you can't fit your personality into an airport tray | tiktok analysis

[@Winter-Svnssn]

In addition to your advice: Find your genuine interests, music/film/literature taste, sports, activities, hobbies etc first, and then authentic personal style will follow quite naturally.

[@gracelandtoo6240]

Exactly! Just wearing merch of movies or albums can really convey your personal taste and be a great conversation starter

[@gracelandtoo6240]

I feel like that sounded too corporate, but I really mean it. Obviously only works if you engage that with piece of media on an emotional level, and especially in the vintage-style/second hand segment there seem to be loads of 90s hiphop merch items, but most people with a Biggie or 2Pac shirt probably aren't big fans of them. So be authentic.

[@katierobinson]

@@Winter-Svnssn yes!!! perfect addition 🫶

[@TheCultivatedMuse]

Exactly! Live your life

[@Winter-Svnssn]

@@gracelandtoo6240 totally get it. And I think it's much better to support a band by buying their merch, than buy a tshirt from a fast fashion brand. At least you're supporting the arts!

[@lilacsunset3848]

The airport tray thing would be a cool character intro in a movie. Like it could pan over a few different ones to show the characters. But irl if someone took a picture instead of moving thru the line id be so annoyed haha

[@katierobinson]

ooh no that genuinely would be cool, bc it does show a lot about someone (whether real or aesthetic) very quickly and visually

[@Edible_Kittens]

My first thought too! I’d love to do this for my characters in a comic, or a bonus strip. But for real life human beings? No, outta my way you’re holding up the line.

[@lilacsunset3848]

@@katierobinson and movie characters can be more easily summed up in one concept or even aesthetic than real people!

[@Iquey]

I would love that if it was a movie about someone who works in TSA, but maybe also desperately wants to take a couple weeks off to take a vacation themselves.

[@noemielamoll4921]

ruining the clothes and accessories artificially like that is genuinely hurting my heart. It seems like the people looked at the style of 'lived in' but saw only the surface without understanding the inner workings. they miss the point, for clothes to be 'lived in' they need to be loved enough, cared for enough...instead of being abused and beaten ...and I think it kinda reflects the modern mentality and view of the world in itself and it makes me so sad love the video tho

[@katierobinson]

ooh love ur thoughts here! it's definitely a case of surface level aesthetic rather than deeper connection 😭

[@GensChilledCola]

this, most of my clothes/shoes are a bit roughed because they are actually lived in and loved, faking that is just an extra layer of artifcial

[@cupidery]

frfrfr

[@dianevoysey9665]

The stomping on the blue bag made me laugh and cry. 😅😢

[@cloudyatlas3836]

It must be so tiring to be so afraid of not being on trend, I can't imagine living like that month in month out :(

[@katierobinson]

honestly i can’t imagine the work it takes to keep up with every trend / microtrend on tiktok 🥴

[@nope8977]

I feel like ppl will have to accept the fact that not all personal styles will be unique and/or “aesthetic”. I believe that your personal style is all encompassing of every moment that you’re going thru, not just on your best dressed days… it’s a spectrum and it tells about you in the specific context your in. And it’ll take years to develop because it’s a reflection of you as a person

[@micheller3251]

I love this comment so much

[@katierobinson]

perfectly said, no notes!!!! 🫶

[@nottexasinstruments]

airport tray is definitely just a redux of whats-in-my-bag

[@daydreamz618]

And starter kits too- time is a circle

[@beasttitanofficial3768]

I find it bizarre how a lot of people are so obsessed with curating a particular aesthetic and revolving their entire personality around it, but then they don't have many thoughts in their head.

[@katierobinson]

i think it’s just how tiktok is so popular in our society that ppl become obsessed with how they’re portrayed online, we all need to step back and touch grass 💀

[@aria-z2u4s]

true😂

[@lug358]

Because a lot of teens and young people dont know themselves and dont know their personalities and want to fit in in something and think these labels and silly things can define them

[@tovehenriksson905]

I'd say it's a phase of life with many thoughts and reflections. Trying to figure out who you are, how you are perceived and how you want to be perceived is such a key part of late adolescens/early adulthood. I find that young people have more freedom to explore than when I was at that stage. The styles of my time were more rigid.

