Trendy No More

Mob wife aesthetic, hot pink Stanley cup, Summer Fridays lip balm, bouncy blowout, Starbucks sugar cookie latte. In 2023, this type of “curation” became “the girls who get it, get it,” but it has an older, less catchy name: overconsumption.

Courtesy of Irene Lift

Since the popularization of TikTok and the start of the pandemic, we’ve seen hundreds, if not thousands, of micro-trends spanning across all kinds of consumer goods: from clothing to car accessories to water bottles. This has gotten us to now, where a part of the online community—a small part, but a part nonetheless—is waking up. It began in the summer of 2023 when a new trend came around: de-influencing. The irony is not lost on that one. Influencers would basically go back on whatever they spewed during a sponsored video, and let their following know what they really thought about a product, whether it was worth purchasing or not. Of course, the only reason they did that in the first place was because that kind of content was trending, but it started a wave of distrust in content creators. We are currently living through an economic crisis. The explanation is not necessary; we’ve all seen the devastating effects of inflation, housing shortages, and the current job market. The point is we have less money and are going through consumer goods like never before. Since the short-lived trend of de-influencing, however, some creators have presented the world with alternatives to the monthly Shein haul. Some of the more popular themes include thrifting, upcycling, and buy-nothing groups. However, one particular way of looking at fashion takes the crown: the capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe consists of 30 to 40 items that can be styled in countless ways. It focuses on quality over quantity, which directly counters the poorly-made masses of clothing pushed out by fast fashion in recent years. A capsule wardrobe is all about investing in high-quality pieces that should last for years, if not a lifetime. People who choose to take part in this practice do not partake in trends, let alone micro-trends. To be able to curate a small yet versatile collection requires a lot of commitment and security in one’s personal style. When the ever-changing discourse surrounding what is in and what is “so last season” is no longer a deciding factor in one’s choices, it becomes increasingly difficult to discover what they like or dislike. Making the conscious choice only to buy pieces that resonate with one’s lifestyle and meet their quality standards is a much bigger effort than it may appear. While owning 30 pieces of clothing may be too radical of a change for most, conscious shopping is always a good place to start. Begin by trading the weekly thrift haul for a pricier, well-made vintage piece. Then consider how instead of five going-out tops from Zara, you could be the proud owner of a sustainably made shirt that will never go out of style. In 2024, forget out with the old and in with the new. Instead, let your motto be: reduce the quantity, increase the quality.