By Isla Molton, Special to Nighthawk News
As you enter the room wearing your favorite low-rise jeans and Doc Martens, your mom sees you and starts nagging you about your outfit. You pull out your phone and show her it’s what the most popular influencer is wearing – which is when she informs you that’s what SHE wore as a kid. So why are so many trends coming back now?
Fashion experts show that trends will cycle about every 20 to 50 years, depending on what research you look at. Some say it’s from kids growing up with their parents’ style, while others say it’s because of economic changes.
While there are many factors to one’s changing styles, within the past few years social media has been taking a big toll on this cycle. The “new” trends are coming back quicker than before, but also changing fashion history. This is the first ever time where individualism is trending. People want to be unique and different, because having your own style is now viewed as the new “cool.”
Teens all over the world are using TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. With all the up-and-coming influencers on each specialized feed, a teen’s social media usage probably affects them more than they think, especially when it comes to fashion.
“The trends change on a whim,” sophomore Jaida Snyder said. “One day there will be one thing trending, but the next everyone will hate it.”
After some consideration, Snyder said she does not think it’s too tricky to keep up with the trends anymore. She has finally found the style that fits her, which she calls “more modest and baggy, with earthy colors.” Her style started changing in eighth- and ninth-grade, after she would look at old pictures of herself and think, “Oh girl, that was not it!”
“My style now is definitely from my brother because I’ve grown up around his style my whole life, but I’ll still participate in trends,” Snyder said when asked where her current inspiration is from.
There are lots of people who will talk about the downsides and negativity of social media, or how influencers may be “self centered.” Others will say that it’s one of the main causes for why people doubt themselves because they’ll compare themselves to people online. But for some, it does the opposite.
On the right side of social media, it can be an amazing way for people to learn how to express themselves and find just the right style for them. When you look in the right spot, there is much creative inspiration out there.
“Over the years, (my style) has changed a lot,” junior Dani Watson said. “I used to be really basic at first, but then I started learning about alternative subcultures. I started to see the Y2K things popping up, so I kind of started doing that.”
Although style is a creative way for people to express themselves, it’s not always easy to understand them at first glance. Do women feel more strongly about their own fashion choices, and the things other people wear? Do guys feel the same pressure when it comes to fashion?
“There’s definitely less pressure because you don’t really have to do a lot as a guy,” freshman Cole Voight said. “You could just put jeans on and a good pair of shoes and you’ll probably be fine.”
And of course, no matter what a person wears every day, it’s impossible to truly know them by their clothes or shoes. Seeing hundreds of students daily, teachers would know this best.
“You definitely can’t tell a student’s personality by the way their style,” Science teacher Micah Ouellette said. “There’s a lot more to someone than just their clothes.”
Freshman Isla Molton wrote this story for her/his Intro to Publications semester project. She/he can be reached at moltonis4165@daretolearn.org.
