The new High School Years adds new teen features to the game that are meant to create an authentic high school experience for in-game adolescents. The much-anticipated Expansion Pack releases later this July, and will be the first DLC of that size released in a year.
The Sims 4's Create A Sim system features many customization options, including a Sim's likes and dislikes when it comes to things like music, colors, and activities. High School Years adds new depth to the game's teenagers through several new gameplay elements that center around academia, socializing, and self expression. One of the standout features of the new EP is its collaboration with the clothing app Depop: real-life Depop creators have designed clothing for the game, offering unique new fashion that better allows teens to express themselves in High School Years. The DLC's world Copperdale will contain a new thrift store and boba shop where Sims can buy and sell clothing, which can in turn be sold on in-game app Trendi where teens can gain notoriety as a Simfluencer.
High School Years' lead producer George Pigula has revealed new preferences will be coming to The Sims 4 with the new DLC. In a recent interview with Polygon (via SimsCommunity), Pigula stated that teens "can even develop their own fashion likes & dislikes with the new Trendi app with clothes designed by Depop sellers." In combination with the DLC's designer clothing and fashionable hangout spot ThrifTea, this preferences system "helps give players the chance to create and customize their own, personalized high school experiences before their Sims reach young adulthood."
Considering the Sims 4 producer's phrasing referred to Sims "developing" these clothing preferences, it's unclear whether fashion will become a new like or dislike in Create A Sim that players can select before they start playing, or if the new category can only be formed organically. Either way, an appearance-based preference system is something that's long been requested be added to the game. Currently, the use of Sims 4 mods like Wonderful Whims are the only way for Sims to develop likes and dislikes regarding how Sims look, as well as the only way to add any sort of attraction-based preference mechanic. Although these new clothing opinions are strictly surface level opinions - as opposed to being preferences for things like facial hair or eye color - they are certainly a step in the right direction for the series.
The likes and dislikes system in The Sims 4 has massive potential when it comes to making Sims more unique. While many players would rather see new traits come to the game as a way to personalize their Sims, the expansion of potential preferences into more categories like fashion is certainly a good way for Sims to have a more unique identity. It's currently unknown whether the new system will be exclusive to the Expansion Pack - the most recent Sims 4 roap mentioned an base game update, which is known to include the new DLC's body hair feature, but otherwise the contents of the update are a mystery. Regardless of its exclusivity, The Sims 4 High School has a lot of potential to deepen the teen life stage.
Source: Polygon, SimsCommunity