Over Before it Even Started - The Reality of Buying Microtrends

I've always considered myself to be "trend-driven" when I'm shopping. Many, if not all of my clothing purchases, are guided in some way by what's currently trending within the realm of my own personal style. At the same time, l'm also a very conservative and intentional shopper. I only buy something if I really love it and think I will wear it for years to come. With the combination of wanting to stay on top of fashion trends, and wanting to buy clothes that last a few years, it's becoming nearly impossible for me to shop

The rise of social media has accelerated the trend cycle like never before. When I start to see an inkling of a trend the next day everyone I know is wearing it. Then within months, that trend is completely over and everyone is on to something new.

For example, over the summer I started to notice that fabric necklaces with charm details were popping up here and there on my social media feeds. Then I came back to Auburn for the school year, and at the first football game of the year, nearly every single girl was wearing one of those fabric necklaces. I was genuinely amazed by how quickly that trend had been picked up. If the fabric necklaces follow the same rise and fall pattern that I've been seeing, I don't predict them lasting past 2025.

As a consumer, I feel like I'm being put in a tough position. I think that fabric necklaces are really cute and part of me wants to participate in this trend. However, if it follows the same pattern that other trends are, then it will be deemed "out of style" in a matter of months and I'll no longer want to wear it.

Fashion is a reflection of the world around us; societal shifts, beliefs, cultures, and more. This is why I enjoy participating in trends. I want to be a part of what fashion is at this point in time.

Looking back at the 1900's, specifically focusing on the United States, it was very evident how the social context and influences of the time were reflected in popular styles. The difference then was that trends were moving slowly across entire decades, whereas now we have microtrends that last a matter of months. It just simply isn't sustainable.

So the question is, what do I do as a consumer? How do I shop trends when by the time I've noticed its existence, it feels like it's already too late? I don't have endless money to buy into the new trends every few months, and even if I did, I don't want to overconsume. I want to be able to enjoy trends and participate in them without the fear that they will be out of style and gone before I know it.

Maybe the solution to this is reflecting on how I participate in fashion, and focusing on staying trend-conscious but not trend-driven in my purchases. I can follow general trends of silhouettes, colors, and fabrics while putting less pressure on myself to keep up with microtrends. Overall, I wish that fashion could slow down again and allow for time to appreciate all the little details and trends that surface.