Almost every student at WS owns them, in fact, it seems like most students in Fairfax County own at least one of them. Three of the most infamous brands of our time: North Face, Vans, and Uggs.

Here is a challenge for you: Try to walk down the intersection of Hollywood and Vine without spotting either a student or teacher wearing some random colored vans, a North Face backpack with the strap buckled around the waist, or a girl wearing her Uggs either dressed up or dressed down with sweat pants. Bet you can’t.

When and why did these products become so popular?  We know that they have been around for some years now, but according to previous graduates of WS, four years ago everybody was not rocking 80 dollar North Face backpacks or 52 dollar Vans in every color, shape, and size.

Obviously we’re not going to try and say that Vans, North Faces, and Uggs are out of style or anything, we are certainly not the fashion police. Admittedly, we both own at least one of these brands.

This Christmas we can guarantee that at least one person you sit next to in each class will receive an item of one of these brands, if not some sort of variation. There must be something about walking down the hallways with a North Face backpack that adds to your swag, and if you can rock a North Face backpack, jacket, and Vans or Uggs, you’ll be set.

Nora bought three pairs of Vans all in one day. They are really comfortable, and they especially go well with skinny jeans, which are now very much in style. Coming to school in her black North Face hooded jacket, black North Face backpack and black Vans just make her feel super fresh.

But back to the challenge: not spotting the North Face, Vans, or Uggs in question. We have a better challenge for you. This holiday season when you’re telling Santa Claus what you want for Christmas, try to be a little more imaginative with your list. Instead of a jacket from The North Face you could try a sweet James Dean jacket.

Girls, try stepping away from the Uggs phase, there’s plenty of other cute boots out there to compliment our new found love of jeggings. And let’s get a little variety with your shoe choices here, people, even though it is nice looking down and seeing a rainbow of colors. Individuality is nice, so don’t define yourself by your brands.