Cottagecore, Grunge, Y2K, or Soft-girl: Discovering Aesthetics in the Age of Social Media
In a generation of revolutionaries, Gen Z continues to raise the bar on new fashion styles and aesthetics. With a variety of trendy styles circulating on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, how do you decide where you fit in?
Gen Z is a generation of rebels and innovators. We don't shy away from expressing ourselves in many ways in reclaiming our individualism and identities. As changemakers, it is important to us to make ourselves known and heard.
Rejecting traditional ideals and social contrasts, Gen Z is breaking the rules that keep us boxed in. For example, in our fashion and aesthetics. Clothing, makeup, and DIY trends on social media reflect that exploration, imagination, and creativity of this generation through the abundance of style-inspo videos and aesthetics that have flooded social media.
Generation Z is sometimes thought of as technologically brainwashed, TikTok fanatics, and quirky wannabe internet celebrities. However, as we age into teenagers and young adults, we not only express ourselves through aesthetics in photo and video, but also make it a point to exercise our rights and freedoms on these social media platforms. Social media has created a space to use voices to fight injustices through viral backlash, creating a platform for those in need, and challenging stereotypes and traditions that once were used to oppress.
#BlackLivesMatter // Photo Courtesy of Occupy
Although social media activism is often seen as controversial preformative activism—for the sake of improving a person's social image, or done without proper research in order to follow trends—and it would also be irresponsible to group an entire generation into this stereotype. From famous and influential content creators and celebrities to you and me, social media provides us all with immense power to shape both our personal image and the digital sphere with the power to curate what is produced and shared on the internet.
Club Q Shooting Memorial, Colorado // Photo Courtesy of CPR News
Considering the amount of social stirrup and actual social change that has come about because of global digital engagement, ie. protests and fundraising for women in Iran, Black Lives Matter, Free Palestine movement, and attention to Trans issues including the recent Club Q shooting, it is clear that social media decides issues and trends topics that are important to the world.
Today, with so many popular styles and aesthetics circulating on the internet, there is often a pressure to pick just one and know where you fit in.
So how do I discover a personal style when there are so many to choose from?
Here are some ideas to consider:
1. Where does my fashion inspiration come from?
I, along with many others, often find myself drawn to fashion trends that I see on the internet simply because of popularity on TikTok and Instagram.
Although it is often enticing to follow along with crowds and simply do what is trendy, there might also be value in understanding the roots of trends and styles we adopt.
Since fashion is a tool that is a personal reflection of ourselves and our values, conducting some background research to become well informed and educated on trendy styles provides greater insight when deciding if joining in is worthwhile.
For example, fashion is often rooted in historical or cultural context.
Take one of my personal favorite hairstyles for example, the mullet. This playful and edgy updo made a recent comeback, growing most of its popularity in 2020. Worn by popular artists such as Rhianna, Miley Cyrus, and Lil Nas X, many might know this style as retro 70’s and 80’s fashion resurfacing.
However, the mullet holds even deeper cultural and historic roots in Ancient Greece, Egypt, and Assyria. Warriors would use this style for convenience and efficiency in battle, and earlier civilizations might have relied on the style to keep their necks dry and warm.
The mullet also holds roots in Indigenous history. For Indigenous tribes, hair is sacred and plays an important role in constructing and representing identity, as it is believed that long hair represents strong cultural connection. Strengthening the values of connection with their tribes, families, and with Creation, different tribes display a variety of hairstyles based on the particular values. The Nez Pearce men that originated from the Pacific Northwest regions of America rocked short and spiky hair at the front and long hair at the back with braids. However during European colonization of North America, the tribe men faced pressures from the Christian Church to surrender the hairstyle that was seen as indecent.
Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce // Photo Courtesy of History
David Bowie - most famous mullet // Photo Courtesy of Ultimate Classic Rock
Miley Cyrus // Photo via Pinterest
The style resurfaced once again in the 1970, popularized by artists David Bowie who used the hairstyle to represent his rugged punk, androgynous and glamorous style that wanted to shock his audience.
Androgynous fashion that was pioneered by early rockstars such as Bowie, Prince, and Fredy Mercury, has now entered fashion more than ever with celebrities such as Harry Styles, rapper Lil Nas X, and Billy Porter sporting feminine fashion in music videos, photoshoots, and on high class red carpet events. Alongside female celebrities like Kirsten Stewart, Zendaya, and Zoe Kravitz, this kind of representation from influential figures are crushing gender boundaries in clothing expression, proving that clothing is designed for joy in empowerment, and self-expression, not to fit into beauty standards.
Rapper Lil Nas X on MTV Red Carpet // Photo Courtesy of Popsugar
Harry Styles “Falling” Music Video // Photo Courtesy of Another Man Magazine
Zoe Kravitz as GQ’s Superhero of the Year // Photo Courtesy of GQ
The importance of understanding cultural context of certain trends also remains significant in keeping the integrity of racialized groups.
First emerging in 2020, the fox eye makeup trend caused massive media outrage with the public stating that the makeup look that was adopted by celebrities such as Bella Hadid was simply a racist expression that appropriated East Asians features. The makeup trend became concerning when pictures and videos of the trend showed celebrities and their fans pulling their eyes to create the illusion of slanted eyes. Members of the Asian community expressed dismay and outrage as slanted eyes suddenly became a fashion statement popularized by influential stars when historically Asian features as part of Asian identity had been ridiculed in the media and by their peers.
