The school year began with several changes, including the addition of mandatory lanyards for the student body. To get a pass, you need to either scan your ID or type your ID number into a computer to activate a pass. This has concerned many students in relation to how it will affect their outfits. Many students have taken this challenge in hand and come up with creative and colorful solutions. So here are the dos and don’ts of Kaneland lanyard fashion. 

To begin, do NOT wear your lanyard around your neck. It is very unflattering and can ruin your outfit. No matter which grade you are in, it is an odd length. No one can look cute when they have an oddly long or uncomfortably short lanyard hanging straight down the middle of their outfit. 

Now, you may be wondering, how else can you wear it? Luckily, students have met this challenge with a great dose of creativity to overcome this styling challenge. 

If you are looking for a simple and easy solution, try sticking the ID portion into the back pocket of your jeans. Make sure to leave the ribbon hanging down so it trails behind you. The resulting effect resembles an odd tail. This can add visual texture to your silhouette which can only improve your look. 

You could also wear your lanyard on your head. Juniors are especially lucky as theirs fits perfectly around the base of a hat. Wearing your lanyard on a hat offers a variety of styles and vibes to choose from. You can mix and match your hats for each day. Hats can add detail to your wardrobe and even cover up a bad hair day. 

Now you may be wondering, what do you do if you are stuck with a terribly colored or textured lanyard? You could always just buy a new one. Do not feel limited to the color mandated for your class. Many local stores, including Walmart, Target, Michaels and Office Max, offer a variety of different colors and styles. If you don’t have any weekend plans, you could get together with a group of friends to go shopping for new ones. You will get both a new lanyard and quality time out of the experience. 

If you find a new lanyard, there is still one problem. What do you do about your ID? Your horrible yearbook photo is on it for everyone to see, so you might as well just get rid of it. After all, you can just type in your ID number to go to the restroom, so is it really necessary? Instead, there are far more important objects that you could display on your lanyard. For instance, it would be a good place to put your keys. You would never lose them, and they would be in a convenient place when you need them. 

Some other things you can put on your lanyard in place of your ID include a tube of lip balm, a fidget toy, hand sanitizer or your water bottle. Imagine how convenient that would be. There is no need to carry your water bottle awkwardly in the hallway if it is connected to your lanyard. All of these things would be much more practical than an ID. Who needs to know who you are anyway? All of your friends and teachers already do. 

Changing key elements of your lanyard could stray from our administration’s goal of enforcing them in the first place. Some may argue that doing these things is the same as just not wearing them at all, but do not pay them any attention. They are concerned about other, less important things. After all, what really matters is how you look.