The internet’s modern obsession with style aesthetics has evolved significantly, originating from an eclectic blend of niche styles found on Tumblr that were swiftly accelerated into mainstream culture through quarantine. Platforms such as TikTok and Pinterest have taken a pivotal role in amplifying this phenomenon, promoting the notion that anyone who wishes to not appear ‘basic’ must fight to keep up with the aesthetics of the latest fashion trends. Although this may not inherently seem problematic, social media’s nature of relentlessly forcing consumer culture down user’s throats while cleverly disguising it as the latest ‘clean girl’ or ‘mob wife’ aesthetic underscores how aesthetics may perhaps be used as one of today’s most successful guises for consumerism.
Can style aesthetics be beneficial? Absolutely yes, but only when properly committed to. It is unfortunate to say that the majority of style aesthetics today are short-lived and revolve around microtrends - however, embracing one singular style aesthetic and committing to it has the potential to be revolutionary in terms of saving money and being more sustainable. There is an unexpected amount of flexibility that comes with being dedicated to a style aesthetic; it grants you the opportunity to be patient regarding the clothes you purchase rather than consuming fast fashion as there is no urgency to rush for a new selection of staples and statement pieces every few weeks with new trends. Instead of thoughtlessly buying items that are likely to end up collecting dust at the bottom of the wardrobe, a defined style aesthetic provides a clearer scope of what clothing you actually need, and thus it is easier to shop more sustainably and save money to spend on better quality items.
Despite this, the fleeting life cycle of aesthetics, often completed within a matter of weeks, is still nothing short of a tragedy. From catwalk to cringe-inducing, it cultivates a wasteful fashion culture that leaves your wardrobe piled up with cheetah-print faux fur and ribbon-adorned polyester miniskirts that do not actually match anything else you own. This is where fast fashion thrives - offering an affordable and accessible means to keep up with trends, these brands are the only ones that truly need style aesthetics to flourish in order to capitalise on these trends as quickly, and so as harmfully as possible. The illusion of choice promised through style aesthetics is simply another mechanism in the grand machine of online consumerist fashion culture. Are you buying into an aesthetic because you actually like it, or have you just been bombarded with influencers doing ‘office siren’ aesthetic clothing hauls? One thing is for certain: the popularity of trendy style aesthetics is inevitably damaging due to both the pressure to conform and the consequent detrimental impact on individuality – a better alternative is to simply wear whatever you please, regardless of what style aesthetic it fits into.
The internet’s fixation with hyper-categorising fashion is only becoming increasingly distorted to the extent that even simple things such as wearing tiny glasses and a slicked back ponytail are perceived as their own aesthetic. Regardless of this, it is safe to say that we do not need to have style aesthetics – in fact, bidding farewell to chasing every new aesthetic that trends online may be crucial to re-establish healthy relationships with fashion and achieve a truly individual style.