Are micro-trends ruining personal style? | Episode 10 | Sustain This Podcast

[@carolinalarrain9358]

You should do a discussion video with “what should we do with all the shopping mistakes; the ones you can’t return

[@AlexLouiseWest]

This would be interesting and useful.

[@SustainThis_Podcast]

Great suggestion thank you!

[@shellbell8062]

Ebay is my answer to that. I am deeply feeling the waste and regret of my impulse purchases by putting items (still with tags on) on Ebay and getting about a third of what I spent on them. Ouch. I also looked at the actual cost in my bank account and I have a sick feeling of regret in the pit of my stomach. I guess that's what I needed to give myself a reality check.

[@altacostura3512]

Even worse is when you have items that unexpectedly become a micro trend (umm, hot pink silk blouses and one pair of shoes in my case) and once that passes, it makes my items look outdated when I didn't even intend to be part of the now-past micro trend!

[@angelamelum4304]

I’m a bit older than you ladies, but here is what I miss. 1) Buying clothes when needed, not because a trend was out and last 4.3 seconds before the next was out. 2) The runway fashion really never hit the general population. It was mainly art not meant to be worn. 3) Not having to put so much thought into getting dressed. Now you have to think so much about “don’t wear this, wear that instead.” I do not follow and avoid influencers who that is their vibe. You ladies are my favorites on YT. I love you all encourage me to wear what is really my style and figure out why I feel the need to shop or what my motivation is behind things.

[@Christinamychas]

❤❤

[@SustainThis_Podcast]

thank you so much for sharing, we definitely don't subscribe to the "do's and don'ts" when they act more as limiting to creativity vs. being used as rules that can be played with and broken ;)

[@debrawells-hopey1980]

I agree with Alyssa- these "cores" can act as inspiration, we don't have to copy the whole thing, but it may offer a new idea you can add to your existing style. I'll leave the full immersion into any "cores" to angsty and fantasizing teens 😂

[@SustainThis_Podcast]

haha yes - experimentation is necessary, it all depends how far you want to take it!

[@tanakribbs3583]

Agree

[@weronikakuacz6919]

Maybe it’s due to omnipresence of styling and fashion content in my social media bubble but sometimes I feel like chasing after your „own style” might become something as exhausting as following trends meticulously. This need to choose, articulate its elements and maybe false belief that it will stay the same forever. From my experience style might be ever-changing even in smallest bits but I have to say that I used to get frustrated with myself whenever I’ve noticed a shift in my style. At the end of the day, personal style is another line of potential content on many platforms, causing yet another oversaturation, which leads to people feeling the need to develop their own way of dressing quickly as you have to have it, and have it quickly

[@Christinamychas]

Sooo true wow! From your point, I notice it’s about the “chase” of something, rather than going with the flow + being content with right now together. Love this thought provoking comment! ❤

[@FraukePalleske]

This is exactly what I was thinking and agree to totally. Yes, maybe it's the bubble I am in right know, but the "chase" after minimalism and declutter just seems as overwhelming a trend like other trends before. I'm way older than you (loving your look on fashion and environment though very much) and so my "life experience" tells me to not declutter all the time... trends come back. If I love baggy jeans today, I wear those from 10 years ago and if I happen to prefer the skinny jeans again, o well, I'll be glad there are still some of those that have survived the declutter trend. Anyways your approach to fashion, meaning slow fashion and sustainability, is a very important trend and will have much impact on all of us. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.

[@SustainThis_Podcast]

This is a fantastic perspective - makes us think about distilling it down to being content and accepting our current situation - whatever that looks like - and being open and receptive to life changes and how we move through them. Thank you for sharing this!

[@segafred1239]

I actually logged on here to comment the same thing, and you already put it so eloquently! I have been following „slow fashion/personal style“ content for 10+ years and felt as much pressure from it as I would have if my goal had been to be „on trend“. Our lives and personalities undergo so many changes as we move through our twenties. In retrospect I am not surprised that I wasn’t able to determine „my style“ and stick to it. I always felt like I was lacking something, and chasing after something I could never quite reach. I went through many different phases, and my style changed with it. Also, the brands people were promoting were quite costly, and even buying „classy“ or „timeless“ things second hand can be more expensive than something from H&M or Zara… despite TikTok maybe amplifying micro trends and the core aesthetics, I don’t think core aesthetics are to blame for fast fashion. As you said, there are often real subcultures attached and even if it’s just a passing craze, like corsets, the (mostly very young) people who follow it are more likely to buy it second hand or on Etsy than even 10 years ago. Thrifting has become so popular in the past years. And trying on these personas is a great way to experiment and find elements of style that you like. It also takes power away from the fashion designers and fast fashion houses who copy them, by offering alternative styles to a broad audience, and if you are the only teen in your town interested in something, and dressing a certain way, you can take part in it online and find your community. In the past, I felt fashion and style were dictated by magazines and blogs (by people „in the know“), with articles like „how to wear xxx - and don’t you dare wearing it another way!“ - it all felt way more rigid. To me, it feels way more diverse and fun now, even if I don’t participate actively, I still like to watch. And I don’t feel pressured to buy anything. But maybe that’s also just my thirties brain slowly settling into itself and becoming more comfortable just existing…