[@happytofu5]

I think that is just people being young and figuring themselves out. It has been that way with youth magazines appropriating subculture aesthetics before the internet.

[@AlexHider]

The funny thing is that this approach doesn’t even work. You can absolutely tell when someone is dressing up in a certain style organically or when they saw it on tiktok. It’s really obvious actually. The only people they are impressing are identical tiktok dwellers.

[@katierobinson]

like i’ve never seen someone wearing these kinds of things IRL but i feel like it would have to look a little artificial bc of how staged it is 🥴

[@ehkbv]

omg yes! there were some times when i looked at someone outside and thought '' yea they use tiktok'' lmao

[@CK-lc1kz]

as the saying goes, you can tell someone's screen time from their outfit...

[@AsiaRherp]

your argument always reminds me of that one scene of the hunger games, where the rich take a substance that allows them to throw up the food they have eaten just to eat more food for pleasure. honestly, social media and society is becoming ridiculous

[@katierobinson]

😭😭 this is such a good visual, meanwhile the ppl in district 12 are the garment workers having to make the clothes they’re destroying 🥲

[@TheThriftingTherapist]

My relationship with my personal style is the best it's ever been, and a big part of that is getting away from social media.

[@katierobinson]

love this for u 🫡

[@abunlover]

Like obviously buying something new and destroying it to look lived in is diabolical, but even more so that they're buying new instead of the second hand luxury bags that are all over TheRealReal or Rebag or Fashionphile or Farfetch? Like so many of those bags are the exact look they want!

[@AngelicWitch444]

Omg so true!

[@bandanarathore]

Yes you said right it is diabolical..

[@katierobinson]

literally THIS, it’s like pre beat up bags are a dime a dozen and actually authentically loved???? but instead u want to spend more money / time / effort breaking in a brand new bag 🥲

[@bandanarathore]

@@katierobinson only instant gratification. It is a very mentally exhausting way of living life. Sorry to say but it's like have lots of one night stands and then feeling empty after every one of them.

[@ryeofoatmeal]

this is the reason why I buy 2nd hand handbags and love them since! I am so afraid to ruin new bag and I am totally ok if I buy somebody else beat up bag 😂😂 i haven't bought new handbag since like more than 6 years ago if I remember. sometimes I do miss the boutique experience. I almost bought a new handbag. but thinking about the new price tag makes me NOT wanting to spend

[@daniel_is_messy]

this might be controversial but for me as a fashion lover, nothing helped me feel more confident and comfortable abt my personal style than stopping scrolling on tiktok and pinterest. it doesn’t rly matter what’s in and what’s out as long as i love my clothes. i’m no longer bombared abt the latest and coolest pieces, what are THE sneakers of the season etc. it’s strangely freeing. i mainly get my inspo from the runways of the brands i love. i also am freed from the trendy ways clothes are styled, so i can be fully creative abt what goes w what. so when i shop at thrift stores/ online i’m not looking if something fits my aesthetic but if i like the fit, the fabric, the style and texture (i wear all black, so texture is so important) of the piece

[@katierobinson]

@@daniel_is_messy love love love this, if social media wasn’t part of my job i’d be doing the same lol

[@katierobinson]

ignoring the noise of social media is the best way to focus on what you like and naturally gravitate towards 🫶

[@bandanarathore]

I think it also depends on individuals. Instagram for me was like everyone showing/selling same things, until I started searching sewing content. Pinterest however gave me good ideas on the cuts and different silhouettes that could look good on me. And different colour combinations etc. But yes it is very easy to be mislead into thinking what is looking good on others will look good on me and ending up buying lots of unnecessary stuff.

[@Cantseemuch]

100% I deleted some social media because of this some time ago. My mom always had great personal style and she grew up in the countryside, with no fashion magazines until the mid 80s and some gifted sewing patterns. She told me that they were just doing their own thing, modifying stuff and they were soo creative. And style evolved locally not globally like today

[@secakaizenart]

I love that. I just like aesthetics cause it great as reference or inspo. Like idk how to pair things up. But I dislike that we are making aesthetics homogeneous. It’s the same with artists being like every other artist and they copy the same thing like the samdoesart style. No shade to the artist, they draw well and it’s great gateway to learning to paint. But too many try to copy 1 for1, his pretty girls, golden hour lighting, Disney face, and etc. like you can do so much more learning with his art and not be a clone. Like how about a bratz instead. The same way happens for cottagecore, office siren, and etc.