Regardless of public outrage over the fox eye trend, some individuals are now turning to cosmetic eye surgery to permanently lift their eyes in order to replicate this look. The non-invasive and invasive surgical methods have gained greater attraction in recent months, resurfacing discourse on the fox eye as a trend.
Alexa Demie Eye Look // Photo via Facebook
Fashion isn't just what we see that is trending. There are many social and cultural factors that play into new fashion trends that arise and those that make a comeback.
It is important to be well informed on current trends not only to stay ahead of the fashion game but also to understand the significance of fashion and aesthetics in how we present ourselves and representations we want to support.
2. Do I need to have just one aesthetic?
Oftentimes in Hollywood media, especially in teen drama such as the wildly popular chick flick Mean Girls, the exclusivity of dissociated cliques that sport their unique fashion and hobbies creates rivalries amongst the fictional school communities. From queen bees and jocks, to theater kids, nerds, goths and social rejects, Hollywood has perpetuated the divide between these identities with little to no crossover or common ground within these groups.
Mean Girls // Photo Courtesy of Vogue
E-Girl // Photo via Pinterest
However, I wonder if some of the fashion choices we see and subsequent communities can lead to gatekeeping of associated stereotypical personalities and identities. In the real world, identity is much less limited and ever evolving. Hollywood depiction of certain personality traits only overgeneralize and stereotypes of these groups but reality is goths can enjoy biology and nerds also like to party.
And sporting a certain style or different combinations of styles that you like from different aesthetics, does not make you an imposter to a certain community and in fact broadens your individual taste through creating unique combinations of the thing you like, rather than staying limited to a certain style.
3. What issues do I care about and how can I reflect my identity and personal values in fashion?
When considering what to shop for it is also important to consider where to purchase items.
With the abundance of ads flooding social media platforms, it is not uncommon to feel the need to have that gorgeous dress in a promo you saw when scrolling through Instagram stories. However, as most of us are aware of, many fast fashion websites often use unethical labor techniques to provide cheap prices for clothing.
However this is not to say we should never shop online. Online independent stores on websites such as Etsy allow the customer to filter their product suggestions towards local retailers so you know exactly where their products are coming from and help support local businesses. Buying second-hand clothing off of social media, or using online thrift shops such as Depop are also a great place to repurpose clothing that might have been trashed. This way customers also communicate directly with retailers which creates a personal touch to the shopping experience.
Value Village // Photo Courtesy of Chatelaine
If you are an environmentalist, or enjoy vintage styles and prints, along with cheaper clothes, you might find yourself inclined to shop at local thrift stores.
Although thrift stores can be overwhelming with rows of a variety and abundance of clothing each carrying a unique design, background story, and smell, the exploration and adventure of thrift shopping is also quite exciting. Completely different from the clothing item right beside it, finding something you love feels like finding gold in a pile of coal. My general rule of thumb is to follow what I feel attracted to based on an item's texture, pattern, and cut, and to have fun with new styles that I might not have tried before. I try to avoid the pressure of what I think might look good, or what I have seen on the internet, and instead follow styles that I feel genuinely drawn to explore, looking for the creativity in the clothing item, which is either a hit or a miss.
Fashion not only allows us to get in touch with our social values but can also reunite us with cultural identities.
Different cultures often carry their own unique cultural clothing that can sometimes feel taboo in Western society. However, fusion fashion, that encourages the blending of Eastern and Western fashion has proven that there is beauty in embracing both cultures into our wardrobe. Indo-Australian influencer, Rowi Singh, expresses herself through fusion makeup and outfits where she uses bold colourful makeup paired with Indian jewelry, accessories, and outfits. This kind of visibility brings a deeper appreciation for my own culture in showing that cultural clothing is just as beautiful as Western styles, and does not have to be exclusive to cultural events.
Under social media's influence, no one is completely original, and are constantly inspired by the things we see around us. It is easy for social media to get into our heads and construct ideas of beauty standards and trends. But there is no genuine need to conform or place pressure on ourselves to look exactly like the people we see on social media because it is not always the most accurate representation of real, everyday life.
Reality is, some days I have the energy to put together a nice outfit, and other days I roll out of bed and put on a sweatshirt and sweatpants for the day, especially during the busy exam season. But that's just life.
Although clothing and makeup are a great way to express to the outside world your own identity and how you see the world, it is also not reflective of your entire identity and doesn’t define who you are as a person.
Wear what you enjoy rather than conforming to social pressures. As long as your fashion does not hurt others, it is a great tool for self-expression and confidence. Aesthetics and fashion are fun ways to discover the things to love about clothing and makeup, as well as help us embrace things to love about ourselves and our bodies that reflect our unique identities.
We are all constantly evolving and have room to grow and change our ideas of fashion and the kinds of styles we feel drawn to. I believe the best rule of fashion is to always push the limits of creativity, never constrict yourself to perfectionism, standard of beauty and trend ideals, and never stop exploring and trying new things.