[@BeauOnTheGo_DC]

Great topic. There are those of us who have had a style forever. Style is not fashion. Fashion follows fads, style is forever. It would be a great addition to your panel to have an older voice (over 50) who has a defined style (grunge, preppy, classic, etc.) to add dimension. You all have followers who are a certain age and do not sway in the breeze of trend or social media. It would be an interesting perspective.

[@lesliebeard4505]

A trend that I saw so much that I was finally weakened into buying it was puffy sleeves. I hated it for years, I think because puffy sleeves felt saccharine and too girly, and I was an adult woman who wanted to be taken seriously. Growing up, that sometimes felt like dressing in a more manly manner because men for so long wrote the rules about office dress. My year-round wardrobe features long-sleeved button-front shirts, but my summer wardrobe had become a bunch of t-shirts. Nicer ones that I could dress up, but still they were inconsistent with my non-summer wardrobe. So I started looking for short-sleeve button-front shirts to up my summer game. I felt--and maybe it was where I was looking--that the short-sleeved button-front shirts I was seeing were too...masculine. Many "blouses" were just too much. *I do not wear ruffles.* It was harder than I expected, and I wound up buying some poofy-sleeved things from J. Crew and Boden. The Boden ones are great, and I can see myself wearing them for years. The elastic on the sleeves feels okay. The J. Crew ones either have tighter elastic and are less comfortable after all-day wear or snug camisoles that feel icky on hot days. I have learned: 1. puffy sleeves can "draw out" narrow shoulders and balance the hips for those of us with a pleasingly pear shape, i.e. "this is a reason FOR poofy sleeves. 2. I look for features like set-in shoulders and/or a pointy collar, either of which lessen the girly-ness of the shirt and make it feel more true to my preppy style. I struggle with going to websites and wanting to see the new stuff, and I do wonder why I have become so into "what's next"? July is hard, because it is summer stuff on sale, and I just want to see what's up for fall. Like many who are into fashion, I find summer boring because it is harder to layer and do fun things when you must dress for the heat and humidity.

[@cherrycross1504]

Some trends become classics ie Chanel jackets. It's surely when a trend is worn top to toe it masks individual style.

[@amandajollylines]

Great conversation as always, you guys! Something interesting that I've found from the whole spectrum of "cores", is that when they pierce into mainstream stores, that actually works hand in hand with my slow-fashion ethos. I've heard Alyssa talk along the lines of, "Magenta's apparently big on the runway this season, so if you're actually someone who loves magenta or has been looking to add magenta, maybe this presents the perfect opportunity for you to finally get some pieces you'd love." As someone who dresses more feminine and loves a statement to her clothes, I've seen the introduction of things like cottagecore, regencycore, balletcore as this exact kind of opportunity. While I mostly thrift, I've been so excited to get a top from Gap with GIANT puff sleeves that I can try on in multiple sizes and really have fit me well. haha. I think there are lots of ways to take advantage of these rolling, slippery trends when you do have a center (a CORE if you will, lol) to your own personal style to begin with.

[@lorileslie8830]

It saddens me to think someone would feel the need to "fit" in but not "fit" the body shape, color tone, or means (financial or otherwise). That's one of the reasons I admire you 3 so much - "find you and find your timeless fabulous"

[@Christinamychas]

❤❤

[@SustainThis_Podcast]

thank you so much!

[@SummeRain783]

Finding my personal style helped me love myself a lot more. Every part of my body and skin tone etc. because I started learning more about me and what looks good on me vs. the anxiety behind "am I following the most current trend or will people laugh at me for wearing something outdated?"

[@rebeccabelflower7767]

I am more interested in dressing for my body shape, being balanced in my look and in colors that flatter ( there is that word) ;) me then wearing the latest trends. I like the discussion around using trends that go with our personal style to refresh our wardrobe with a piece or two by mixing them in with our current pieces! By the way ladies, shopping my closet is a new thing for me and I love it! I am still not sure when the time comes about how to recognize quality when I want to replace a piece, be it new or vintage.

