#1 ·
I was scrolling through my feeds the other day, and I realized that I can barely keep up with what people are supposed to be wearing anymore. It feels like every three weeks, there is a brand-new "aesthetic" dropped into our laps. One week everyone is dressing like they live in a sun-drenched villa in the Mediterranean, the next it’s like we’re all supposed to be forest nymphs, and then suddenly we’re all pivoting to some hyper-specific, almost mythological vibe that feels more like a costume than actual clothing.
Don't get me wrong, I love a good seasonal shift. There is something genuinely fun about pulling out the linens in July or the heavy knits in November. It’s a ritual. But lately, it feels like these trends aren't just about a change in weather; they are these highly curated, hyper-specific "cores" that demand a total overhaul of your wardrobe if you want to stay relevant. It’s like we’ve moved away from "style" and moved toward "identities" that we have to perform.
I find myself looking at these sudden surges in popularity—where suddenly everyone is obsessed with shells, shimmer, or a specific kind of "energy"—and I can't help but feel a bit of fatigue. It feels less like an organic expression of culture and more like a feedback loop. You see a few influencers adopt a certain look, the algorithms pick it up, and within forty-eight hours, every fast-fashion retailer is churning out cheap, disposable versions of that exact look. Then, as soon as the "core" becomes too ubiquitous, it’s discarded for the next one.
I remember back in my early twenties, I had a specific look. It wasn't a "core." It was just... me. I had a few go-to pieces that I loved, things that felt comfortable and reflected my personality. I didn't need a new vocabulary of aesthetics to justify buying a pair of sunglasses or a sundress. Now, it feels like if you aren't leaning into the "vibe" of the month, you're somehow out of step with the world. It creates this weird pressure to constantly consume. You aren't just buying a shirt; you're buying an entry ticket into a specific subculture for the summer.
There’s also the problem of the "costume" aspect. When a trend gets too specific—like when people start dressing in ways that feel more like they’re heading to a themed party than a grocery store—it loses that sense of effortless cool. To me, true style has always been about that subtle, lived-in feeling. It’s about the items you’ve owned for five years that still look better than anything you just bought. When we chase these hyper-niche aesthetics, we’re essentially trading longevity for a momentary flash of "being on trend."
I worry that we're losing the ability to develop a personal sense of taste. If our preferences are constantly being dictated by what is currently "trending" on social media, are we actually making choices, or are we just reacting to an algorithm? It feels like we're being trained to view fashion as a series of fleeting personas rather than a way to express a consistent self.
I'm curious to hear what you all think. Do you find joy in these rapid-fire aesthetic shifts, or do you feel the same exhaustion I do? Is it possible to participate in these trends without feeling like you're just wearing a costume, or is the whole concept of "core" trends fundamentally at odds with having a real personal style?
Don't get me wrong, I love a good seasonal shift. There is something genuinely fun about pulling out the linens in July or the heavy knits in November. It’s a ritual. But lately, it feels like these trends aren't just about a change in weather; they are these highly curated, hyper-specific "cores" that demand a total overhaul of your wardrobe if you want to stay relevant. It’s like we’ve moved away from "style" and moved toward "identities" that we have to perform.
I find myself looking at these sudden surges in popularity—where suddenly everyone is obsessed with shells, shimmer, or a specific kind of "energy"—and I can't help but feel a bit of fatigue. It feels less like an organic expression of culture and more like a feedback loop. You see a few influencers adopt a certain look, the algorithms pick it up, and within forty-eight hours, every fast-fashion retailer is churning out cheap, disposable versions of that exact look. Then, as soon as the "core" becomes too ubiquitous, it’s discarded for the next one.
I remember back in my early twenties, I had a specific look. It wasn't a "core." It was just... me. I had a few go-to pieces that I loved, things that felt comfortable and reflected my personality. I didn't need a new vocabulary of aesthetics to justify buying a pair of sunglasses or a sundress. Now, it feels like if you aren't leaning into the "vibe" of the month, you're somehow out of step with the world. It creates this weird pressure to constantly consume. You aren't just buying a shirt; you're buying an entry ticket into a specific subculture for the summer.
There’s also the problem of the "costume" aspect. When a trend gets too specific—like when people start dressing in ways that feel more like they’re heading to a themed party than a grocery store—it loses that sense of effortless cool. To me, true style has always been about that subtle, lived-in feeling. It’s about the items you’ve owned for five years that still look better than anything you just bought. When we chase these hyper-niche aesthetics, we’re essentially trading longevity for a momentary flash of "being on trend."
I worry that we're losing the ability to develop a personal sense of taste. If our preferences are constantly being dictated by what is currently "trending" on social media, are we actually making choices, or are we just reacting to an algorithm? It feels like we're being trained to view fashion as a series of fleeting personas rather than a way to express a consistent self.
I'm curious to hear what you all think. Do you find joy in these rapid-fire aesthetic shifts, or do you feel the same exhaustion I do? Is it possible to participate in these trends without feeling like you're just wearing a costume, or is the whole concept of "core" trends fundamentally at odds with having a real personal style?