[@benWTL]

the Birkin and Carhartt jacket videos are SO wild 😭😭😭 like girl if you want something broken in, these’s an entire world of pre-loved waiting for you…

[@katierobinson]

literally preloved or just wear ur clothes and be patient bc they’ll eventually look like this 😭

[@littlemaniacinmyhead]

Seeing people treat their things so baldy just to fit into a short term trend gives me the ick...

[@katierobinson]

same 😭 don't u want to keep that for years, why are u shortening its life span so quick

[@DavidCruickshank]

@@katierobinson The sad thing is they don't want to keep it for years because it will be out of fashion by then and they will be mindlessly chasing the next trend.

[@stephaniec4766]

I think a huge part of the issue is people buying, curating and considering their wardrobe and style from a place of planning to share it via social media. I wonder if people bought/wore things and put their style together knowing they wouldn’t ever be presenting it on TikTok or Instagram if they’d do things differently…

[@katierobinson]

oh this definitely makes sense actually, ur always thinking a step ahead about what something says about u rather than whether u actually like it

[@frrrraa]

Personally, I’ve noticed that all this obsession with "aesthetics" and the latest trends has significantly influenced common stores and brands like Zara, H&M, Bershka, to the point where you often find the same clothes repeated in multiple stores (especially physical ones). It’s really annoying, and it makes shopping often difficult and kind of frustrating, because it feels like they’re forcing that trend, that "aesthetic" on you, as the latest collections in stores always revolve around that theme. Once there used to be much more variety, and you had more options to choose from; now every shop window looks the same. I’ve never had/used TikTok, yet it feels like it’s everywhere and I can’t escape.

[@katierobinson]

definitely!! u can't get away from it online or irl

[@idontneedachannelthanksyou7292]

Exactly!! This makes me so mad too. When ripped jeans were in (however long that was ago…) and I could find were pre ripped jeans I was so mad.

[@bycarolinakobayashi]

As a future label owner, this is invaluable feedback 🙏 Thank you

[@brekaterina]

my heart hurt watching people destroy their bags...

[@vvitch-mist20]

It took me 20 years to get the closet I like. Like it takes times to find your style, I often tell people to go back to what they liked as a teenager because I think adults are shaved down from pressure to fit in and to be a worker. Teens can freely express themselves, and should be encouraged to do so.

[@katierobinson]

love this advice!! idk if it’s me but idc if it takes 20 years to find exactly what i like bc it’s about the journey and learning to listen to myself!! congrats for reaching a happy place in ur wardrobe 🫶

[@vvitch-mist20]

@@katierobinson Thank you! It was largely bc I'm goth so I couldn't until like 10 years ago, but even still I had a couple of years where I got rid of most of my clothes bc it didn't work

[@vizna]

As a sensualist who adores aggressive curation of my wardrobe and personal items and entire vibe… 100% on the lifelong journey of personal style evolution but not on social media at all, this glimpse into what’s currently happening is frankly, bizarre and i hope they get better soon

[@MisterAnonymousOwO]

I've noticed that social media honestly has gotten boring for me when it comes to finding style inspiration I truly resonate with. While a few trends I have liked (jorts and neckerchieves), it almost always ends up looking like the same few photos I've seen over and over again. Instead, I've been looking towards the media I often consume and see how the outfits in those pieces of media resonate with me and the way I currently dress. This, coupled with shopping both secondhand and local brands, has really helped me hone in on how I want to dress and how it makes me feel happy to dress that way.

[@katierobinson]

love this, varying your inspiration is always a good idea!!

[@clairewulf]

with personal style, it's always worth having a foundational knowledge in fashion design, such as fabrics, weave, cut, and stitches

[@clairewulf]

also that woman with the tabis influenced me to get tabis...

[@katierobinson]

agreed! i’m trying to slowly develop this as part of my journey bc it can seem overwhelming!! do u have any resources you’d recommend??

