Magazine spreads scream it, television and movies epitomize it, celebrities capitalize on it, and the target audience eats up the message — fashion defines who people are.

“In today’s society a lot of people look at media and try to imitate that because they think thats the ideal norm they are supposed to uphold,” Lauren Leitner, a junior in psychology, said.

Elizabeth Brown, a junior in textile and apparel management, said advertisers constantly try to sell people on fashion, using promotions that tell consumers, “If you want to be this kind of person, then wear our clothes.”

Leitner said she thinks people often buy into fashion advertisements and try to use their clothing to set a certain image for themselves. She doesn’t think that’s all bad, however.

“It’s a way to express their individuality and style through their clothing,” Leitner said.

And nowadays, according to Brown, there are more and more styles socially acceptable, which offers a broader range of looks for those who are concerned with their appearance. She said this is quite different from earlier eras of fashion.

“Most people wore the same kind of clothing styles; there wasn’t much of an opportunity to use clothes to differentiate themselves,” she said.

Allison Bowles, a senior in textile and apparel management, has a view similar to Leitner’s, but said she thinks people use fashion to project and magnify particular images while concealing others.

“People choose to use their clothes to define them,” she said. “Some people use it to hide behind.”

Bowles said the clothes worn can also depend on a person’s mood and mentality, though. Sometimes, according to Bowles, people want to just sit around and be comfortable, so they dress in a way that makes them feel good. Other people like to be unpredictable and wear clothes that display that to other people.

Leitner also thinks people wear clothes they are comfortable in, but she also said they keep in mind what others are thinking.

“They wear what’s comfortable to them, but consider how they want to appear in other people’s eyes,” Leitner said.

Brown said she thinks a lot of people do define themselves by the things they wear, but that many do so unknowingly.

“For instance, if a girl throws on a polo, some boat shoes, and some pearls and Croakies, she may not really think about it, but it kind of defines who she is, in a stereotypical sense,” Brown said.

She said other trendy items that tend to lend to stereotypes are leggings and jeans paired with vintage T-shirts. She said leggings tend to give an air of confidence, while the jeans and T-shirt combination says, “I don’t really care about fashion or my looks.”

She said wearing high heels on an everyday basis can give off a high-maintenance feel, especially with all the bricks on campus, though she herself wears them from time to time regardless of the impression they may give.

“I personally wear higher heels on the days when I haven’t slept at all, because it kind of gives me a boost when I would normally feel awful,” she said.

Leitner said she thinks it is dangerous for people to base their style and self-worth on other people’s perceptions. She said people should strive to be comfortable with themselves and the things they like, regardless of whether their taste graces the pages of Vogue.

“Really, people should strive for their own individuality and not have to imitate someone else’s individuality,” she said.