Fashion Can be a good thing, but how we dress can say a lot about who we are.

Some students might ask: Is having a dress code fair? Students at BYU-Idaho are required to dress within a certain set of standards. Students are expected to come to campus in nice, modest, business-like attire rather than casual street wear. Shorts and flip-flops are not allowed on campus. If students violate the dress code they are then asked to go home and change.
While to some this may seem unfair, to the students of BYU-Idaho it’s an everyday thing that they are used to. The dress simply helps students to focus on who they are on the inside rather than who the world thinks they should be.

Freshman Jodie Hunter likes the dress code for the very reason it helps her to dress modest as well as professional. Hunter However wishes there were a few things that could change though.

“I think flip-flops and capri pants should be allowed as well as sweats for the testing center. It is good to be comfortable when taking a test. It keeps me relaxed,” Hunter said.

Dean of Students, Kevin Miyasaki, said how students dress is an indicator of all things and reflects who they are as a person.

“You dress according to the situation with what’s appropriate for the occasion. There’s a time to dress up and dress appropriate,” Miyasaki said. “Whatever the setting dress indicates that you understand who you are and shows the Lord as well as others that you recognize who you are.”

Students at BYU-Provo have a similar dress code, but with a few minor differences. Students are allowed to wear shorts as long as they are knee length. Students are also allowed to wear capri pants as well as flip-flops.

Junior Alicia Garcia a former BYU-Provo student said just as students are asked to dress a certain way at BYU-Idaho, students at BYU-Provo are asked to dress as if they have made temple covenants.

“I have loved my experiences at both schools. I think it is all pretty much the same. They have both been great and both have had their draw backs but they are schools run and organized by the Church of Jesus Christ and they do well at educating the future leaders of the gospel,” Garcia said. “If people do not agree with the dress and grooming standards they obviously do not understand the purpose of this university.”

Senior Woody Myler felt the dress code dealt with more than just spiritual and religious things.
“It will help us beyond our time here. It sets a standard for the university. Most successful universities have a standards. It really helps us to become student leaders. That is really the mission of the university,” Myler said.

Dressing appropriately also helps students to stay focused in class. Junior Mark Jensen enjoys when girls dress modestly.

“It really helps a guy’s mind to focus better when girls dress modestly,” Jensen said. .

Local Fashion Boutiques

Although Rexburg may be small, the town does offer some great stores with unique and stylish fashions.

Maurice’s which is in the K-Mart Strip Mall, has a wide variety of clothing to choose from. Some of their most stylish clothing ranges from denim, casual, to dressy, to items that girls can wear at work.

Some of Maurice’s latest style in denim includes their Jacie Flare, which is a low rise pair of pants that fit’s the hips and thighs and has fitted knee flare legs. Another pair of denim Maurice’s offers is the Molli Flare which is low rise, has a relaxed hip and thigh support, and fitted knee flare legs.

The bohemian look is back in and Maurice’s has a variety of different blouses and dresses to choose from that are dressy, fitted, and flowing.

Work attire ranges from black slacks to Capri pants, to knee length shorts. Each pair of pants is made to be accessorized with a nice pointy high heel as shown in the pictures on www.maurices.com.

Maurice’s also offers quite a few accessories to choose from such as purses, scarves, shrugs, and jewelry.

Another great place to shop in Rexburg is Down East Outfitters which is located in the Wal-Mart strip mall.

Down East has a variety of styles as well where just about everything in the store is modest and created specifically for LDS girls and guys.

Down East also sells name brands such as American Eagle and J-Crew. Each of these name brands is discounted significantly from the original sales price.

Down East has many different Wonder Tees in stock which range in a variety of colors such as white, black, brown, red, pink, and yellow.

The Wonder Tee is only $9.99 and is cap sleeved. It can be worn as an undershirt or an item that can be dressed up with accessories.

Down East also has swim attire that is modest with two piece swim suits that can also be mistaken for a one piece.

Each swim suit ranges from $26.99 to $29.99 and comes in a variety of patterns from floral to striped and polka dotted to plain.

All these outfits and more can either be found at the Down East store or their website, www.downeastoutfitters.com.