Fashion has been, and will always, be a part of everyday life. Whether people experiment with clothing, or wear it out of necessity, every person partakes in fashion in one way or another. Along with fashion, comes trends. Trends are an integral part of the fashion world, allowing us as consumers to differentiate between our likes and dislikes in clothing. With social media being so popular, we have seen trends become extreme --– creating a variety of aesthetics. It has created this culture of clothing aesthetics, making retail of the fashion world move quickly. This topic can be viewed positively, as an outlet of creativity and inspiration to keep moving forward in the fashion world . It can also be viewed negatively, where the number of fast-paced trends can cause pressure for consumers to fit in, and in overproduction of products which is harmful for the earth. This topic raises questions like, “How are there so many aesthetics? Should I be following them? Is this good for consumers, for the fashion world, and for the earth?”

In this day of advanced technology, social media runs our world. The overall population depends on social media for news, pop culture, communication, entertainment, and fashion. There are so many positive aspects of social media on fashion like self-expression and sharing your favorite new pair of shoes and your funky new outfit with the world. It is great for creatives to share their work and connect with others who have the same interests. It is also great for companies to gain attention for their new products or designs or to find any current fashion world news.

On the flipside, social media allows people to brag about the items in their wardrobe that others might not be fortunate enough to have. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to be happy about what you can afford, but it can make others feel pressured to have the same things. It opens a door that allows people to feel pressure to buy the newest pair of sneakers or follow the weekly new aesthetics. If you are on social media, you most likely see the amount of new aesthetics that are shared online, from ballet core to street style, to old money styles and coquette core. It can be exhausting to keep up with trends, to fit in or feel “cool. Social media, while all well and good for creativity, inspiration, and communication, can be draining for people who do not keep up.

With all these new aesthetics and trends that pop up on your phone, as you scroll on Instagram or TikTok, comes the chance to buy products that fit those trends. This idea of new aesthetics has caused “micro-trends.” Micro-trends are niche/industry specific consumer trends with a short life span, ready for mass markets. The majority of large retail stores partake in micro-trends to make money, allowing for consumers to keep coming back to the stores more frequently. This can result inr over-consumerism in the fashion industry, knowing that people will want to fit in or have the “next best thing.” This concept of over-consumerism cannot only be harmful to a person’s self-esteem (and possibly bank account), but also to the environment. It can make people feel pressured to keep up with trends or leave them feeling inferior or uncool if they can’t.

Courtesy of TikTok - Creators: (left to right) @nico1edeon, @lovtune, @n0tgr4ciee , @andromeda.ph, @MohuyaKhan

As micro-trends affect the environment, they speed up the fast fashion cycle. This means that so many products are being created so quickly, because a certain trend is popular. Micro-trends come and go at such a fast pace, trending clothing don’t always stay in style or in a person’s closet for long. Succumbing to micro-trends results leads ito waste, where people throw out their clothing because it was trendy last month, but not this month. It creates this cycle, where the clothing ends up in landfills and becomes a waste of time and material. Globally, this creates textile waste with the number rising to approximately 80% of clothes a year.

Where do we go from here? We know what micro-trends are, how they are created, and the effects they have on the world around us. There are a few ways to move away from micro-trends and the over-consumption of clothing. Shopping for sustainable fashion brands is a great way to find interesting and long-lasting pieces. Brands like Reformation, Stella McCartney, and Urban Outfitters (through its Urban Renewal program) are a few. If this exceeds your price range, going to thrift shops or second-hand stores is a great way to reuse clothing, as well as donating or selling your old pieces instead of throwing them out. The most important method is to find your own style. Do not feel pressured to follow every fashion trend you see on social media and focus on finding clothing that speaks to you and that you feel comfortable in.

Even though the fashion world and social media have put pressure on following these trends, you don’t have to. Finding your own style can open up a world of fashion you might have overlooked. Finding your own style allows you to express yourself and have fun with the clothes you wear, without the added pressure and contribution to micro-trends. If you feel “cool” and confident in your own style, micro-trends and fast fashion could be a thing of the past.

Article by Gabrielle Ramos, Contributing Editor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Alexa Dyer, Graphic Designer, PhotoBook Magazine

Why Are There So Many Aesthetics?