Posted by By Aili Zissu, Staff Writer
I bet you’ve noticed the teachers of New Paltz High School are totally fitted up. From crisp suit jackets to bold pattern mixes, our educators certainly have a flair for fashion. But why do they wear what they wear? What’s their inspiration? How do they feel about the way we students dress? Read on to discover which teacher loves stylish hats and which teacher’s style icons are Frog and Toad.
Mr. Neden
Do you put a lot of effort into your outfits? Do you pick them out beforehand?
I don’t put much effort into the outfits that I wear to school. I tend to stay neutral with my colors so everything in the closet matches a little bit and my decision making isn’t too difficult. I like to wear a collared shirt and a V neck sweater.
Is your fashion different inside of school vs outside?
Yes! I tend to wear a lot of hats outside of school. I have a lot of hats like fedoras and duckbill caps and wide brim hats. For so many years men’s fashion included a stylish hat. I feel like we should get back to that. Stylish hats on men.
Do you have a style icon?
Frank Sinatra had some drip.
Mr. Esposito
Do you put a lot of effort into your outfits? Do you pick them out beforehand? `
No, I just make sure it’s clean. There are some days I’ll be more intentional with it but usually it’s weather related. i do try to do some of the spirit things.
How do you feel about student fashion? any thoughts?
It’s really interesting how things are so cyclic. It’s so much of what I remember from high school. A lot of things people were trying to get away from wearing then are back now. There also seems to be more- nothing monoculture. It’s cool that there’s so many niche styles.
Do you have a favorite outfit?
Not really. I really want to make flower shirt friday a thing. Making it more of a communal thing would be cool.
Mrs. Stewart
Do you put a lot of effort into your outfits? Do you pick them out beforehand?
The one thing I spend time thinking about are my socks! I always want my socks and to work with what I happen to be wearing . I usually put things on and then I go find my wife and ask her if it’s going to work.
How do you feel about student fashion? Any thoughts?
I love when I see free expression but I do get frustrated that decade after decade after decade young women are told to dress in ways that are uncomfortable and don’t allow them to run or move freely. That upsets me! I love to see young women comfortable and able to do whatever they want to do. When I see fashions that constrict women and don’t constrict men I’m frustrated.
Is your fashion different inside of school vs outside?
Not really. When I get home I put on my cozies. I will wear cozies out in the world, like I’ll walk the dogs with pajamas on. I don’t wear jeans with holes in them to school.
Mr. Cook
Is your fashion different inside of school vs outside?
Yes. What I wear to church and to school is a little different, I’m a little dressier at church. I do a lot of speaking engagements outside of school that cross over with what I wear inside of school. I do a lot of outdoor physical labor when I’m not in school so obviously work clothes.
Do you have a favorite outfit?
My comfortable at work outfit is a sports coat or blazer with some color or version of khakis and a button down or sweater underneath.
Do you have a style icon?
No, but I know that my style is definitely influenced by my mother and my first college roommate. My mother basically made me feel like you should pay attention to all the different parts of your outfit because they always say something about what you intend to do in the spaces you occupy.
The Maroon 