone

             Many students views uncovered 3 main reasons students valued shoes. First, they allow most to express themselves through their shoes. These days, students are limited to wearing certain types of clothing due to the dress code but many said shoes are the exception that help them express their feelings and emotions. Next, students value shoes because they help the environment as well as small business owners. Jackson Beatty says he buys shoes from smaller businesses because they tend to help them gain profit in these tough covid times. Also, Peter Roberts says “When I buy shoes I think about how environmentally friendly they are considering the damage most people are doing to the environment. This is just one small thing that I can do to help.” Lastly, students felt variety of many brands and types of shoes help convey their style and personality without verbally doing so.

Additionally, we polled 100 US students on what shoe brands was their favorite, and the results are attached below.