[@katierobinson]

@@clairewulf💀😭

[@clairewulf]

​@@katierobinson definitely! Evelyn Wood devotes her channel to helping people learn about how to sew, and one of my faves Jasmine Le has a tonne of videos about fashion (although she's not a sewst as far as i'm aware). for actual sewing, i would recommend TheClosetHistorian, hlawatis, and Fantastical Follies Costuming. good luck!

[@emismith4655]

@@katierobinson rian phin, A Cultural History of Fashion in the 20th and 21st Centuries by bonnie English. always opt into books try to avoid anything online bc that's always influenced by an algorithm. find fashion sewing books, fashion history books.

[@tamara10]

I'm always shocked when I see comments on Pinterest asking where can they buy the same exact item that's on the screen, what happened to just getting inspiration or trying to find similar stuff in real life more sustainably

[@katierobinson]

literally! pinterest is a tool not a shopping platform 😭

[@lfglws]

Especially because the same item won’t look the same on them as the model, so they will probably be disappointed and buy more

[@natashaf.8597]

I agree so much that the real work of style is in figuring out what you need from clothes as expression, comfort and armor - rather than chasing "stylish". I spent so much of my life in unflattering silhouettes and uncomfortable clothes because I focused more on the garment than the garment ON ME. Once I started paying attention to why I liked/didn't like things buying became so much easier and instead of focusing on trends I focus on- what traits in myself am I trying to bring out at this stage in life? Clothing can be a powerful tool to embrace change and amplify internal circumstances. Ex- in my early 20's when I was just entering the job market I gravitated towards super polished pieces a "30 something year old boss would wear" because that helped me mask the insecurities I felt at my capabilities and being taken seriously. Now that I'm well into my career I don't have to prove that externally, so I'm gravitating to much more playful unserious clothing because de-centering work has become important.

[@katierobinson]

love this!!!! what a great way to look at it, clothes as a tool rather than expression makes it seem a little less overwhelming for ppl just starting their personal style journey🫶

[@heidi1000]

Understanding your lifestyle is one of my biggest tips for finding your style. And be honest with yourself. If you are a mother running after a toddler all day, you will not be wearing high heels and power suits. If you never really go out and are more of a homebody than buying evening clothes is something that should be far from your mind. Ellie Jean's channel is a good source of info too on finding your style. She breaks it down really well. :)

[@katierobinson]

oooh will be checking her channel out, thanks for the recommendation & great tip!!🫶

[@StarlightPrism]

This is a mistake a lot of people make when trying to figure out their personal style. They buy clothes for the lifestyle they wish they had rather than the one they have. And I know that saying it like that makes it sound sad, but it doesn't have to be!

[@EmmaLemmon]

I can sit at home in my evening clothes just fine 😅

[@silver_scythe_black_roses]

Guys, we're sooo freaking cooked.

[@etphoonehoome]

the bag wine breaking in is wildddd. makes me so sad. just use the stuff u already have or get a second hand one :O

[@katierobinson]

bc honestly it's like why wouldn't you just buy secondhand??

[@susanma4899]

I think younger people are more likely to buy into this idea of creating a ready-made aesthetic simply because they're inexperienced. They haven't done a lot of living yet and haven't decided what they like yet. On the one hand, it's experimenting, and what's wrong with that? And furthermore, they're not critical or skeptical enough to know that this too shall pass. What comes around goes around. What made me a little a sad is when one of my nieces was in high school, and on social media she was posting that she didn't know how to dress because she didn't know "who she was" yet. And I just said, you are who you are. You KNOW who you are. Clothes are just to have fun with. Don't let the idea of aesthetics scare you away from trying what interests you. You're the same person when you're wearing nothing at all.

[@katierobinson]

100% agree, I hate that the trends are posed as a way of buying into a personality rather than if u like this aesthetic then that's cool but feel free to step outside of it and know u don't have to buy into it so much

[@RCZeta919]

I'm so glad that I grew up before social media became so all consuming. (And I'm only 35!) By the time I got onto Facebook and Instagram, I knew that sometimes people don't tell the whole truth on the Internet! I love the sharing of information that we can have online, but it is exhausting to try to live in a perfectly curated way. Sometimes the best things you find are completely by accident, so in the immortal words of Miss Frizzle, get messy! Make mistakes!

