Clothing overconsumption is being fed by ever-changing fads churned out by social media, especially TikTok. We’ve seen the rise of micro-aesthetics, from the strawberry girl to the coastal grandma. Unless you pay zero attention to online fashion content, you’ll recognise and likely own some of the accessories and garments associated with these trends.
More alarming than this oversaturation of narrow niches is the rapidity with which such arbitrary fads come and go – an even faster turnover than Lizz Truss’ premiership! However, in hindsight, many of these short-lived micro-trends are more classic than mainstream influencers would have you believe and can be assimilated into a capsule wardrobe. “Many of these short-lived micro-trends are more classic than mainstream influencers would have you believe” It was during the good old days of the early pandemic that micro-trends first proliferated, thanks to the rise of TikTok. One of the greatest cultural shifts during Covid was the transition from skinny, high-waist jeans (*Cough* The Topshop Joni jeans) to baggier mom jeans.
Thankfully, I didn’t embrace many of 2020’s micro-trends like sweater vests, vibrant colours, prints or patchwork denim as they weren’t my style. However, apparent fads like mom jeans, brown clothing, mini shoulder bags and oversized vintage jackets can be adapted to fit current trends with the right styling. Micro-trends I did adopt include an argyle cardigan (yes, the viral Brandy Melville .