[@christianegrimard6555]

I think it was the same for us when I was young I tried every style to find what it was mine. A long long long time ago it has Laura Ashley, style kind of boho to day more country side I would say and when you put something on you that doesn’t fit you you feel it. I think before the game was the same try everything to find yours…may be it move slower but for me it’s a form of inspiring thing but I will read the article and come back to you it’s always nice to have you to discuss fashion, trends, personal style values, you are inspiration to me ❤️

[@wrendor9465]

I'm not into trends, and if i like a trend, i do what Alyssa does. I get it after it's gone, because i don't like looking like everyone else.

[@gabylozoya-zy3ki]

I really enjoy listening to the three of you!😎

[@rebeccabelflower7767]

I went back and rewatched this video & I loved it even more. So encouraging. I chose not to declutter a red top that the cut of it isn’t trending but the red is & I love it. Today I wore it with brown corduroy (trending?) pants and because I couldn’t tuck the top, I wore an un-trendy 36” chain with a personalized brown pendant to bring balance and proportion, drawing the eye down and I loved wearing me, my style! Thank you ladies! Love shopping my closet!!!!

[@brendaashton6428]

In the past trends often involved a change in color pallette, fabric or subtle change in cut. Now I feel there is a lot more freedom to incorporate a trend with a range of variations (ie. Animal print... dress, purse, natural colors, jewel tones. You can do animal prints in hundreds of different ways, allowing you to keep pieces for a long time and bring them back into your wardrobe in fresh new ways).

[@Christinamychas]

Totally!

[@SustainThis_Podcast]

Great point - we are definitely living in a time where there is more flexibility which is great!

[@NephieMarie007]

I feel all of these micro trends are just from influencers who just want to be the first one to come up with the idea and have their name associated with it.. thats why they are so quick and so like one look, easy to put together because they are simple to come up with...Its just a big popularity contest to see who can create a new one thats why they dont stick around for long..Like Alyssa said its a costume pretty much one and done on to the next...I do love the coastal grandmother aesthetic which I incorporated into some of my wardrobe lol that one i fell for! ❤😊

[@IndiaJade]

im just now seeing this but this is my article! tysm for reading and so happy to see my reporting spark discussion around this!

[@suann9790]

Hey guys, first of all I love this podcast collab as I've been following each of you for a while already. One thing I would appreciate is, if you're referencing an article, if you could do a summary at the beginning or pull up a definition of specific terms that are being talked about. On the topic of trends, I find it very interesting how different in my opinion the three of you go about it. That's something I've been noticing for a while just watching your regular content. To me the really cool thing about trends is that sometimes certain items I have been looking for for a long time come back into fashion and are much easier to find for a while.

[@TheSlightestChic]

Cores are the great equalizer. If everything is a trend then nothing is a trend. I think cores can be about uplifting a part of a person’s style that may not have been “cool” or accepted before. For example, Cottagecore has always been an aspirational style for me my whole life ( thanks Little House on the Prairie reruns), but until recently it wasn’t really a thing to wear. I think in a broader sense “core trends” normalize niche aesthetics. I am a stay at home mom so the majority of the time I am “norm-core” but when I pull out the “cottage-core” on occasion no one bats an eye. Most people just say I look nice. I don’t live in a big city…I live in the Midwest in the the ‘Burbs. Also I think the slave to “trends” thing only comes into play if you are actively consuming social media. I stopped using the majority of social media two years ago and now I don’t feel that pull towards trends. I still see them but they do t have an impact on me unless it is something that I am naturally attracted to.

[@mariawelling4194]

I have an amazing wardrobe. It's took some time for me to achieve it. I love fashion, and it's a great feeling when you are able to own your own style and love how you feel wearing it.

[@SustainThis_Podcast]

We love to hear this!

[@amyli092]

I've been really enjoying this podcast so far! It's been one hell of a ride, figuring out my personal style... I'm definitely starting to notice a small shift in my style since I'm not putting in as many hours in my day job; I only go into work 4 days a week. The time I spend away from work has been me making time for the goals I have and looking towards the future. It looks very bright! I feel like this community here is helping me to understand where I want to fit within the fashion industry, and in a way that feels healthy and balanced. As far as this conversation is concerned, I'm definitely in agreement with how most trends can serve as a distraction or a band-aid for a sense of style that looks or feels "lazy". Where I live, a lot of young people are starting to wear a lot of 90's themed trends and looking like cutouts of characters from a sitcom. I don't understand it. Alas, I guess what works for one person won't always work for another.

