Ripped jeans, pop culture t-shirts, unkempt hair, and a jean jacket with various pins; most of his attire is inspired by the trends of the 2000s, a decade he holds dear to his heart. He keeps an original Xbox and wide collection of VHS tapes to watch on his VCR in his room. Junior Bryce James expresses himself through his distinct aesthetic every single day.

“I grew up in the late 2000s and I hold a lot of nostalgia for it. I was like a tiny little kid back then, everything was simpler and made sense, so it sort of just reminds me of a warmer, safer time,” James said.

His music taste influences his aesthetic more than anything else. His obsession with pop-punk stems from his love for bands like Paramore and Fall Out Boy. Pop-punk is a combination of punk’s anti-establishment themes with a sound that mimics the styles of pop music, like chord progressions and tempos. This sound was popular in the early to mid-2000s, which makes James style unique in 2021.

“It’s very particular,” friend senior Jenna Weber said. “Not your regular pop or rock aesthetic.”

James zany personality and sense of humor are exemplified through his vibrant aesthetic. Senior Miguel Davies is a friend of his with whom he shares a similar appreciation for things from the 2000s. They met online four years ago through playing similar video games, and eventually began sharing details of their aesthetics with each other. Davies thinks that Jame’s style is something that is truly unique to him, and encapsulates his persona. Davies feels that his style now is the most true to himself it has ever been.

“There’s just this kind of unique Bryce energy that you’ve got going there,” Davies said. “It’s hard to explain, but he just exists aggressively.”

Expressing himself through his style has caused James to go through a change in his outlook on life. Dressing how he wants to and being more open about his interests has been liberating for him. It’s caused him not only to change his perspective on himself, but on the world around him. He’s become more understanding and open to the differences of others that exist around him.

“I’ve definitely stopped caring a lot more,” James said. “I used to be really stubborn and stingy on a lot of issues, but through music and other 2000s media, I’ve started taking in a lot more and learned that it doesn’t really matter.”

James believes strongly that conveying individuality through one’s appearance is essential. He thinks that it’s something everyone should try if they want to. Even if it seems scary to make a statement, it’s worth it to experiment and see what works.

“In the long run, who really cares other than you?” James said. “If you’re doing something that you don’t love, you’re the only one who’s going to care 20 years from now.”