In the 20th century and previously, it wouldn’t be uncommon to see people walk the streets in a suit or a dress. Going to a restaurant would be an occasion to dress up, and even going to the cinema required a certain level of decorum. Without the internet, society appeared to care a lot more about what the people directly in front of them were wearing rather than strangers online. Nowadays, it’s a very different process. People regularly wear tracksuits out- which were originally invented as sportswear- and the colour palette of clothes seems to have faded into various shades of grey. Showing up to classes, or even social events, looking a little worse for wear has become acceptable and- while this is by no means a bad thing- how did this come about?
"People's fashion reputation is seen not in public, but behind the safety of a screen..."
Even up until recently- think the pandemic and everyone’s sudden alternative wardrobes- people were making more of an effort with their aesthetics. Dyed hair and brightly-coloured clothes were common and going back to the early 2000s, ‘90s, ‘80s and beyond, there was a clear ‘look’ that the general public were trying to achieve. But after the pandemic, with the rise of technology, people appear to care less about their appearance in real life than their virtual reputation. The 21st century is the first point in history where people will happily dress up for photos to post online, but go out in public with minimal makeup and basic outfits. People’s fashion reputation is seen not in public, but behind the safety of a screen where people can pick and alter photos however they want to.
Is this what making an effort will consist of now? While many people still make an effort with their appearance in real life- particularly for special occasions- we are no longer at the stage where men were putting on three-piece suits to go and smoke cigars, or women were applying makeup to sit in the living room. This is largely for comfort, but the difference between people’s public and social media images is certainly a novel idea for fashion and beauty, which has only in the last decade been given a platform virtually. How will this affect future generations and their views on presentation and beauty? Is there a double-standard in looking perfect online whilst still turning up to lectures in last night’s clothes?
While effort is still being made to ‘look good’, our perception of where to look for beauty is changing. People often look on dating apps for love, studying photographs of people rather than judging their look in person. Work-calls are more common than ever, where you can have pyjama bottoms on underneath your camera and no one would know the difference. Is it a wonder that people are making more effort online, where they know they will be seen?