Written by: Génesis Ventura
While sorting through my closet, I found so many trendy clothing items, and I wondered why I bought them. As a college student, I have noticed that the media has influenced what I shop for. One of the main platforms that is powerfully influential when it comes to fashion trends is Tiktok. In an article in Industry Fashion, Sophie Smith explains, “Fashion trends dominate TikTok’s fashion content. These appear on a user’s FYP (for you page) and can feature anything from a clothing haul to styling inspiration. TikTok provides an accessible platform for creators, which is why these fashion trends and the products included often go viral.”
One of the main trends Smith said is seen on TikTok is called “TikTok made me buy it.” Because these paid advertisements can increase both brand exposure and revenue, influencer relationships are a popular marketing approach for fashion firms on the network. Many of the influencers have paid partnerships with brands to promote their fashion pieces. Because some of these influencers are paid to promote fashion pieces, the consumer is not completely sure if the influencer genuinely likes the fashion piece that is being promoted. Consumers often purchase trendy pieces that may be worn for the time the clothing item or accessory is popular. One of the trendy pieces that I was influenced to buy and now regret spending money on are the patchwork block jeans that were very trendy at the beginning of the pandemic.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, avoiding trends can actually improve your style, according to an article in Society19 by Madeline Murphy. She explains, “By not following every internet trend, you can also experiment with your own fashion creativity. Instead of seeing a photo of a feathery matching set on Instagram and purchasing a replication, you can actively create your own outfit. Getting fashion inspiration from others is natural, but not following trends may force you to experiment and challenge yourself.”
Murphy emphasizes that by their very nature, trends don’t last. The patterns that we see today may return decades from now, but eventually, they will be considered outdated.
Though being influenced by the media is bound to happen sometimes, not letting those trends sway your style and who you are is very important. I noticed that trying to follow fashion trends impacted how I view myself in clothes. I did not like what I was wearing because it was not me;, it was what the media was influencing me to wear. Once I established my own style, I noticed that I had a more creative outlook toward the way I dressed.
