Every time I open TikTok, there is somehow a new aesthetic that everyone on the internet has now become obsessed with. One week it’s the “clean girl” style with a slicked-back bun, no makeup, clear skin and the matching workout set. Then the next week the internet will completely shift to another aesthetic, whether that’s “mob wife,” “coastal grandma” or “old money.” The list of trends that have lasted for a week then slowly died off as another has emerged is never-ending. At this point, it can feel extremely difficult to keep up with what is considered to be trending online because trends are moving faster than ever before.
I honestly do believe that these micro-trends are beginning to ruin personal style, and the worst part is I know I have fallen victim to them as well. Social media makes it very simple to cause the feeling and need to reinvent yourself with every scroll. I will be scrolling through TikTok, Pinterest and Instagram and see a certain style trending and immediately tell myself I need to dress like that too. I have gone shopping and bought a piece of clothing solely because I saw it on my For You page that morning. However, I knew that in the next month another trend would take over and I would move on to the next trending thing. I will openly admit there are many pieces of clothing sitting in my closet that I hardly reach for anymore because the internet has told me to move on to the next aesthetic.
What is so difficult about the trends is that social media will market them as representing individuality when somehow everyone always comes out looking very similar, if not the exact same. The same sneakers for that “gym girl” aesthetic, the same wrap tops to achieve “balletcore” and the same “coconut girl” beach outfits copied from the exact same Pinterest boards. Instead of creating our own styles and allowing our personality to shine in what we wear, it feels as if we are all pulling ideas from this rotating list of aesthetics that social media decides are popular.
Micro-trends are also creating this pressure to constantly consume more and more. Trends used to last a lot longer, even years, but now they can barely survive one season before people start moving to the next and claiming they’re just outdated. Many of the people consuming these trends on the daily could feel the need to keep updating their wardrobe, like all the clothes they have just are not good enough or trendy enough. It is exhausting, especially as a college student who does not have unlimited funds to be blowing on clothes that will more than likely go out of style by the weekend.
One of the biggest things I have noticed about these ever-changing trends is how quickly and easily it is to lose confidence in your own sense of style. I often catch myself questioning outfits I genuinely used to like wearing simply because they are not trending at the moment. I think social media has forced a lot of people into a place of fear fashion-wise. People are fearful of being viewed as cringy or unfashionable, so instead of wearing what we think looks good and what we love, we seek others’ approval and dress the way we think other people will like.
Ironically, the people with the best style are more often than not the ones who are not chasing after every trend. They repeat outfits, wear pieces they love and do not completely flip their personality every month just because some creator on TikTok invented a new aesthetic for the season. Their style has a sense of authenticity because it reflects them and their personality versus whatever aesthetic is trending on social media that week.
Now, despite what I have said, I do not think that all trends are necessarily a bad thing. Fashion should be fun and experimental through different styles, accessories, patterns and colors. I do think that there is a difference between using trends as an inspiration and allowing them to control how you dress and view yourself. At a certain point, personal style stopped being personal, and I believe that a lot of us are beginning to realize that.