By Jayla Davis
I know your ‘For You Page’ (FYP) is full of Get Ready with Me’s (GRWM), clothing hauls, and outfits of the day. Oh, the outfit you picked out this morning. You got that off Pinterest, right? Well don’t worry, we all consume media daily that has a strong influence on our own aesthetics, but has the evolution of social media slowly diminished originality when it comes to fashion?
In the early 2000s, trends were born from the hottest celebrities through magazines, reality TV, commercials, music videos and more. During this time, the expensive outfits celebrities wore were not very attainable for the average person with an average income. Celebrities had more of a stardom factor, because they were harder to replicate. This forced people to get creative and put their own spin on the outfits of their favorite celebrities, making the fashion world a little more unique.
Today, the rise of influencers has taken this stardom factor from celebrities and made it more accessible to someone like me or you. Influencers are normal people that have grown a platform from just being themselves, sharing their daily lives, and creating content that is personable. The relatability of influencers is what makes them so appealing and has grown their popularity. They are more accessible, engage more with their fans, and can be seen in everyday places such as your college campus. So, how do influencers influence fashion trends?
When that clothing haul came across your Tik Tok, how easy was it to get the exact items shown in the video? So easy, right? Social media has developed to a point where you can purchase the items you’re viewing directly from the post on your screen. Whether it’s linked to a storefront on Tik Tok, in the description on Pinterest, or linked directly to the item on Instagram, buying the things your favorite influencer is wearing has become so simple. This is great, considering you can easily buy items that catch your eye. But, if we’re all clicking the same links and making the same exact purchases, where does individuality come in?
The newfound acceptance of “dupes” is not helping individuality in the slightest, making it easier than ever to recreate looks from your favorite celebrities. “Dupes” are knock-off versions of expensive items, arriving in varying forms such as clothing brands, makeup and skincare. Before, having a knock-off was frowned upon and seen as tacky. Today, buying cheaper versions of expensive items is seen as practical and surprisingly encouraged. Now, you can replicate any look you would like. Whereas dressing like The Kardashian family seemed impossible in the early 2000s, now, you can find a cheaper, similar version of any outfit you see, including those on TikTok.
Recently, wearing athleisure for everyday activities has become one of the biggest trends online. From Alo to GymShark, wearing leggings and sports bras to run errands has become the norm. More specifically, there has been a spike in Lululemon sales, becoming more popular than ever. And, that doesn’t include the amount of people buying Lululemon “dupes” on Amazon. This raises the question: If we’re all wearing the same matching sets, what makes us different?
All things considered, if we’re all pinning the same outfits to our Pinterest boards and keeping up a little too closely with the latest trends, we leave no room for personalization in our wardrobes. Social media has played a huge role in the recent changes to the fashion world. Everything has become so accessible to a point where we don’t feel a desire to venture out and find pieces that are unique to us. We no longer buy pieces because they allow us to express ourselves, but more so because they are what is popular at the moment.
So, next time you are walking to class, look around and consider the question: has social media taken the fun out of fashion?
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