By: Mika Omachi
People have adorned themselves throughout human history, and beauty has always conferred privilege. If fashion has been with us forever, what is different now? Today’s fast fashion cycle means that trends appear and disappear quickly, and this puts intense pressure on everyday people, especially teenage girls. Given constant exposure to social media, the sheer number of fashionable images they see makes ordinary girls feel like they need more and better clothes and accessories constantly.
‘Minute trends’ as they have been labeled, are fashion trends that pop up suddenly and are all people can talk about, until a minute later when another one appears. These minute trends have only been escalated by social media. Everything on the internet happens so quickly, constantly moving in and out of relevance. A look can be trending on TikTok for a week, leading hordes of teenagers to fast-fashion websites like SHEIN to try to recreate it. Unfortunately, most of the time the trend is over even before the clothes have been delivered. Many people have described the harms of this fast fashion cycle on the environment and on working conditions in garment factories. There has been less attention paid to how these minute trends affect teenage girls.
Because so many teenagers spend time on social media platforms, they see these minute trends all the time. Part of being a teenager is being self-conscious about one’s rapidly changing appearance, but when bombarded with Photoshopped images of perfectly made-up celebrities, they are even more vulnerable to self-criticism. If they feel that they have to have the most on-trend clothes in order to look presentable, that leads to a lot of wasted time and goods.
Even worse, social media has escalated body image issues for many, especially teen girls, constantly showing them ‘the only body that can be beautiful’ when their bodies and minds are still developing. Many of these minute trends are catered towards ‘the ideal’ body type, which makes them even more damaging. Targeting these vulnerable girls’ insecurities is extremely profitable for fashion brands because it makes their customers buy more.
These ‘minute trends’ can stifle individuality because of the belief that is perpetuated by social media that only what is trending can be considered desirable. When you are young, it is a time for experimenting and growing into yourself, finding out what you like and what suits you. It has become all the harder for people to be individuals with the increased social pressure around them. Can you really blame someone for wanting to be on-trend? Who wants to be left behind when all your friends are wearing or doing something new and cool? It is simply easier to conform.
I have felt this way myself. Although I don’t have my own social media accounts, I still watch TikTok and look at Pinterest. A few months ago, I selected a number of fast fashion pieces and ordered them online. I really loved the look, and I still wear them, but I know other people consider them to be ‘old news.’ I also have to admit that they are not the best quality and some are already falling apart.
The thrift store experience is completely different. Even though a lot of fast fashion ends up in secondhand stores, there are still unique and vintage pieces to be found. With a wide range of styles all around, and the chance to see the clothes in real life, I was able to develop my own sense of style. Getting away from social-media-driven minute trends and moving towards thrifting with my friends allowed me to express my individuality through my style rather than expressing my trendiness by trying to look like the latest viral TikTok girl. Of course, I can also dress for the body I live in and not the ideal body that a fashion designer imagines.
The convergence of social media and fast fashion production is poisonous to teenage girls’ confidence and individuality. We should celebrate teen girls who find their own beauty standards and cultivate their own style.
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