Trends I'm Definitely Not Buying...Until I Do
Because I've got to poke fun before you catch me wearing them in six months.
Trends are intriguing. Recently, I read that florals are OUT for Spring 2024. I always wonder, who made that call? Was it a top-down decision from an exec in a sterile boardroom? Or did it trickle up from an alleyway in China, inspired by someone who doesn't have much, but knows how to make every piece count? Either way, I’m wearing floral dresses this spring (groundbreaking, I know). Whether I choose to follow a trend or not, learning about them provides interesting perspective on cultural and social dynamics.
I won’t delve into all the complex ways trends mirror society and politics, or how our obsession with newness harms the planet. The history of trend-following clearly runs deep and is often rooted in class-based ideas of superiority. However, at the core, trends primarily serve a social function.
The battlefield of social validation is most apparent on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where the flood of information on 'micro-trends' can be overwhelming. Nearly every day a new stat is published about how something like tennis outfits have increased in popularity by 60%. I love data so I’m drawn to this content. But the need for social validation and seeking "permission" regarding what to wear based on trends can get unsettling.
Initially, I dove into this content for fun, but the overarching sentiment I've encountered isn't joy; it's anxiety. People lament in comments over the fact that tankinis are back and they just bought a two piece. Why have we blindly relinquished control over our choices and opinions? Have we outsourced our freewill to google search history? Is this why sometimes when I step outside, everyone seems to be dressed in the same muted colors and look like clones of each other? They've entrusted the algorithm to do the heavy lifting of critical thinking. Instead of fashion being an avenue for excitement and self-expression, these micro trends intensify the pressures of consumerism, capturing the stress that rapid-fire trends evoke.
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Trends come and go faster than you can say "jorts are my personal hell" but there's no need to stress! Trends aren’t a mandate, they are a choose your own adventure. Take what you like and leave the rest. I now limit my exposure to microtrends on social media because I don’t love the whole consumerism rate race to desperately fit in vibe. I'm not suggesting we reject all trends or shame anyone for being curious about them. But there’s got to a middle ground.
The advice of "just wear whatever you want and forget about everybody!" can be pretty unhelpful. Yes, wearing what you want and finding personal satisfaction is crucial. However, we're part of a larger society, and it's okay to consider fashion within that context. It’s not necessarily bad to want to look contemporary and participate in trends if you like them and aren’t blindly on auto pilot.
Rather than blindly following, how can I discern if a trend aligns with my existing style and wear it intentionally, extending its shelf life beyond fifteen minutes? I typically approach trends with a sense of lightness, exploring the emotions, moods, and associations they evoke in my imagination. These associations can vary from "I cannot look at those shoes without seeing chicken cutlets" to "this fabric reminds me of a shirt I wore during a really happy time in my life!" Reflecting on these aspects helps me ensure I’m making decisions through my own personal lens. I do this because it’s a fun exercise and because if I don’t, there’s usually someone waiting, often with a sales agenda, ready to try and influence how I should feel about it. Here’s a few trends I’m thinking about right now.
MESH FLATS
Mesh flats. The very first time I saw them was a major WTF. However, the more I was exposed…the more I started to think: these could actually be cute? They do radiate some charming, Tank Girl-inspired feeling. Are they sexy in a rebellious way? I felt like a prude granny being so appalled at how “exposed" they make the foot seem. Am I stealing potential earnings from those who sell photos of their feet and not standing with the foot pic workforce?
I kept convincing myself they weren't all that different from flip flops. But it’s wild how something with more fabric than a flip flop can somehow feel dirtier. Perhaps it's because my imagination recoils at the idea of them soaking up every scent and germ in a public bathroom like a sponge. And the mere thought of them getting wet sends shivers down my spine.
While searching online for images of these shoes, I started to find myself in some weird places. When you end up in the"Men's Mesh Shower Shoes" section, it’s probably time to pull the plug. Things took an especially strange turn when I found myself unknowingly browsing through a bunch of water shoes. Are mesh shoes the gateway drug to water shoes? It is a slippery slope.
Either way, I couldn’t pin point why I was drawn to them and then it dawned on me…haven’t I been down this road before? I’m not alone; many of us have walked this path. After all, there's one iconic shoe that paved the way for the likes of the Alaia mesh flat to strut these streets—the classic Canal Street special. You know the one: remember arriving home only to realize you’ve littered miles of the city with your now missing plastic sequin flowers? Remember the gritty imprint on your foot that required serious elbow grease to remove?
✨THE OG MESH FLAT✨
She’s style, she’s grace, from what I remember she cost about $1.99. She walked so $890 mesh mary janes could run. You wore them, I wore them. I lived through it once (and boy, did I live!) but do I really need to live through it again?
