"I Wanna be Like Jayda Wayda"

Honestly, I just want to discuss some of the issues surrounding social media and its impact on fashion, especially for the average person.

Lack of Individuality

Get Ready with Me's are the trending form of fashion content right now, especially on TikTok. The more you scroll the more you see the same outfit types and most just look like a copy of the last. Internet styles seem to be morphing into each other and are starting to look the same. I'm sorry but the clock app is tired of the “oversized shirt, baggy jeans, and timbs” outfit formula. Finding inspiration via the internet can be helpful but there’s a difference between inspo and replication. That comes from a lack of individuality. We’re no longer dressing according to our own personal styles, body shapes, and silhouettes but becoming mini versions of our favorite influencers. Do you know who has noticed this and is taking advantage? BRANDS EVERYWHERE! 

Excessive Consumerism

Truthfully, I hate fashion influencing and what it looks like now in 2024. What the average fashion influencer looks like these days are a multitude of hauls, GRWMs, and other content that promotes consumerism. Few give us the real tea; things like history, analysis of the fashion world/ brands, etc, but I give flowers to those that do. Something needs to be said about influencers that dedicate their content to Shein and Zara hauls. They’re just promoters for these companies to help sell out of merchandise. Mind you Zara doesn't pay these people. Anyway because of this, we see a new set of viral pieces circulating the internet every couple of months. 

The internet has a way of making us feel like we have access to celebrities. This is the closest in proximity (although virtual) we’ve ever been with these people. Because of that, we think about their lifestyle/ the things they wear and think it's within our current reach. We try to wear the same labels as them when that’s not even possible for the average person. I’ll never forget people were blowing their stimmy checks and PPP loans on some Amiri jeans and Gallery Dept. We have to remember we don’t live the same lifestyles.

These days social media apps are leaning more towards commerce. Everywhere you turn something is being sold to us whether it be through ads, influencers, or celebrities. A lot of it can be overwhelming. We often feel forced to participate and buy, buy, buy even when we don’t need to. The tactics of these social media companies are predatory in my opinion. People are easily influenced and when products are being pushed in their face constantly, of course, they’re going to feel the need to participate. How are we even affording all this overconsumption?

Big Brand Beat Biting

Do not be fooled - brands like Shein are hip to social media and use it for market research. They're looking for styles that are doing well and have popularity. A company like that pumps out around 35-100K pieces every single day, so there is no way they have time or care to design their products. (This is sick...) I've seen a handful of smaller clothing companies have their designs replicated and sold for a fraction of the price because of this. Having once owned a business I know the level of work that it takes to put out your product. However, having low-quality copies floating around not only takes away from a business' upside but limits some of its exposure when an audience's attention is turned toward the big sharks. This actually reminds me of Mea Culpa and their issue of fakes that I discussed on my blog. Go ahead and read that also!

Wasteful Consumption

Now because we see these influencers filling their closets with unhealthy amounts of clothes, we believe it's normal? I’m not sure who decided this, but posting an outfit doesn’t mean you can't put it on again. PLEASE REWEAR YOUR CLOTHES. When I get on platforms like Depop, I see so many trendy pieces that have been worn once from brands like CouCoo, Farai London, etc. Although this is a good way to clear out your closet and recycle, I still think it stems from the idea that we can’t wear things more than once. Investing in pieces you can hold on to is important, and actualizing the cost per wear is even more important. We’re littering the earth and most of this ends up in landfills and the ocean. No wonder global warming is having a field day.

Predatory Debt

Let’s get into Layaway’s evil little brother, the buy now, pay laters of the world. This became popular during the pandemic and has quickly become an actual issue. Unlike layaway where you couldn’t get your “item” until it was fully paid off, with a “point-of-sale loan” you can buy whatever your heart desires but best believe payments are coming right after. It preys on people with the idea that you can freely buy with 0% interest fees. You put it on one purchase, then another, and another and before you know it you’re spending a good portion of your income just paying back what you owe. It messes with your credit when you miss payments and just isn’t a good service in my opinion. Be wary of these services and if you don’t have a healthy relationship with your finances and credit, I’d advise staying clear completely. 

I don't think social media is ruining fashion per se but it has taken the natural order of things. The art is getting a bit lost in the sauce, but in the same breath, social media has also had wonderful impacts on the fashion world so it's a double-edged sword.