If you were online at all in the past six months, you remember the internet’s obsession over the series, “Love Story,” exploring the relationship between Carolyn Bessette and John F. Kennedy Jr. While I'm not going to criticize its inaccuracies or technical aspects, I noticed there was an obvious response amongst social media that spoke to the broader social schema users seem to be plagued by once again: the micro-trend.
The hyper fixation on Carolyn Bessette’s 90s minimalist style, taking hold of social media creators and consumers alike, only fueled the pre-existing departure of individualism and self-expression. Such media-driven instability leaves people ravaging their closets or online vintage platforms to find the most chic, 90’s effortless pieces to take part in the aesthetic-based trend. All of which seems to be a part of a recurring cycle that accelerates every instance of online aesthetic rage.
It seems as if we Gen Z-ers lose our sense of self to feed the demands of a fast-changing society. Getting caught up and dressing like hot-and-coming celebrities or idealized figures, dead and alive, to be perceived in a certain light. However, how can we know who we are or what we like if we are so absorbed in how we are perceived?
With the increased usage of social media across all platforms, especially Instagram and TikTok, people are more exposed to what is and will be cool today, especially in the realm of aesthetics. It seems that since 2020, the cycling of trends has skyrocketed at an exponential pace, with a new hot topic almost every month. From street-style athleisure, office siren, 90s minimalism, to this summer’s TBD micro-hit, such an influx of indecision in social spaces leaves its consumers unsure and unaware of what they like in relation to what social media practically demands people to present themselves as.
Such viral aesthetic-based pieces have found themselves embedded in UW-Madison game-day, Lily’s Classic and Mifflin, and even day-to-day style across campus. Some of the most frequent trends seen around have been polka dot almost-everythings from tops to accessories, capri pants of all kind, blue-light opticals similar to, if not actually, the MiuMiu round tortoise spectacles, half-up half-down hair clipped together with some variation of Emi-Jay’s Big Effing Clip, and many others I’ve gotten so used to seeing I no longer register.
While men’s fashion has seen a less apparent plague of trend-hopping, the rise of jorts, straight-leg jeans, basic tees, and 2000s-esque wraparound sunglasses have made their way to campus as well. Micro-trends like these can prompt exclusive undercurrents surrounding UW-Madison’s campus culture especially in this wave of quasi-popularity; a concept that is almost solely dictated by how someone presents themselves both online and off, creating this parasocial relationship between others and ourselves especially during this wave of being ‘in’
Society has this dilemma of valuing a unique and eclectic style while simultaneously rejecting those who don’t submit to the demands of social media’s erratic and indecisive trend cycle. It is a dilemma that those who spend maybe a bit too much time online, like myself, often fall into the trap of. But keep in mind that following or not following the rapid trend cycles yet to occur will not define the place one stands in this faux-fashion hierarchy.
I'm no different in the desire to people-please and look objectively cool and put together, but there is a difference between trying out new styles, colors, etc., and dressing like Carolyn Bessette Kennedy or any celebrity to keep up with what social media or even people on the street want to see you in.
Finding one's personal style is a process that inevitably comes with wearing perceivably ugly and unflattering clothes. But you cannot know what works on your body without knowing what doesn’t. Trial and error is real, and a fear of failure, especially in the realm of personal style, should not hold you back from dressing the way you want that reflects who you are.
Being considered niche and cool can be great, but what cost does that come at if one solely relies on what social media or the general public deems it to be? In the realm of style and aesthetics, as well as a society that rapid-cycles through them, personal style should be curated as a result of filtering through which trends one feels best in, instead of permitting external media influence to define it.
Although the intake of social media’s viral sensations can impair stylistic judgement, we shouldn’t get too wrapped up in the bipolarity of its micro-trended indecisions, especially on a campus flooded with a variety of media consumers. Instead of allowing ourselves to be consumed by notions of aesthetic paralysis and the media's fashion paradox of choice, we need to leave behind algorithm-based style choices.
PSA to over-consumers and chronically online individuals: today’s top trending item could be tomorrow’s millennial junkyard, and past decade’s trash will probably end up next year’s treasure. Don’t get lost in the obscurity of social media’s endless wardrobe malfunctions. Wear what works for you, not for them.
Sydney Frusher is a Sophomore studying Political Science and History. Do you agree that we need to move beyond micro-trends in fashion? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com
