By Madeline Weir
Staff Writer
Fashion has been used as a form of self-expression for centuries. Clothing can be used to display wealth, personality, occupation and so much more. However, do fleeting fashion trends offer room for personal expression?
We have seen many trends come and go through the years — from the revival of 70s, 80s and 90s fashion to low-rise and high-rise jeans, statement necklaces and more. Recently, Gen Z has embraced trends like matching workout sets, tube socks over ankle socks, Y2K fashion, cargo pants and fashion bows.
In addition to these broader fashion trends, there are also micro-trends. Micro trends are short-lived fads that last around a month, rather than an entire season. Popular micro-trends include cow print, barrel jeans, cheetah print, bubble skirts and bloomer shorts. Some of these micro-trends are so brief that many people are not even aware of them by the time they go out of style.
While trends are a good way to expand your wardrobe and expose yourself to new items of clothing, they do not allow much room for self expression. Constantly following trends makes everyone look the same. It is boring to walk around and see everyone in the same shirt simply because TikTok named it the “shirt of the summer.”
Social media adds to the push of wearing “trendy” clothing. Instagram ads and TikTok Shop-sponsored posts fill the screens of viewers, persuading them to follow the latest trends. Clothing is cleverly marketed to the public to insinuate that buying that item of clothing will elevate your wardrobe.
People should wear clothing that they like and feel comfortable in and not feel restricted to what is currently trending. If you genuinely enjoy every single trend and want your clothes to reflect them, feel free to embrace what makes you happy. However, most of the time this is not the case.
Unless you are heavily involved in the fashion world, there is no reason your wardrobe should constantly reflect what is popular. Exclusively following trends is unoriginal and lacks creative expression. It is one thing to purchase something you genuinely like that happens to be trending, but another to buy something purely because everyone else is currently wearing it.
Clothing is an extremely important part of self-expression. What you wear can showcase your individuality to people without even having a conversation. Dressing like everyone else does not reflect you and your individuality.
