TikTok Black Hole
Overwhelmed to Inspired: Redefining the Influence of Social Media on Personal style
By Izzy Markey
During the pandemic, the rise of Tik Tok and its resulting rapid dissemination of all things style, trends, and fashion threw me into a creative black hole. Every week there was some new House of Sunny dress going viral and everyone suddenly knew how to crochet. I got overwhelmed by the weekly trend cycles and stopped seeking out fashion inspiration altogether. It wasn’t until this fall that I really began exploring creativity through fashion again. But I found my understanding of personal style and participation in the world of fashion had completely shifted.
Trend cycles used to go by the “20-year rule”—every 20 years a trend or style might resurface and be expressed through a modern lens. Today we’re seeing that cycle accelerate in a nonlinear pattern. Puffy sleeves, low-waisted jeans, oversized trousers, crocheted bras, and corsets have all seen their individual spotlights during different decades but, are now holding center stage together. And these are some of the more long-lasting trends born from social media's gift of shared and accessible style inspiration. But as social media has further infiltrated our everyday lives trends have accelerated. Now more than ever we are seeing specific pieces of clothing going viral rather than general styles or fabric patterns. One viral Tik Tok of someone wearing a House of Sunny Dress and suddenly dupes are being mass-produced and selling out in hours. Fast fashion is born from those brands’ and designers’ extreme and rapid success.
Social media has been somewhat of a saving grace these past two years of COVID-induced isolation. It has allowed us to connect in ways previously unimaginable and has made the fashion world a whole lot more accessible to people outside of the industry. But social media’s perpetuation of fast trends resulting in higher demand for fast fashion is something I have been struggling with. In response, I decided I was going to alter my relationship with fashion, only buying second-hand or from brands with strong environmental standards.
As I sought out new inspiration and brands that aligned with my new standards, I decided to give social media another try. I was pleasantly surprised at the community of influencers, brands, and platforms I found that aligned with my new goals. Platforms like Tik Tok and Instagram opened a world of sustainable fashion I hadn’t known existed. Beyond just finding brands and resale platforms I also began reading blogs and articles about how buying clothes can be reframed to help break the fast fashion cycle: thinking about buying clothing as an investment, valuing quality and timelessness over quantity. That is not to say that personal style can’t be creative while also being environmentally conscious. I have been able to find a lot of “trendy” or “statement” pieces on consignment platforms like The Real Real, Vestiaire, and Depop. But I began thinking about my own personal style as an investment in myself and shifting toward a more sustainable and equitable future in fashion. In doing so, I have felt more confident in my personal style, allowing me to express myself creatively while doing my part to work toward that future.
Izzy Markey in outfits with thrifted & consigned pieces