Elementary schools are not a fashion-free zone, at least not in the Minneapolis suburb of Edina. It is all about fashion at these suburban places of learning, especially the fashion on your feet. Nine- and ten-year-old boys are now wearing pajama-bottom-like printed pants, necklaces woven from tennis-shoe laces and the boots pictured on the right. The key to this guy fashion is to wear your boots unlaced, sockless, and a size or two too large. This is because when you walk across the classroom you make a lot of noise and then everyone looks at your feet. The teacher asks (screams) for you to make less noise, please, and that gets you even more attention. Boys like a lot of attention, sort of like peacocks strutting about. Girls wear boots, too, with their leggings and jeans, but they buy boots that fit properly. Girls like attention too, of course: displaying a little cleavage often does the trick. There is not much cleavage in 4th or 5th grade, but there is some, and those who have it often flaunt it.
Children need parents with a little discretionary income to afford this footwear. I asked students about the cost of these boots and learned they cost well over $100 a pair. Observing this footwear trend again brought back memories of my middle-school years and my and my desire for the trendy shoe. (much was said about this in a previous blog) Fashion: so fun, but so unpredictable!
Another cheaper trend in Edina elementary schools is a recycled trend: Hula Hoops from the 1950s. Yes, they are back! These well-booted children in a class I subbed in moved their desks very efficiently at break time and the small classroom became a twirl with whirling children. Nice to know that some inexpensive fun activities can recycle their way back. The need to look like clones survives intact also. Alas, some things never change.
Did teacher join in?
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