[@tanakribbs3583]

Love this video. Thats why I have always loved following you 3 because you show your style and mix and match what you love at the time. I don’t see how others can enjoy what they do, if they are just doing trends and trying on hauls. It gets monotonous and almost fake to me when you see tags still on and they love everything. Im one that I know things I like and love and always been one if it’s my style and in trend , I might buy it but not just because a trend. I like my style and I’m still learning what that is. However, I still can’t narrow my 3 words down to 3😁

[@mariawelling4194]

p.s. you ladies are freakin amazing! I truly enjoy spending time watching every one of you. ❤️

[@SustainThis_Podcast]

OMG THANK YOU for the compliment and thank you for being here! xox

[@angelamelum4304]

I definitely think it depends on where you live if these things are carried over to “everyone”. Before we moved everyone dressed the same, had the same hair, decorated their houses the same etc. Where we live now no one cares and dress how the y want.

[@dailynightly324]

I disagree with core fashions being all about shock value and think some of it has more to do with chasing a fantasy self or lifestyle. Especially the ones like cottagecore that came around during the pandemic when people needed that little escape from reality in order to survive.

[@SustainThis_Podcast]

This is a great perspective, thank you for sharing!

[@jessetter_snacks]

Great conversations! I am totally Alyssa buying into trends pretty much right as they are finished 😆

[@evalindell2757]

Yeees Christina!!! It IS the fear of feeling outdated, the looks or even coments you get… That is the fuel of fashion! How brilliant! So How do we manage that? So we are not slaves under fashion????

[@leslie4551]

i feel like the cores operate the same way as one of the three descriptive adjectives. they are an essence with suggested pieces but not a full-on identity.

[@margeling4718]

I have found shopping for basic tops frustrating the last few years. Dropped shoulders and oversized seems to dominate and they do not work for me and how I want to present myself. They seem “sloppy” to me and make me feel dumpy. It may have something to do with my age (76) but I want to define my natural shoulder instead of creating a sloping look. There are so many sweaters or other tops I reject because of this long-term “trend”.

[@ashleyjolicoeur]

I remember owning flats 10 years ago and not being that into them, but it was good for work. When the trend resurged, I was immediately put off. I almost bought a pair yesterday. Jesus had to pull me back to my sense 😂

[@kathyffarney-keck8593]

The longer I live, the more classic my style becomes. So many current styles reinvent the past. I don't want to go back. I want people to look at me and really see me. I want my image to reflect my voice.

[@Sara-ci9bl]

All gold, hoop earrings. All dainty gold necklaces. All in neutral, respectable colors😂

[@yova4776]

I wonder if people sometimes follow trends like this because it is "easier". Finding your own style, especially amongst all the noise, is HARD. In some ways these cores are so prescriptive that it feels easier to get right. Barbie-core? Just wear all pink.

[@flamingofan5411]

Birkenstock still hasn’t “ grown on me” ! lol!

[@brendaashton6428]

I find it interesting that in the same breath that you are asking if microtrends ruin personal style, you would express worry about being on trend. Doesn't personal style inherently not concern itself with trends? Beyond light sampling... but again, only as it relates to one's own sense of style. For me being part of community and connection has nothing to do with my fashion or style. I enjoy being part of the slow fashion community, while staying current through tweaks not complete overhaul of my look.

[@AlexLouiseWest]

I’m embarrassed to say that I became weirdly territorial about Mermaidcore. The sea is a big part of my life and inspiration, and I didn’t want that to become a trend and then a non-trend. Obviously, I don’t have exclusive rights to the sea, and anyway what I’m doing is more understated. But I did wonder whether other people had similar knee-jerk reactions to trends.

[@evalindell2757]

I have a questions for Alyssa. What if one of my signum is something that I hardly ever see someone else in but I love and then it becomes a trend you see everyone else in. Do I stop using it. I have acctually been throug this a couple of more times and everytime I stopped wearing or using it because it didn’t feel like my own. How do you get past that? Because if you don’t the you are still looked into theese trends, just backwards if you know what I mean. It happened to me resently when I was watching Tv and they had a segment on whats trends this fall. They showed a coat I loove that I bought a couple of years ago and loove. How do I make it my own then and later when it is really autdated what do I do then? Well maybe a question for all three of you?

[@lisa34478]

Has anyone else considered that China runs TikTok and is also the source of much of the fast fashion manufacturing? Seems like the algorithms have a clear purpose.

[@sandiscalmanini8096]

Alyssa don’t move your entire brand to tictok 🎉. It’s not you. Just take all of your lifestyle videos - travel shorts & make reels for your “tictok blog” for marketing not education per se. just a suggestion with ❤

[@alexmcdonald4483]

💃 'promo sm'