Be more conscious of how you engage in trend culture
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Trend culture has been a part of popular culture across the globe, existing in the zeitgeist for pretty much the entirety of the modern world. From the pull of flared jeans and crochet tops in the ‘70s to the leggings and Ugg boots look of the 2010s, the prevalence of trend culture, especially in the world of fashion, has an undeniable impact on our societies.
As social media has sprouted into infamy over the last two decades, there has been a noted shift, both in the timeframe of trends, and in how they become what they are. In their article, writer for The Independent, Laura Hampson, noted “…the way trends used to work is they would filter down from ‘tastemakers’ such as fashion editors and designers whose runway styles would eventually influence high street store collections the following season. In this modern age, social media allows for anyone to be a trendsetter, with the opportunity to go viral.” Commenting on how trends have become something more in the hands of the people, if you will.
Along with this shift, though, interviewed stylist Samantha Harman shares that, “‘Trend cycles have got shorter, hugely due to social media. Traditionally, we had the spring/summer, autumn/winter shows – now we’ve got new collections coming out practically weekly.’”
As trend culture speeds up, the individual’s attachment to and dedication to it must be considered. While it should not be expected that we all suddenly and collectively stop following trends, as some of their influence is seemingly inevitable, it is important to note how trend culture influences us all— and whether it should.
It seems to me that trend culture's biggest harms come in the ways that trends strip those who participate from the exploration of individuality, especially since those who are most likely to abide by and be attracted to trends are those in the teenage to early adult stages. During this time, the ways an individual begins to think about themself and their place in the world tend to really come to a head, and while experimenting with trends can help guide this exploration, trends can also really work to stifle this self-expression— especially if it is counter to what’s trendy.
In this way, trends’ conformity and quick movement work as both a positive and a negative. For some, trying out can be an effective means of discovering what someone does or does not like about clothing items, the way they fit, or how they feel they portray their personal sense of self or the self they desire to be. On the other hand, it is no secret that teenagers and early adults are rife with worries and insecurities, especially in terms of how peers perceive them.
Having the existence of trends for those who feel very trapped by and hyper-critical of their outward perception can be just another way for them to either fit in or become excluded. In this way, trends can work to create those who are inside of something and those who are outside, which in certain environments can have very real impacts on an individual's self-esteem. This becomes increasingly more complicated when the demands of keeping up with trend-culture and how it creates an “in-group” can impact those from lower socioeconomic classes, races, religious observances, and other minority groups.
For this reason, I think it is important that we move towards a more conscious engagement in trends. Slowing the pace at which trends come in and out of popularity seems to be a necessity, as we aim to move towards a more inclusive and sustainable world. While trends seem like nothing but a bit of harmless fun, the way they can seep into the social and cultural aspects of the world can have very real interpersonal consequences on the personal and broader level.