There are many ways to express yourself: art, music, academics, sports, makeup, and many more–but for one York student, fashion is their creative outlet. Michael Regan is a junior at York and he is not one to conform to typical high school fashion standards.

Throughout high school, Regan has discovered a career path in fashion and is continuing down that path as he finishes high school and starts college. Regan finds his style inspirations from fashion icons and even from those around him.

“Since I am not, and not planning on being, a designer, I focus on all the trends and magazines like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar,” Regan said. “I may not have the newest trend on at school or even while hanging out with friends outside of school all the time, but I love to research them.  My passion for fashion is not solely physical; I love to discuss designers and trends with others. However, when I choose to express my style, it takes a lot more thought then it appears.”

From brands like Gucci and Tommy Hilfiger to Champion and FILA, Regan wears it all. Regan has a fluid style, and throughout the different seasons, the way he dresses varies.

“It definitely changes when the seasons change,” Regan said. “I love fall and winter since there are so many more options like dress shirts, sweatshirts, jeans, dress pants, t-shirts, etcetera.  Overall, I would describe my style as “metro streetwear.” This means I like streetwear brands like FILA and Champion, but I tend to make it look nicer or more fancy than most streetwear models. I think this is because I also love haute couture like Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Gucci.  Some fashion houses like Louis Vuitton are choosing to become more everyday fashion since they decided to collaborate with Supreme. That is what I hope happens with more luxury fashion brands.”

Regan believes fashion to be stereotyped as “feminine” in high school due to the lack of knowledge of male designers and models and overabundance of female designers and models that high schoolers are constantly exposed to.

“I believe that the stereotype that fashion is feminine is so prominent because everyone knows all the big time female models,” Regan said. “No one knows of any male models or fashion industry moguls who are male.  This has caused the fashion industry to be stereotyped as a female dominated area. It doesn’t make sense since major brands are named after men like Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton, Raf Simons, etcetera.”

With Regan, there is much more than what meets the eye. He is not only fashionable but also inspirational. Regan expresses his creativity through his clothes, which is not commonly seen amongst York’s typical crowd of Lulu Lemon leggings and Nike basketball shorts.

“No, I consider no one to be different since different means not the majority,” Regan said when asked if he considers himself to be different. “In today’s society, being different has a negative connotation towards it so I believe no one is different.  We are all made of skin and bones, hence we are all the same.”

Regan is someone who is always making his friends laugh and is always getting to know new people. People gravitate towards Regan because it is easy to be themselves when he is constantly promoting empowerment through his clothing choices.

“Michael is one of my best friends,” junior Delaney Tase said. “He’s hilarious and so personable. He always makes an effort to talk to and get to know everyone. He’s just such an amazing person and I’m so grateful to be able to call him my friend.”

Through his love of fashion, Regan has become more confident in himself and has found many ways to express his creativity through his clothes; whether that be in school talking with his friends about new trends, or outside of school flipping through fashion magazines.

“As I have matured, especially since starting high school, I have been more open about how I express myself,” Regan said. “I believe that the most important way to express yourself is the way you

appear to others. That is why I am so interested in fashion because it is the basic principle of expressing yourself.”

Throughout high school, Regan has learned to be his best self in every way possible and as he has matured, he has realized that it is much more important to live for yourself, not for others.

“In your life, people come and go,” Regan said. “The only person you know for certain that will never leave your side is yourself. There is no point to please someone who may not be in your life in the next year. You have to love yourself before you can love someone else.”