THE IDAHO BAG
Ah, The Row again. Yet another item that effortlessly normalizes the idea of splurging exorbitantly, subtly convincing women everywhere that it's perfectly acceptable to empty their 401k for a handbag. Honestly I love a bag with an abnormal shape! But this bag is $1500. This shape feels especially impractical, I worry that whatever I put in there will spill out of the sides. And I have little desire to manage those awkward proportions with just one hand.
Do they call it the Idaho bag because it kinda looks like a potato? Or is it dubbed Idaho because it's channeling the tool bag aesthetic of a nice husband who resides in Idaho? This bag is serving some early-onset log bag realness. It makes me want to chop and carry some damn wood. I was actually pretty tickled when I typed “log bag” into google and The Row came up as a top sponsored result:
So seriously, if you’re actually into this bag and want to save some cash, I’m not gonna lie…searching for an elevated log or tool bag might be a good route to go. And then when you’re done with this trend, maybe you can actually carry some firewood or have somewhere to store your hammer collection? As if we haven't transformed the working class into a fashion statement enough already (seriously, there's a Carhartt store in the poshest part of Paris and the prices are getting crazy for those who need it to actually work). Anyway, if you’re looking for styling inspiration to match your log bag to some Keens and dad jeans — Home Depot has some serious gems:
CAPRIS + TANKINIS
I apologize but my feeble mind cannot separate capris and tankinis. These go together for me because I have visceral associations with the two that truly cannot be untied! It's amazing how a few inches of fabric adjustment can change everything. If capris were a bit shorter and a different fabric, I could deal with some casual sportiness. If they were a tad longer, I could see channeling the star of a French New Wave film. But no, I'm plagued by terrible flashbacks of a hot summer’s 12th birthday party where I’m scowling because my braces can’t handle the sprinkles in the cake.
It’s the same fabric purgatory story with tankinis. Both of these clothing items put me in a time machine full of teenage angst and I still have the acne scars to prove it. I was first burned by capris as a teen when I fantasized about them for months, and when I finally took the plunge, the swamp ass awkwardness was just too real.
The only wonderful thing about capris and tankinis are the memories they bring back of my best friend and I inventing dance routines to every track on ‘Jock Jams Vol 6’ But sadly it’s not enough to make me go for this microtrend. Especially after seeing the startling amount of very sincere “What is a tankini?” questions on Tiktok inspired me to create my first meme:
This is the thing about trends: when you realize how funny and ludicrous your references and associations for them are, it doesn't even seem strange to consider buying water shoes or a tool bag. It highlights the ephemeral nature of everything. This realization actually curbs my desire to buy more—it's a reminder that clothing and fashion are largely products decorated by our imagination. It's the associations and stories we attach to them. The references and framework of your personal mind, along with your personal experiences, make your decisions uniquely yours to decide.
Which is what makes it really fun to get dressed! If you use your mind to do it, you can truly cultivate an unshakeable relationship with your clothes. It's far better than building your foundation on the shaky ground of insecurity, where you're crushed by someone disliking or not understanding a trend you bought into. It’s the difference between wearing your clothes or letting your clothes wear you.1 So if owning an Idaho bag makes you feel like Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman or if you've always enjoyed being a foot exhibitionist, then why not go for it? It's just amusing to realize that all these material possessions ultimately hold little meaning outside of what our minds create. You're not going to meet your demise this summer if you opt out of wearing a tankini.
Plus want something to become a trend? Donate it and you will suddenly “need” to buy it again. Happens to me every time. I was completely shook when I recently donated my old “Britney Spears AMAs costume” and denim skirts immediately came back in style.
You’re playing a losing game, so you might as well have fun. What are your associations with trends? How do you engage with them?
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With that said, when trends debut, I quickly form opinions about them. But as they evolve, certain aspects might resonate with me differently. What initially didn't appeal to me, I've come to admire after seeing it styled differently or seeing new variations of the piece, offering a fresh perspective. So when you see me wearing capri pants, mesh shoes, and rocking a broccoli haircut in 6 months…feel free to drag me. But we’ll both know you read it here first.
“She walked so $890 mesh mary janes could run.” Omg you are a treasure!
One thing we all forget, every single time, is how impossible denim skirts are to actually wear. Whenever I feel tempted, I remember all the times the skirt slowly inched up and around my body, so after a few blocks it was like I was wearing more of a belt with the buttons to the side.
I’m really glad you brought up the feeling of anxiety over joy tho! I think there’s something bigger than the algorithmic feeds at work. The demise of the larger concept of “mainstream” and the proliferation of a veritable tsunami of micro-trends doesn’t mean people don’t want to fit in somewhere and in some way - especially teens. But even for adults it feels like there’s this impossible tension between “define your own style!” and a relentless stream of ads and trends and influencers and the rest. How do you engage with both? Where’s the quiet space where your brain can sort out what’s you and what’s you being convinced after constant exposure? It’s like we switched from one way of being and there’s no map! Which is why I’m so happy you’re writing about it!