[@katierobinson]

love this and feel the same! i love the internet and how we can share ideas and connect, but sometimes it makes me feel so exhausted 💀

[@nkirukajasminesaunders3284]

Thank you for talking about real life at last. Too much of romanticizing is going atm so I'm glad to have found someone with common sense that is getting less and less common.

[@katierobinson]

i like romanticising mundane life as much as the next girl but u can’t conceptualise having a personality through consumerism 😭

[@Ikright0]

It's sad that we as a generation don't have the 'generational' style like in the 70s, 90s or even 00s. Nowadays, it seems that there's only aesthetics and cores

[@coolchameleon21]

i think the 2010s was the last decade that had a distinct style :/ i don’t think we’ll see that again

[@katierobinson]

haha i actually spoke about this in my most recent video, wondering if gen z will be remembered for trends rather than a distinct style 🥴

[@StarlightPrism]

I don't know about that. People were saying the same thing in the 2000s and 2010s, but now we can look back and identify specific styles as being of those eras. I think it's just hard to identify the styles of a time period while we're living in it. But in 10 or 15 years, we might be able to look back and see what stands out. Actually, I think aesthetics and -cores could be what defines this era of fashion. Some of those styles have had some staying power and have had a larger influence on fashion as a whole.

[@Ikright0]

​@@StarlightPrism a very sad way to be remembered then

[@olayceesay20]

Yes we do tho, u just can't see it cuz ur living in it,

[@jhincita]

the manufacture of wear is one of the things that shocked me the most. It's literally the same vibes as fabricating a personality, which is something only time and experience can really give you. wear as a concept being one of the most interesting things about some designers like Margiela feels just wrong and ironic to be synthetized.

[@jhincita]

also staging the "careless" style is literally the opposite to being careless, therefore trying to embrace a style without even understanding what makes that style interesting in the first place.

[@katierobinson]

it's very online behaviour 🥴

[@OnePoetWanderer]

A tip I saw on another creator's channel is to ask yourself 'if this were the ONLY item of this type I was going to buy, would I be happy with it?' I think that's a great way to hone in on what really feels like you. I have a pair of knee-high burgundy leather boots that I purchased several years ago. I feel no need to buy any other tall boots because these feel so much like me (plus they are SO comfortable). Likewise, while realizing I have a gap in 'closed shoes to wear in winter that aren't boots or tennis shoes' i started looking for something to fill that gap. I haven't bought them yet, but I've only found one pair that fits the criteria of something that would feel 'enough.' And when I look at them, I definitely get hints of what they say about my personal style. I also see this principle play out in sewing; I ask myself if I love something enough to do the work. It really is starting to help me hone in on my personal style. It's amazing how much MORE in tune with my style I feel when I purchase LESS, so the opposite of what we're being told.

[@katierobinson]

oooh love this tip and how well it's worked for you!! will definitely be asking myself this next time I go to buy something!

[@EmL-kg5gn]

This is such a good way to think of it!!! Tysm!

[@nonameface90]

Honestly? I'm probably the last person who should say anything about the topic of the video (34, overweight and not attractive, all-year wardrobe consisting of 90% black basic clothing, minimal social life), but from my own observations: development of 'personal style' requires time, work and nuance given to yourself. Which, unfortunately, are lacking among people nowadays. Everything nerds to be an easy fix. Ready to use. Ready to buy. With manual. And working on yourself is probably the hardest task that imho 'personal style' requires. For me, 'personal style' is about knowing yourself and, I know it will sound controversial, not necessarily loving yourself. Living in delulu land about how you REALLY look causes style misjudgements in my opinion - self-awareness is such underrated feature, equally to assertiveness. You need to know what you graviate the most to. What are you the most at ease in. What colors you prefer, color combos. What accessories you use on regular. But moreover, what ispires you, what are your interests, genre of cinema/music etc. And you need to stop give a damn about what's 'in', what's 'out', what crlebs du jour wear, what brands are viral and what others think/consider fashionable. You need to know yourself first to start developing 'personal style' - and to be not confused with evolving it brcause as we grow, our personality may change with all its facets, so will the style we associate ourselves with.

