Observations on art school style

I'm in a style environment that's different from anything I've experienced before, and it's fascinating. This is what I've noticed so far, style-wise, with the young students, grad students and teachers:

Experienced artists (grad students and teachers):
- dress with casual, deliberate style
- usually wear jeans and neutral colours
- often wear flat oxfords, usually with top of ankle showing, sometimes with colourful socks
- don't have complicated hair
- often have short hair in their natural hair colour

Rookie artists:
- wear a range of styles, from the very casual (jeans/flip flops) to the improbable (plunging necklines/tutus)
- may have unorthodox facial piercings (nose septum, cheek implants, ear gauges)
- often wear elaborate makeup
- often interfere with hair's natural texture, colour
- do not have sandy blond highlights; dyed hair is either darker than natural (black is popular for long hair), bleach blond (often in pixie cut) or a shade not found in nature, like pink.

I've heard that second year is the year for really weird hairstyles among the students. We'll see if that plays out. I'm looking forward to it. A lot of the first years are right out of high school, and these are the ones most likely to really lay down the "I'm an artist and can dress however I like" attitude.

12 years ago

Alexandra

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Veteran

Interesting observation. Sounds like the rookies are trying hard to look like what they *think* artists look like.

Aziraphale

Yup. I think you're right. Also, I think that the experienced artist have learned that you need to budget your time, and are just too busy to mess around too much with elaborate style statement hair/makeup/clothing. But they are still artists, and they still have style. But it's subtler.

Also, maybe the experienced artists have already got the experimental stuff out of the way and are more focused on, you know, making art.

rachylou

Once you get down to business, all that flare goes away.

lyn*

I think it's true with most of the higher ups in any area - they own what they wear, whether that be a quirky style or not - and the newbies kind of mix in their old life with their new life.

Janet

I'm laughing reading this because it does seem fairly universal. It's like you've been hanging out in my neck of the woods near MICA!

Also, much of the above applies to guys as well as girls.

Marlene

I'm noticing that my art teachers are more classically dressed than what I expected. And they are also more confident in their craft than us newbies...

Anonymous

Great observation, it would be fun to see the progression of the students. I think this is more true with young people in general trying to visually "be" what they believe. Here in parts of Oregon with a large population of eco warrior earthy people and the younger ones seem to go all out to project the "right" image.
I'm assuming you won't be running out to pierce something and die your hair pink!

Yes, Janet, it certainly does apply to the men. Not so much with the makeup (although there are always a few), but as far as the statement hair/weird piercings go, well, the guys are all over that. I've never seen so many earlobes with tunnels in them!

Tracina, you're right, I have no desire to add unorthodox piercings to my face. But actually I have always kind of liked a little stripe or two of colourful hair. Problem is, now that I'm at art school, I am certainly NOT going to be doing that, because who wants to be the 40 year old woman trying to blend in with teenagers? Haha. No thanks. If I'm going to stand out, it's going to be for looking like a grownup. Although I am WAY out of my comfort zone, and for the first time in my life, I'm actually consciously dressing to go unnoticed.

Gaylene

I think it's natural for "rookies" of any age to explore the boundaries of their métier, which includes how one ought to look in that environment or role. It's a way of joining the group or showing one's commitment. It can also be a quick way to differentiate yourself from other groups or parts of society. I think as you get more comfortable in your own abilities and talents, you don't need the outward identifiers as much. Rookie art students use pink hair and piercings, while the female business school graduates announce they've arrived by buying a good watch, a carefully cut suit, a leather briefcase, and expensive pumps.

Jaime

Interesting! Agree with Gaylene and also think it is a function of age - there are lots of just out of high school students wearing those things even if they aren't in art school.

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