by Jamily Castro-Reyes

 A new club at Greensboro College has been created – the Vogue Visionary club. This club invites students that like to dress, whether they do it to impress or for themselves. As president of this club Demari Jackston states, “I hope this club reaches past me. I hope it continues after I graduate,” he believes that a club like this is important for students’ passion and self-expression. Besides that, this club is also a way for students to temporarily escape from having to deal with so much and to get a chance to learn things in a different way.

There is so much that the visionaries want to accomplish with this club. The mission for this fashion community is to help everyone feel included and to promote creativity. The visionaries are here to enrich the lives of others through fashion, to help people find their styles and help others feel confident. The visionaries aim to bridge the gap between mainstream trends and sustainability and promote creative fashion choices by encouraging its members to explore beyond their current styles. The club aims to complete their mission by doing workshops revolving around sewing technique lessons, model walking, fashion shows, charity events, clothing drives and so much more.

One of the main focuses for this club though is to ensure that they are as inclusive as possible. Inclusivity is very important, especially when you consider how the state of the fashion industry is such a difficult thing to talk about right now. Fashion encompasses far more things than people realize, and it has become increasingly diverse and contentious. The constant churn of fashion can sometimes be overwhelming and many who involve themselves with fashion have become demeaning of others. The comparison of plus-size and skinnier girls often are highlighted in this range of societal perceptions and fashion challenges. The fashion industry is very harsh to women when they do not fit into the standard model but there is a growing recognition of the need for inclusivity and diversity in style representation. Plus-size individuals are frequently faced with stereotypes and a wider array of sizes and styles. Meanwhile, skinner women might experience their own set of pressures including unrealistic beauty standards and lack of diverse representations. The conversation around these differences is evolving and the Vogue Visionary club wants to focus on celebrating all of these body types. The visionaries want to help those who might feel insecure in their bodies to embrace who they are and find their way in the fashion community.

I asked some of the Vogue Visionary club members both their favorite and least favorite fashion trends are. Freshman Shaniah Taylor stated that her favorite fashion trend right now is “Mary Janes and clogs as they make any outfit cute.” When asked about her least favorite, Taylor stated, “I am a hater for double denim. I do not think it should even be considered a fashion trend.” Freshman Mackenzie Koos said that her favorite fashion trend is fashion from the 1970s because “there is just something about it and I like how the men dress so much better.” With her least favorite, Koos stated, “Sagging and skinny jeans on men is something that I think is so bad. I also cannot get behind on a big shirt and a long skirt because it does not look good on me.” As you can see, this is why the Vogue Visionary club is necessary. The Vogue Visionary club is helpful to anyone whether or not you are in the club because it shows people who you are and what you represent.