[@katierobinson]

these are such good insights, pls don't think u shouldn't comment on personal style bc this is so good and you clearly have ur own well figured out!! 🫶

[@coolchameleon21]

i’ve been going through it the past couple years trying to find my style. something that’s helped me is to look at different decades of fashion to help me find inspiration. i’ve found that most of the clothing i like is from the 70s and the 90s or is inspired by those decades. it can also be helpful to look back at what clothes you liked or wished you could wear when you were a kid. i’ve noticed a lot of the clothes i like wearing now are things that i loved in the early 2000s but didn’t have access to bc i was a child lol. also, figuring out what colors look best on you is SO HELPFUL! it makes buying clothes sm easier when you have a “color palette” in mind. another tip i have is to buy for the lifestyle that you have, not the one you want. try be realistic with yourself when deciding whether or not to buy a piece of clothing, don’t buy things based off of “what if” scenarios

[@barbb1672]

I couldn’t agree more on shopping clothes for your real life! Shopping for my fantasy self used to be my pet peeve. So, I had a closet full of wool coats that I never wore on my bike, in the rain….

[@mochimoon508]

I think I found my personal style by just getting things I'm really excited about, not thinking if it fits any aesthetic. If I like it then I wear it and feel good in it. And I guess all those pieces of clothing ended up going with each other without me really trying to create "aesthetic". The color analyst and knowing my proportions really helped me as well so I know why some clothes just don't work

[@katierobinson]

love this!!

[@katch2511]

I haven’t had a professional colour analysis done on me, but i’ve been reading about it and I managed to analyse myself. Finding the colours that work for me, but mainly the colours that don’t is really game changing. I was finally able to pinpoint why I didn’t like certain pieces in my wardrobe. For example, I love camel / caramel coloured coats and trenchcoats and suede jackets when I look at them on Pinterest , and I had all of those things in my wardrobe but I never ended up liking them on me, and I never understood why. After colour analysis, I finally understand that this colour (and some others I had in my wardrobe) looks hideous on me. There is no way now that a trend can influence me to buy something that I know I don’t look good in. It also makes it quicker to go through clothes in a store. If you know what colours look good on you, you instantly limit your choices and you’re more likely to actually find something you really like and wear.

[@katierobinson]

oooh I see the point when u say it like this!!! I've been feeling the same with beige / grey colours too and wondering why, not realising I don't like how it works with my skin tone!

[@rubydoo3307]

We’re dimensional beings, we can’t exist in 2D being scrolled past with no depth. So it’s no wonder people feel empty. If you walk down the street, you can see some truly beautiful humans who don’t fit neatly into a box, and you know they’ve lived a life. So we should go live ours.

[@katierobinson]

this!!!!

[@V01D.mp3]

The way my anxiety would *never* allow me to do this at an actual airport. Security checks are the most stressful thing about travelling. I don't want to linger a second longer than needed and I absolutely do not want to hold up the line. Buying the trays.. yeah, not a huge fan because I can see a lot of them being tossed out when the trend is over. But I got to admit, the content itself is very satisfying.

[@katierobinson]

they all commented to say they did it after security but same, I want to leave asap and go get food and wait for my flight 😭 I can definitely see them being thrown out after the trend!

[@lesbiangoddess290]

That is so me. I fucking hate the airport this isn't happening fr.

[@blarghyblargh3684]

It’s important to keep track of which garments are so comfortable you don’t have to think about them. Then keep track of what makes you feel beautiful, smart, capable, cool, or whatever vibe you’re going for. That’s a good place to start, that I don’t hear as much. Ps. I enjoyed the video

[@katierobinson]

yes!!!! i said something similar in one of my personal style videos: pay attention to what clothes u gravitate towards when you’re dressing for yourself (i.e no plans, staying home and not planning to see anyone) bc that’s what u feel most like u in!

[@bandanarathore]

Individuality? I feel people these days only want same things. Everyone is like link please on same exact things. People want to be exactly like others. No one wants to put an effort in even searching things by themselves.

[@katierobinson]

and the amount of comments a video will get all asking for the same link when the answer has already been given further up 😅

[@kutingtingnamin]

this reminds me of a video on grandpa aesthetic where they talk about how people don't have personalities so they borrow a lived-in life.

