Keeping coordinated outfits can be tricky for students who try to look their best while keeping it simple. This year, many have turned to popular matching sets as a solution. From comfy sweatsuits to laid-back, casual matching styles, these outfits are super easy to throw on and still look put together. However, not everyone sees matching sets the same way, as some may think they look like plain old one-color outfits. The trend throughout South has taken off as more people debate over this topic of fashion.
Daphne Spies ’28 is an avid wearer of matching sets; she finds joy in collecting outfits that match in different colors and styles. While the people around her may disagree, when she sees a cute matching set, she thinks of it as ‘clean’ and ‘put together.’
“Personally, I spend most of my money on matching sets. I think they are really chic,” Spies said. “Don’t get me wrong, I can see where other people may think they’re dull, but they just need to be styled correctly.”
Creating a stylish and effortless outfit is essential for a matching set to look cute rather than plain, though sometimes this can be challenging. Many students turn to TikTok or Instagram Reels for inspiration on how to style their outfits properly, or they purchase recommended sets from Pinterest from specific brands. Maeve Shine ’27 argues that her closet is filled mainly with sets, ranging from gym wear to pajamas, and she finds nothing dull about them.
“I wear them all the time, pajamas at night, workout sets when at the gym, sweatsuits at school, I am obsessed,” Shine said. “They can be styled so many ways, with a cute vest, a contrast color, cute shoes, there are unlimited ways.”
It appears that this trend has become popular among many of the girls of all ages at South, while the boys seem not to agree. Charlie McPartlin ’27 hardly notices what new styles there are, nor what girls wear, and to him, he believes that obsessing over a pricey outfit is a waste of time and is insufferable.
“Honestly, when I see a ‘set,’ the first thing that comes to mind is just they’re wearing a one-color outfit,” McPartlin said. “There’s no benefit to them, they’re expensive, and no one cares.”
For many girls, these planned and effortless styles make it easier for everyday life. They are quick and chic when styled correctly, and they allow them to express themselves in different ways. While some girls show how they can be used to their full potential with accessories, some boys feel that they are just like everything else and are an easy way out of having to pick an outfit out in the morning. These opinions prove that style can mean very different things to everyone.
“Matching sets is a true trend I can get on, no problem,” Spies said. “Hopefully, they never go out of style, because I have spent too much money on them.”
