To Trend or Not to Trend

"To be or not to be, that is the question" written almost four centuries ago, this phrase is the epitome of all troubles - the smallest and the biggest ones faced throughout human history. Maybe someone would find it quite grotesque to use such a loud phrase to describe the simple issues of mass culture and fast fashion. Still, in the realm of 21st-century liability, it sparks the conversation like never before. "To trend or not to trend" isn't just a matter of your habits. It's the reflection of your beliefs, which can turn the arrow left or right depending on its connotation and the viewer's perspective.

Photography Brianna Capozzi, styling Hanne Gaby Odiele via Dazed

The trend is as old as the Earth. Corsets have spread around from the Renaissance until the Victorian era, like the kohl eyeliner of Ancient Egypt or flapper dresses of post–WWI society. They have always been present, impacting our personal choices, life experiences, and the practicality of self-expression.

Trends are not merely superficial phenomena but reflections of personal and collective identity. When someone embraces a trend, whether consciously or unconsciously, they align themselves with a particular group, movement, or ideology. The corset, for instance, wasn't just a garment—it was a symbol of societal norms, feminine modesty, and class distinction. The adoption of flapper dresses in the 1920s wasn't just about wearing short skirts. It was about rebelling against the constraints of gender roles and expressing newfound freedom and independence for women.

In the neo-capitalistic society we live in, the essence of trend is bigger than ever, getting not even a vivid retrospective on the social scene, but rather succumbing to a vast dark presence, quiet physical but still alluring. With the rise of globalization and hyperinformation, the question "To trend or not to trend" simply fell out of the equation. The answer is easily reachable - one cannot escape the "trend". From the rise of athleisure to the minimalist aesthetic dominating social media, our fashion choices speak volumes about our values, priorities, and even the pace of our lives. Are we opting for comfort, luxury, or sustainability? Each decision contributes to how we're perceived and how we wish to present ourselves. This phenomenon indeed raises a discussion about authenticity and uniqueness. Can one be truly unique in a world where tons of images, information, and drafts are being spread at the speed of light? The funniest part of this riddle is the modern value of uniqueness. We will all seek authenticity, valuing it more than ever while at the same time diminishing it and erasing it under the pressure of postmodern sights.

Now, when the nature of trends is more transparent, one has to learn how to fight within the bustling sea of emerging movements and practices. The double-edged nature of "To trend or not to trend" is hidden within the skill of choosing a trend and seeing its cross-lines rather than blindly supposing that you can oppress the trend when, in reality, going against a trend is just creating a new one (here we can refer to the emergence of grunge, firstly as an anti-trend which lately emerged into a massive pop-culture piece).

Ultimately, the question "To trend or not to trend?" is a matter of personal choice—do we follow trends to fit in, or do we consciously choose those that resonate with our values? Trends aren't bad or good, they are neutral and in their neutrality is hidden their main atrocity - the inability to remain and the inability to fade. The power of trends lies in their ability to be both mirrors and makers of culture. While trends will continue to evolve, the decision to participate in them—whether by rejecting, adopting, or adapting them—ultimately rests with the individual.

Another vivid point in this analysis is the emergence of the digital age, the primary medium of trend narrative. Indeed, the presence of easily accessible digital information did a sky-rocket leverage for the spread of trend rendering. The nature of the digital trend seems relatively superficial; it lacks the authenticity and credibility hiding behind the unknown creator who is there only to be praised under the bright internet spotlight for as long as their trend will live (not for long). Even though digital trends have created a mass-produced vehicle of trend sharing, the reality of trends has never been more widespread and obvious. The ethical implications of digital trends also remain: Can we trust the creators hiding behind their avatars and ruling the headliners for a fleeting moment? Are these trends a genuine reflection of one's beliefs and narratives or another way of capitalizing the information and attention tokens?

The impact of fast-travelling trends on our self-reflection is surely vast. We humans need to feel the presence of collective consciousness—a feeling of belonging to the group. Without it, one cannot be a part of society and feel one's place within it. But can we say that trends have a detrimental power over our individual consciousness? On the one hand, trends can serve as a so-called social marker, leading people to specific groups and granting them a feeling of "I belong". However, one can also imply that under the persuasive, almost propaganda-like force of trends, one can simply sacrifice the essence of self-reflection? This can lead to a kind of surface-level identity formation, one that is built more on external validation than internal exploration. Indeed, staying strong on one statement or another is extreme, as in most cases, the answer lies in between.

While the medium has changed, the essence of trends remains the same—an inevitable part of the culture that reflects collective desires and anxieties. What makes the digital trend unique is not just its speed but its transparency. Trends have never been more widespread or obvious, visible to all with just a click, scroll, or share. What once took years to develop now materializes overnight, creating a kind of collective consciousness. In an era of fast-travelling trends, perhaps the greatest act of self-reflection is to pause and ask ourselves: "Does this truly resonate with who I am, or am I simply following the current?". Or simply put: "To trend or not to trend?".

"And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of great pith and moment With this regard their currents turn awry And lose the name of action". - William Shakespeare