Look into your closet. All of these pieces you once hand selected now only fill you with dread. Your zebra pants are so last season and the corset you bought a couple summers ago just doesn't fit right. You read all the right articles, followed the so-called fashion influencers and made your Pinterest moodboards. Where did you go wrong?
Fast fashion and trend cycles are running rampant. With social media and consumer culture becoming more popular than ever, the number of massive trends that come and go is substantial: from VSCO girl to cottagecore to coquette to eclectic grandpa to quiet luxury to mermaid core, the list goes on and on. When will we stop searching for the next big thing?
According to an article from Earth.Org, microtrends have decreased the life of individual clothing in a big way: “Clothing sales doubled from 100 to 200 billion units a year, while the average number of times an item was worn decreased by 36% overall.”
Trends such as the 70s bell bottoms or 80s shoulder pads no longer have the power of old. Instead of purchasing clothing that fits one’s personal lifestyle and preferences, people take inspiration from the same places: Tiktok, Pinterest, Instagram, Youtube, ect. All of this has culminated into the “microtrend final boss,” a term popularized by influencer Sophia Silvia.
The “microtrend final boss” is a person — most likely a young woman — who wears clothing items from all the most recent trends. You’ve probably seen her in a soccer jersey from a team she doesn’t watch, accessorizing with lacy bloomers, Sambas and ribbons all throughout her hair.
This girl has become a meme. When everyone tries so hard to fit into the current trends, whatever those may be, they miss the whole point of fashion.
According to Chris Black in an article for GQ Magazine, “We are now focused on ‘pieces’— buying the one, often high-dollar item—that will make us feel good and give us the instant gratification we need. But style, as I see it, takes years to develop and refine.”
Now, all of our closets are filled with bits and pieces that match the trend cycle instead of pieces that reflect us. Rather than constantly buying new and unfulfilling pieces, go through your clothes and take notes on what you do and don't like about them; figure out what about your clothing defines you as an individual.
The average customer spends 60% more on clothing then they would’ve in 2000, according to The University of North Carolina, and the Statistica Research Department said that Gen Z typically spends at least $1,200 on clothing a year. Not only are Americans constantly buying clothing; they’re also throwing out roughly 81.3 lbs of textiles per year, according to Earth.Org.
This mass consumption encourages useless spending and fills the environment with microplastics, coming from common clothing fibers such as polyester and rayon. Between the environmental impacts, increases in clothing prices and elimination of personal identity, it’s no wonder that the fashion industry can feel so overwhelming.
The trend cycle has left many exhausted and wishing to escape the constantly-changing nature of consumerism. These days, finding someone with personal style is a rare occurrence.
But we can come back from this. There are many ways to find style inspiration outside of the constant stream of content creation. You may feel like turning to your thousands of saved pins to try to recreate specific outfits. Instead, try something that comes from yourself; the key is learning how to dress yourself so your clothes suit you, not the other way around.
Creating a personal style takes time and patience. By living life and experiencing all the world has to offer, you will be able to find clothing that makes you feel happy and comfortable in your skin.
In the words of fashion stylist Mac Rose, start by looking at architecture and art. Use the clothes you already own to mirror the beauty of the world around you, and question how you can utilize the beautiful colors, lines or styles within your personal outfits.
Take your favorite piece of art — why do you like it? What is it about the composition or style that attracts you? How can you relate this to your own life and self-expression? The only way to fully utilize your clothing and the potential it has is to play dress-up; have fun and remember that practice makes perfect.
Another fantastic way to harness your creativity is to take a look back at things you feel nostalgic for. If there’s a specific era of fashion you’re attracted to, think about what you feel drawn to: is it the silhouettes, the materials or the colors?
Looking back at old media such as movies, tv shows or books you read as a child can help you find both comfort and inspiration outside of the mainstream. Going through a deep dive of nostalgic inspiration is fun: use media like “Charlie & Lola” or “Madeline” to make your style more unique to you.
Watch old comfort movies and ask how you can bring the fashion from these films into your own life. Gary Winick’s “13 Going on 30” (2004), is a great example of this; if you’re watching that movie and you like Jenna Rink’s outfits, stop yourself and ask why. Do you link the feminine silhouettes, the 2000s-does-80s approach or the childlike essence of her clothes?
By being critical of these things you will be able to slowly find out what you do and don’t like instead of following what the masses are doing. A few other helpful places to look for inspiration are vintage ads or catalogs, music, people with very specific signature style and specific colors or patterns.
Trends aren’t all bad, but it’s important to look at them with a critical eye. Instead of seeing a trend and spending both your money and time on it, question why it drew you in. If you were sucked into the cottagecore trend, was it because of the escapism aspect, or did you just like the puffy sleeves? Maybe you didn’t like it until it was shown across your feed numerous times.
Buying clothes through experimentation and thinking about the long term effects of those items can help you save money and time. Instead of focusing on what’s trending, focus on what clothes make you feel good in your body. Investing in higher quality pieces is great once you’ve cultivated your personal aesthetic, but prior to that, thrifting and second-hand shopping are great ways to experiment sustainably.
At the end of the day, fashion should be fun and inspiring, and by focusing on your authentic and unique tastes you will finally be able to escape the dreaded trend cycle. Don’t let your clothing shape your personality — let your personality shape your style.
