Whether it was a pair of studded, flared jeans from Tammy Girl, or a PVC inflatable backpack from Claire's Accessories, 'own clothes day' at school was the perfect time to show off our favourite fashion buys and risk being sent home for the 'inappropriate' length of that button front denim skirt.
Other than that, we spent the rest of the school year in weirdly cut, oversized uniforms that had exactly zero references to fashion. But hey, it wasn't supposed to be cool, it was supposed to be 'uniformed' and, for the most part, cheap.
So, we can only imagine the confusion of students (and their parents) at a state school in Tokyo, who have been asked to swap their old school uniforms for Giorgio Armani-designed suits.
Yep, we kid you not.
According to Huffington Post Japan, Taimei Elementary School located in the upscale Ginza district, a fashionable neighbourhood in Japan, recently announced its decision to implement the new 'uniform' which it believes would reflect the school's status as a 'landmark' in Ginza, it explained in a letter to parents.
The new designer uniforms will reportedly cost parents a whopping 80,000 yen (£525) - three times the amount of the previous uniforms - including a hat and a bag.
Unsurprisingly, the students' parents were less than impressed with the school's decision.
'I was surprised. Why has a luxury brand design been chosen as the uniform of a public elementary school?' one parent told the publication.
'Why Armani?' asked another parent, according to the local education board.
On Twitter, one person pointed out: 'I heard that school uniforms were originally invented so kids from different income families wouldn't face discrimination.'
Given that Taimei Elementary School is a state-funded institution, it's questionable why it would choose to implement such overpriced uniforms. That's not to mention the fact that school uniforms are technically considered optional in Japan.
Kyodo News reports rumours of the new uniform reached the House of Representatives' Budget Committee, where Party of Hope lawmaker Manabu Terada revealed the new uniforms were more expensive than adults' business suits.
Terada reportedly added that as the school is state-funded, 'a certain range (regarding parents' financial burden) needs to be considered'.
Unfortunately for parents, the school's principal Toshitsugu Wada has no desire to change his mind regarding the designer clobber.
He will 'humbly accept criticisms that there was not enough explanation', but the old old uniform is no longer being produced, reported Kyodo News.
The Armani uniforms are set to be introduced in April.
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
