Fashion is one of the most impactful parts of our lives whether you are a self-proclaimed fashion hater or have your style pinned to a “T.” This is true whether you are decked out in scene gear, or if you are one of those folks who is so minimalist they wear the same tee-shirt and jeans every day. Those decisions, the simple items of clothing, help to tell a story about who we are, how we wish to be perceived and how we think the world sees us.
Fashion is woven through culture, history, gender and sexual identity, socioeconomic status, politics, technological evolution and our personalities. With the rapidly shifting trend cycles we deal with today, it is hard to know how we truly want to dress. How many of us can honestly say we know our style without considering the top 5 biggest fashion trends of the month? And no, this isn’t just a women’s issue. I know a lot of men who struggle with knowing where they fit in as well. Those who feel that they don’t fit in the “male and female” part of this conversation may have an even harder time.
Being someone who tries to keep up with fashion, I often find it exhausting to scan through headlines on trends as the season changes. “Shop now, wear through November,” “Five fall fashion essentials of 2024,” “Eight fall fashion trends I’m buying and eight I’m skipping,” “31 fashion essentials I’m shopping for early,” … no thanks. The idea of buying new clothes at the turn of every season is both unsustainable and inauthentic.
I’m not saying you can’t buy new clothes, I’m saying buy new clothes you think you can style your own way. Buy clothes that will make you happy, not trendy. You don’t have to wear brown, tan and burgundy just because the leaves are changing color. Wear those colors because it genuinely makes you smile.
I’m also not saying your sense of style has to be the same every day. I know mine is not. Fashion is often used to signal membership in particular social groups or subcultures. As I mentioned, it also weaves through so many aspects of what makes up our identity. Traditional clothing, fabrics and patterns from various cultures help individuals maintain a connection to their ethnic origins. Fashion can be a tool to express identity and it can also serve as a way to reject sexual norms or stereotypes. For many, fashion is also a way to redefine themselves as they age by choosing styles that reflect their evolving identity, maturity and self-confidence. It helps us tell a story about who we are, what we value and how we see ourselves. If we get sucked into the wormhole of quickly shifting fashion trends, we risk losing the ability to authentically express ourselves.
