Learning to Say “Enough!”: Resisting microtrends and developing personal style
By Charlotte Cebula ‘25
Photo by Campbell Fealy
Mob wife, clean girl, Pilates princess, animal print frenzy, cottage core, coastal grandmother, brat girl… it seems as if every month is defined by a new aesthetic trend that requires a financial, health, or even lifestyle change. It’s exhausting. Although every decade has experienced trend cycles (butterfly clips in the 1990s, low-rise jeans in the 2000s, colorful skinny jeans of the 2010s), it seems as if the rapidity of trends in the 2020s is different. Even more, trends no longer pertain strictly to clothing; they call for significant lifestyle changes. Although I can acknowledge the benefits of certain trends on an individual level – Gen Z’s spearheading of the sober curious trend has resulted in a significant decrease in alcohol consumption (1)– on a holistic level, the endless cycle of trends erodes individuality, creativity, and promotes overconsumption.
Why are we so susceptible to trend-following and lifestyle overhauls? Why are we so embracing of new personas and wardrobes that we see online? I argue that it the answer is twofold: clever advertising and 2020s anxiety. Reduced to a “market segment,” targeted groups of people are served with highly specific, personalized ads that capitalize off social media influences. What mass producers of fashion have learned is that the most reliable way to see consistent consumer return is to capitalize on their desire to be in. In the know, in-style, and in step. By churning out microtrends (2) brands big and small ensure that consumers will continue to consume, despite market fluctuations. Spending beyond their means, young buyers in particular feel – and are fueled by – anxiety. It is nearly impossible to keep up with every micro-trend that has surfaced on the internet, yet so many people feel left out and anxious when they do not, or cannot, buy the next new “it-girl” item.
I think that microtrends imbue something much more insidious in consumers’ lives, however. When presented with a large, but limited, number of aesthetics to choose from (think: every “– girl” aesthetic), we are told that we must choose one essentializing identity. But this identity can never be enough. Each popular aesthetic will one day be eclipsed by another that demands a new wardrobe, attitude, and life practice. It would be remiss to ignore the gendered component of these microtrends, too. Why are grown women referred to as “girls” and why must we enforce the gender binary?
Some consumers, however, are catching on to the toxicity of relentless trend cycles. (3) By choice or financial necessity, some young people resist the urge to fit in aesthetically. Others have called out the deeply problematic origins and ramifications of some trends (i.e. the “clean girl” aesthetic is deeply stewed in classist, racist, and body negative beliefs). By boycotting products or simply avoiding social media entirely, young people have demonstrated that creativity, self-determination, and individuality can triumph despite overwhelming pro-consumer forces.
But how can you resist the urge to fall in line? There is not one sole method of resisting trends, especially as some take on more habitual, life changing forms. I, myself, am not immune to the social pressures of trend following. Just ask me about my year-long Alo addiction or about the time I got bangs. I believe, though, that I am through the thick of it. I got older – and hopefully wiser – and learned the value of cultivating a sense of personal style and routine. To develop a sense of personal style, I stick to my wardrobe rule: if you don’t feel good in your outfit, it won’t matter if you look good, because you will never notice. Personal style is less dependent on sartorial cohesion, and rather on confidence. If you’re digitally inclined, I recommend making a Pinterest board of outfits you would realistically wear, paying close attention to items that appear in numerous images. Additionally, try periodically deleting social media apps when you feel oversaturated from fashion and lifestyle content. It can be difficult to cultivate a personal style when you’re inundated with other, more “trendy” alternatives. There is not one hard and fast rule for developing a personal style, and as you grow older, your sense of fashion will likely change. I would argue, however, that it is important to try. Or, at least, be wary of microtrends that encourage you to adopt a new persona by replacing your closet. You’re more than a “– girl.”
Footnotes:
1. Solcyré Burga, “Why Gen Z Is Drinking Less,” Time Magazine, 2025.
2. Constance Beswick, “Examining the Era of Micro Trends.” Global Fashion Agenda, 2024.
3. Callie Holtermann, “Too Many Trends!” The New York Times, 2025.