From February 8th to the 10th, Ms. Stinnett’s seminar class, “Fashion and Style: Implications of the Clothes on Our Backs,” visited New York City to supplement their classroom experience and further grasp the meaning of fashion in our culture. After a seven-hour train ride into the city, Ms. Stinnett’s students were immediately immersed in the Big Apple’s fashion scene. Three of these students shared memorable moments and learning experiences from the trip.

During her time in Ms. Stinnett’s seminar class, Heather Lang (‘24) learned about how “the history of the fashion areas within New York City … originated in high-crime areas, but then developed into a high-fashion, textile-emphasized area that became a hotspot for couture.” She and her fellow classmates then got to see the results of this evolution firsthand. For Mikaylah McCarthy (‘24), the observations she made in the big city inspired her to “mix patterns more” upon her return home. After their three-day excursion, the seniors left with a new perspective on fashion to apply in the classroom and to their personal styles.

Beyond fashion, the students learned plenty about city life in general. When asked about the most interesting fact that she learned in NYC, McCarthy said she was surprised to find out that “a bottle of water on average costs around $6.” She also noted visiting SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, a popular tourist destination overlooking the city, was her favorite moment of the trip. “Seeing the skyline of New York City was breathtaking and proves that it’s truly the city that never sleeps,” McCarthy added. In terms of the traveling experience, Leland Bonkovsky (‘24) said, “Traveling with a group was more stressful than I anticipated.” Lang said that she was surprised about how much traveling in total there was, mentioning the seven-hour train ride and the often-times strenuous walking throughout the city streets. Overall, Lang noted that her favorite part of the trip was enjoying the walks through Central Park and “seeing all of the kids playing football, people walking their dogs, or families enjoying a nice day outside.” She realized “how many people in the world there are and how every person has such a different life from each other.” 

Despite lengthy train rides and distant walks, the fashion seminar students’ trek to New York was deemed a success. As a result of the trip, both Lang and Bonkovsky shared, “I learned that I love New York!” From learning about the city’s iconic fashion history to people-watching in Central Park, Ms. Stinnett’s seminar surely got a great taste of the Big Apple.