If you have wandered through Golda Och’s hallways recently, you might have noticed a curious new trend: robes, oversized hoodies, thermoses of tea, and tissue boxes being worn less as necessities and more as fashion statements.
Yes, it’s officially sick season, and GOA students are leaning into the aesthetic. Colds, flu, and mysterious winter sniffles have transformed hallways into what some students are calling “Sick Fashion Week.”
“Comfort seems to be the priority in times of winter snuffles, and honestly, no one can judge,” said junior Alma Adiel. “I would not survive without my tissue boxes and oversized hoodies. They are truly in style right now.”
“Her fit is drippy, to say the least,” added language arts teacher Mr. Langer.
It’s not just the clothes. Beverages have become the ultimate accessory to these styles.
Junior Avi Kutten says, “My tea thermos goes everywhere with me now. It used to be just for mornings, but now it’s basically a fashion statement. I could not imagine going to school without looking like I have my hot tea.”
Teachers have noticed the shift, too. Classrooms are now soundtracked by sniffles, coughs, and the occasional rustle of tissue packs. Group projects often start with someone offering cough drops instead of pencils.
“I feel that every time I walk into class, someone is asking me for my cough drops,” said junior Noah Stoch. “Everyone loves the raspberry ones. They’re a staple, and let’s just say people go through them way faster than they should. But that’s just how sick season goes around here!”
Germs spread like wildfire in shared desks, crowded hallways, and during long school days, and many students without fashion sense are hoping this will help their style.
Students joke that once one person starts coughing, it’s only a matter of time before they start dressing like the rest of us during “Sick Fashion Week.”
Fashion statements aside, everyone would still prefer a healthy hallway over a stylishly sick one.
Freshman Elizabeth Allen says, “Fashion isn’t worth it! I definitely prefer everyone being healthy. I get sick easily, and I make sure to stay home when I’m unwell. It’s boring, but better than getting everyone else sick.”
However, most students are hoping that Sick Fashion Week might become an annual tradition.
While the symptoms might not be so glamorous, the outfits definitely have been. Students have fully embraced their comfort zone. Some trend setters are pushing the envelope by wearing masks to school hoping to bring them back into style as well.
Hopefully, next year’s trend will focus more on health than hoodies.
The unofficial trend comes with a reminder: rest, hydrate, and stay home when you actually need to.
Sick or not, it seems GOA has proven one thing: if you are going to show up feeling under the weather, you might as well continue to look stylish doing so!