[@juliaiwaszczenko]

this destroying bags just for aEsThEtic - WILDDD

[@xnenexo]

i love all your videos but everytime it is a big rollercoaster of being upset initially from being reminded of the direction fashion/aesthetics is headed to then being happy hearing about the genuine advice you provide to people

[@katierobinson]

haha is this a good thing?? i guess i do structure my videos this way bc it’s like ‘here’s the problem, and here’s a solution’ which makes sense as a story in my mind & is also how i approach making the video and even writing articles - like context and then moving the discussion on to a potential fix? 🫶

[@boonanasplit]

I started wearing gothic Lolita (or EGL), and I’ve been the happiest I’ve ever been with my fashion. I still use social media and get inspiration from other gothic creators and even follow people doing sweet or classic lolita, but I don’t feel the necessity to buy exactly what people have, for a while now. I keep a wishlist and only buy from that wishlist. Having personal style and sticking by it is so freeing and having this mindset of “I buy whatever I like” and just liking things that don’t go together just create a necessity to buy more. I have a strict color palette and that’s because I only like those colors on me and I’m so much happier like this. I feel more stylish, people come for me when they need advice for these colors or style and it’s just a really satisfying feeling. I bought like 10 pieces the whole year today as opposed to last year at this time when I had already bought hundreds of things that I just sold on Vinted lol my life is better by knowing my style and by boxing myself.

[@katierobinson]

love this for you!!

[@nikwolf7722]

This video just got randomly recommended to me and I have to say I really loved it! You brought a lot of things to my attention that I didn't even know about (prolly because I don't use TikTok lol) and I really enjoyed your insight. The last part about only being able to find your own style by shopping in person is so true! You gained a new follower :)

[@katierobinson]

aww ty, glad KZbin recommended it to you if it resonated with you so much!! 🫶

[@bushra2179]

Nothing has put me off fast fashion more than learning what quality clothes look like. If the seams arent done well, the fabric isnt laying right, or the fabric doesnt feel right its an automatic no. I want to wear the clothes I like for as long as possible until my size changes or it falls apart

[@katierobinson]

100%!!!

[@marinashortcake]

the research that goes into finding your own style (and since that isn't even often a set thing but evergrowing and changing) and developing it further is a big part of what makes it so fun to me! I create pinterest boards, scour second-hand websites to find a wider variety of styles of an item I'm thinking about getting, go to stores in person to look at their selections... Finding JUST the right item in the perfect colour, style and cut gives me such a dopamine boost for weeks and makes me connect to an item so much that it stays in my wardrobe until it's broken beyond repair or donated after a few years!

[@upgrade101]

The answer to a physical thing - finding your personal style - will not be online and *definitely* not in the echo chamber that is social media and Pinterest, the solution *has* to be in the physical. Buy/try on/wear the things you gravitate towards and mix and match them in ways that feel comfortable and authentic to you. Your personal style will constantly evolve and change, and don't limit yourself to be just 1 thing - my style is part 80s Dynasty glitter and sequins, 90s and 00s hip hop & r'n'b and 00's alt & emo, and I only ever wear trainers - even at my wedding! 😂 I'm a magpie maximalist, I literally only buy things that bring me joy *and* I buy all of my clothes secondhand.

[@katierobinson]

haha i haven’t heard this term magpie minimalist but i love it!!! love your thoughts on this xx

[@Kathrine-sw7tw]

Shopping for second hand items have never been easier and more socially acceptable, but people are buying new items and ruining them in order for them to look worn...

[@einnasm]

I had a colour analysis for my 25th birthday and I found it helped me a lot - it helped affirm some bits I did already feel/know (i.e. blues are good on me, oranges no way) but also opened by eyes to colours I had typically avoided and helped me feel more confident buying more colourful pieces. I used to exclusively wear neutrals and blues but now I have a much more varied wardrobe and bc of colour theory the items pair together really well! I can still choose to be monochromatic but in a colour rather than black, or feel confident pairing colourful tops with colourful bottoms or jacket :) I also found it has helped me consume LESS than I was before, as I dont buy into trends if I know they won't suit me, and I feel more confident buying fewer but higher quality items as I know they'll go well!

