Fashion choices are obviously a critical part of high school. While the Fieldston community prides itself on its exploration of ethical culture and the future of the world, let’s face it, what you wear also matters. While it seems like fashion trends come and go, history also has a way of repeating itself. Fashion trends that were chic years ago get passed down to newer generations of students at school. No one knows this better than Rex Hechter.
Rex Hechter is pursuing one of his hobbies and passions by becoming the eyes and ears of the Fieldston community in the form of an Instagram account. In a series of candid photos, Rex unpretentiously explores Fieldston fashion trends and, simultaneously, depicts the beautiful aspect of student life. Interestingly enough, Rex Hechter didn’t create this Instagram account. He inherited it. As Rex described to me in our hallway conversation, the account was created by a senior in the class before him, a former student who he simply refers to as, “Bubby.” According to Rex, “Originally, the account had 2 to 3 posts in the entirety of last year, Bubby was just asking people if they wanted to be on the account, and it only had 80 followers…I started looking at student fashion and bringing students into the conversation.”
While the account doesn’t boast tons of content, it has become somewhat iconic within the Fieldston community. People see photos of students dressed in all types of outfits and are left with the feeling of wanting to see themselves posted on this page. According to Rex, “There’s a vast variety of jeans, sweatpants, leggings and, newly, cargo pants.” The passage of this account from one senior last year to another this year, cements the idea that snapshots of student life and fashion becomes a commentary on the vibrancy of the school. It’s almost as if Rex has a fashion thermometer that takes the temperature of clothing and uses it to reflect on the values and playfulness of the community. People are shown in various poses and the candids seem to confirm that no two people look or dress exactly alike. The account joyously seems to have no lack of inclusiveness, but provides a common ground for students to see one another as they really are. In that sense, Rex centers on fashion but almost makes it secondary to the fun of everyday student activities.
With almost half of the year gone, Rex talks about why he carried on the tradition of the Instagram account: “When I started high school, I would just wear sweatpants and a t-shirt. As school went on, I realized that changing up my fashion choices was a great means to express my personality and individuality.”
If people can see this Instagram page as a sort of home base for clothes and the student body, the content can encourage students to hone in on their personal tastes. It’s possible that exploring the photo galleries on this page provides images worthy of imitation. Originality and individuality can often begin by imitating something that already exists in this world, and this page has the power to offer this resource to the school community.
When asked if Rex would continue the tradition of passing this page along to another senior in next year’s class, he replied, “Absolutely. I’m going to be looking for someone to continue to grow this page from what began with only 80 followers and now has soared well past 200. I want this page to continue to inspire fellow Fieldston students to find a fashion community worthy of Fieldston.”
The most recent post on the page quotes Paris Hilton who once said, “The only rule is don’t be boring and dress cute wherever you go.” And Rex adds his comment after Paris’ quote, by writing “Shoutout to these stars for upholding such a statement.” Then he displays five students posed in a variety of colorful clothes.
The optimism of a Fieldston-centric Instagram account that can celebrate students as stars in their everyday life. Perhaps the next senior who takes the wheel for this dynamic fashion account can continue the tradition of influencing students to express individuality in our school. Is that next senior you?
