The Old is New Again and the New is…Old?

Many people look back at old photos and cringe at their past selves. I dare say the outfits in those photos contribute to this embarrassment. However, I do find myself in a fashion rut at some points, drawing no inspiration from my closet or my go-to retailers. Hot Take: I sometimes resort to channeling my 5-year old self’s outfits. And it works. 

It’s no surprise that pieces that were once thought to be “out of trend” or “so 2012” suddenly shape to fit into today’s fashion standards. We’ve seen this with mom jeans to flared pants or even the return of the 90s fringe. But are these trends driven by consumers or social media? Though this question is subjective, it contradicts the real motive of fashion: self-expression. Expression is individualistic; everyone’s personal perception of what they think is “cute” is different. If I look around a busy café, there's a kaleidoscope of different aesthetics. While one person is rocking a coastal grandmother look, another is channeling their inner Carrie Bradshaw. 

As humans, I believe it is natural for us to draw inspiration from the media we consume, through no fault of our own. With social media being so prominent in our lives these days, it is easy to follow an influencer and become inspired by them. This is not new to fashion, as it has always been a reflection of society and current trends. In other words, fashion is cyclical. In fact, according to a DSN English report, fashion trends repeat every 20-30 years. So why does it seem like fast fashion companies change their inventories within weeks?

This comes down to the impact of social media and how it is perceived by large fast fashion companies, as they rapidly produce pieces in anticipation of fast-changing consumer demands. If influencers are shining attention on a certain item of clothing, retailers will often make dupes of these items. The underlying factor though, is us, the consumers. We have the ability to make responsible choices and decide where we shop and how often. 

Fashion is a mode of self-expression. We choose what we want to wear and how we want to express ourselves. People may choose to wear a 70s inspired look one day and a preppy outfit the next day. However, it’s definitely important to be mindful of the choices we make as consumers as these decisions are what drives the fast fashion industry.