Lately, I found myself reminiscing about everything I used to like at the age of 13 (2012), and I noticed that all of my interests back then were very niche, very specific and they had lasted for so long and still accompany me to this day. The thing that's been on my noggins the past couple of weeks is how today's generation can't even honestly have that luxury, TikTok, Pinterest, and Instagram feed them these ready-to-wear personas. Instead of slowly discovering and LOOKING for what they like with their own will, the algorithm shoves down their throats hashtags and micro trends.. Clean Girl this, Villain era that, femcel this, heroin chic that... I think they really aren't allowed to truly find themselves unless they take a break from social media?
this was really well written. i find it astonishing how fast and rapid these trends have now become. some micro trends last for 2 weeks before being discarded for the next best thing. when everything is now designed to be rapidly consumed, is there room for lasting self expression?
I would suggest that algorithms aren’t creating new trends in a strict sense. More that they’re rapidly curtailing the possibilities of new styles developing (in the long term) because the algorithm tends to encourage convergent evolution.
So the styles of people with the highest consumer power end up becoming the template for the algorithms to amplify. In turn, the fashion industrial complex, using ever more sophisticated services to “get ahead” of the trend responds to the demand created by these select consumer groups.
Lastly, in the case of brands like Zara, the algorithmic amplification aids their business model. They have this “pulse” supply chain which basically manufactures new styles as a one off and then doesn’t repeat them. Thereby pulsing styles through their consumer base.
Really liked your point that consumption precedes cultural adoption.
A big part of my personal style came from history. When I was seven I was obsessed with Little House on the Prairie, and I would put tutus under my dresses to feel like I was wearing a petticoat. When I was eight I visited Phillip Foster Farm, a living history museum near the end of the Oregon Trail where the house and barn was still full of original furniture and equipment and the employees and volunteers dressed in period clothing. I volunteered there in middle school and began to assimilate the costumes into what I wore everyday. Now I’m almost twenty and watching Tiktok from afar, and I could see what trends I would be boxed into and how I will be branded as a pick me for persisting in what I’ve always worn once the style out. This phenomenon is akin to what Rayne at Internet Princess wrote about describing ourselves through female characters, curating our interests so completely that we don’t know who we are. Sometimes I think that the only things that are truly myself are the things I came to love on my own, before I went on the Internet, before I had friends who liked them too.
Lately, I found myself reminiscing about everything I used to like at the age of 13 (2012), and I noticed that all of my interests back then were very niche, very specific and they had lasted for so long and still accompany me to this day. The thing that's been on my noggins the past couple of weeks is how today's generation can't even honestly have that luxury, TikTok, Pinterest, and Instagram feed them these ready-to-wear personas. Instead of slowly discovering and LOOKING for what they like with their own will, the algorithm shoves down their throats hashtags and micro trends.. Clean Girl this, Villain era that, femcel this, heroin chic that... I think they really aren't allowed to truly find themselves unless they take a break from social media?
this was really well written. i find it astonishing how fast and rapid these trends have now become. some micro trends last for 2 weeks before being discarded for the next best thing. when everything is now designed to be rapidly consumed, is there room for lasting self expression?
"Since then, these assorted style movements have been born, had their brief heyday, and quickly and quietly died, like Zara-clad mayflies." 😵💫😵💫😵💫
Absolute slay u killed it
you are a GREAT writer. this was an amazing read!
this is brilliantly written and so spot on!! i love commentary and observations like these
u never miss‼️
great, extensively researched and showcased work as usual
Ooooh, this is GOOD. A really great dissection, I'm gonna come back to this. "enthusiastic self-tropification"... exactly... thank you!
I would suggest that algorithms aren’t creating new trends in a strict sense. More that they’re rapidly curtailing the possibilities of new styles developing (in the long term) because the algorithm tends to encourage convergent evolution.
So the styles of people with the highest consumer power end up becoming the template for the algorithms to amplify. In turn, the fashion industrial complex, using ever more sophisticated services to “get ahead” of the trend responds to the demand created by these select consumer groups.
Lastly, in the case of brands like Zara, the algorithmic amplification aids their business model. They have this “pulse” supply chain which basically manufactures new styles as a one off and then doesn’t repeat them. Thereby pulsing styles through their consumer base.
Really liked your point that consumption precedes cultural adoption.
A big part of my personal style came from history. When I was seven I was obsessed with Little House on the Prairie, and I would put tutus under my dresses to feel like I was wearing a petticoat. When I was eight I visited Phillip Foster Farm, a living history museum near the end of the Oregon Trail where the house and barn was still full of original furniture and equipment and the employees and volunteers dressed in period clothing. I volunteered there in middle school and began to assimilate the costumes into what I wore everyday. Now I’m almost twenty and watching Tiktok from afar, and I could see what trends I would be boxed into and how I will be branded as a pick me for persisting in what I’ve always worn once the style out. This phenomenon is akin to what Rayne at Internet Princess wrote about describing ourselves through female characters, curating our interests so completely that we don’t know who we are. Sometimes I think that the only things that are truly myself are the things I came to love on my own, before I went on the Internet, before I had friends who liked them too.
So sharp and poignant. I wish this article could be broadcasted Amber Alert-style to everyone with TikTok.
How did you say all the things in the best way 🤯