The word “tradition” can mean many things to many people. Especially during the holiday season, we revert back to the beloved traditions of our childhood. However unconventional they may be, our personal traditions are the driving force behind the magic of the holidays. No matter if you’re nine or 19, it is still acceptable to feel giddy about the turkey dinner, the first snow fall and even the holiday music playing through your radio.
For some families, the traditions can range from the culinary to the sartorial. Becca Barton, a sophomore studying Public Communication, looks forward to dressing up with her family over Thanksgiving break.
“For Thanksgiving dinner, all of my extended family dresses up,” Barton said. “We do individual family photos, and each family color coordinates. My family this year is royal blue, so that’ll be pretty fancy.”
Barton incorporates her own sophisticated style into this particular family tradition. For the photo she plans to pair a royal blue dress with leopard print loafers, a color-pattern combination that she loves this season.
“The pictures are used for every family event for the next two years, so they have to look really nice,” Barton said.
Along with the Thanksgiving dinner, Barton celebrates another sacred tradition with her mom and sister over the break: shopping during the early morning hours on Black Friday.
“Last year, we were at an outlet mall at like 3 a.m.,” said Barton. “It’s crazy!”
When asked what her ideal Black Friday find would be, Barton gets a gleeful look in her eyes.
“The Proenza Schouler Golden Wedge Heels,” Barton said. “I saw them on one of my favorite fashion blogs, The Man Repeller, and I love them.”
While Barton celebrated Thanksgiving with extended relatives in Orlando, her family hails from the great state of Maine. She cites her home state as an influence for her personal style.
“Sometimes my outfits are borderline lumberjack,” Barton said. “I love my [L.L.] Bean boots and flannel. They just came out with a more sophisticated L.L. Bean collection — I will definitely be adding some of those pieces to my Christmas wish list.”
Barton also finds inspiration in her immediate family. When she goes home for holidays, she looks forward to raiding her sister’s closet.
“I borrow so many clothes from my sister,” Barton said. “I will always ask her ‘Hayley, what should I wear with this? What would look good with this outfit?’ and she’ll come and pick out outfits for me.”
While Barton has developed an elevated sense of fashion over the years, she laughs when thinking back to the clothes she wore when she was young.
“There is this hideously embarrassing photo of me from when I was younger,” Barton said. “I had on a Harry Potter shirt tucked into silver gym shorts that I wore at my belly button. That’s where my style started, and since then it has definitely evolved.”
While Barton’s holiday traditions remain the same, her style continues to change.
“I got to college and I was like ‘I can wear whatever I want here!’” Barton said. “It’s not the fish bowl of fashion — I am excited to see how my style continues to grow and develop as I get older.”
