The Final Boss of Micro-Trends: Is Social Media Ruining Personal Style?
If you're anything like me, your social media feed is brimming with fashion and style content—people flaunting their outfits, alongside man-on-the-street style interviews on fashion hot takes. These individuals share their personal opinions on today’s fashion scene, and recently, one critique has been dominating my feeds: micro-trends. It seems people are finally getting tired of the same old styles circulating the internet, putting fast fashion on blast. But what exactly are micro-trends, and how are they detrimental to both the environment and our individuality?
What Is a Micro-Trend?
Micro-trends are fleeting fashion aesthetics that rapidly gain and lose popularity. They include any style of clothing and accessories that seem to become popular overnight. Fast fashion brands like SHEIN exploit these trends, producing large quantities of styles to meet the surging demand, only for them to end up in thrift stores and landfills once the trend fades. Even if you haven't named the fad, you've definitely seen them.
Micro-trends are more accessible than sustainably sourced fashion, making them especially appealing. Brands can reach a wider audience and push trends further when their products are priced under $10, compared to high-end brands whose items cost hundreds. The low prices hint at poor quality, but these styles aren't worn long enough for anyone to care.
Is It a “Fashion MF” Or Just Someone Who Follows Mico-Trends?
If you’ve ever wondered why everyone dresses the same, it’s due to micro-trends, and social media is the culprit. TikTok is particularly notorious for igniting micro-trends due to its unparalleled visibility. All it takes is a style to become popular by a notable creator, and then everyone hops on the train.
But when everyone dresses the same, it leaves no room for individuality or personal style. People begin to lose their unique fashion sense when they choose to follow the crowd. This conformity stifles self-expression, making everyone look like carbon copies of each other.
It’s even funny to mock people whose closets consist solely of trendy pieces—"POV: you're at the thrift and the micro trend final boss walks in," one video quips, highlighting how ubiquitous certain styles have become.
While a micro-trend will become wildly popular for a few months, once the hype is over it becomes a part of fashion wasteland. The Brazil-themed shirts and jerseys are a prime example—they were trending just a few months ago but now clutter thrift store racks.
Currently, items like bubble skirts, bloomers, and soccer jerseys are making their rounds in the trend cycle. While following trends may seem fun, issues arise when items quickly lose their appeal. Every year, fast fashion contributes to over 92 million tons of waste, exacerbating environmental damage and depleting natural resources.
The Solution
The internet is a great space to cultivate personal style and identity, but falling into the micro-trend trap is easy. To avoid this, try not to stick to what everyone else is doing. There’s beauty in individuality, so don’t let fleeting trends guide your closet-making decisions. Consider what styles are bound to go down the drain after a few months before adding them to your cart.
Try to avoid fast-fashion sites as much as possible. Investing in quality pieces will ensure your style journey starts on the right foot. Look for items you can see yourself wearing for years and resist the temptation to buy cheap, trendy items in bulk.
While there's nothing wrong with participating in trends—in fact, it can provide new perspectives on fashion—be aware of how it affects the environment and your wardrobe. At the end of the day, put on whatever makes you happy!