[@Jas-rt3th]

couldn't people just thrift these kinda things if they dont want to wear in something😭my wardrobe is made up of half thrifted half store bought pieces but I have worn in those store bought pieces!!

[@katierobinson]

literally there's so many secondhand bags available that already look like this 😭

[@Jas-rt3th]

@@katierobinson i know!! if u want a worn in item straight away just thrift it, its so stupid 😭

[@katalindratsay7483]

You really deserve to blow up on KZbin already 😻

[@katierobinson]

@@katalindratsay7483 hehe tysm 🫶

[@trishatesado4373]

9:56 I feel like the people who fall for these types of things are the kind that live for the lenses of their cameras. This is chronically online behavior.

[@katierobinson]

definitely 💀

[@ObservingtheMatrix]

Clicked so fast. Really enjoying your content.

[@alisha9197]

Wake up katie dropped a new vid

[@katierobinson]

haha tysm 🫶

[@katierobinson]

looool wake up katie's yapping about something else for 20 minutes

[@heatherhaven1268]

Me too ❤

[@sunlighthruleaves]

I have never seen ur vids before but I instantly subscribed after this. I’m so so so so sick of all of this. I’m glad to find a part of the internet that can acknowledge that these practices can be harmful

[@Kelbel5995]

All I can think about when I see those trays is how annoyed those people must have made everyone around them by taking the time to carefully stack everything in the tray to take a picture. Even if you do it after going through security, you're still just in the way. And if you do it while still in line, before the tray goes through the x-ray machine, just know that everyone else haaaaaaates you. Also, I'd never seen the "beat your new stuff up so it looks lived-in trend" and oh my gosh I just CAN'T. It kills me because all of those creators could be on trend already if they just wore stuff they already had that was worn in...but nobody has that kind of thing anymore. Everything is from Shein, which disintegrates before it can look "artfully worn in" and even if it's not from Shein, people toss/donate their stuff too quickly to ever wear it out. The creator with the Tabis tried...so close...but other people still did not get the message.

[@glitt.r]

I have personal style ig and I get complimented on my “aesthetic” a lot and I find it a lil weird like dystopian and this video explains exactly why

[@FeezyCrafty]

It’s important to note that we are always evolving! My style from a teenager: shorts/leggings + crop tops/sweaters is different today as a 25 y/o: dresses, rompers, barely any pants

[@katierobinson]

definitely!

[@arsonmouse2511]

I also think that another issue is the fact that people want convenience and the quest of finding a personal style is "too slow" for them which is a crucial thing in my opinion because you take your time to really find what you like and works for you but social media has made it so that instant gratification is the desirable thing. Also its the "i will just buy it online" thing, I found that it doesn't really work long term. You really have to take your time and try on stuff at a physical location before you buy them.

[@katierobinson]

100% yes, instant gratification, death of attention spans and convenience of fast fashion have all contributed to this mindset

[@MariekevanBuytene]

So, underconsumption core went dystopic in a Tiktok second...

[@ZenzoSezSo]

As always you put into words so well what's been on my mind. I'd known that the microtrends that seem to have been a thing since 2020 annoyed me but I couldn't pin down why and you've explained it so well. It feels like someone speedrunning life, not taking time to get to know themselves, ride the highs and lows of life and have that reflected in their personality authentically. You're thoughtful, analytical, and a breath of fresh air in this fashion space.

[@katierobinson]

oooh love this summary, hits the nail on the head perfectly!! thanks for watching 🫶

[@hukami5817]

For me a good start towards the development of my personal style was thinking about what I liked as a kid. For me it was the right way to understand what I'm really drawn to. I think it's quite relatable that you don't want to wear the same as you were when you were 4, however back then you weren't influenced that much by what you see on others and it can make up a comfort zone. So for me I realized how much I loved pink and nowadays I really feel at home and like myself when I wear this color. From that point on I am slowly developing confidence in what I like:)

[@annw7843]

I do appreciate that personal style is difficult for a lot of people, but as someone who has always been very opinionated about what I like and don’t like, I find the whole discussion a bit mystifying. I get a similar feeling hearing people talk about hating old outfits from years ago.

[@DragonriderEpona]

As someone who doesn't follow trends (and honesty actually never did) these trends are so weird! I'm still thankful for these kind of videos because they help me understand. But at the same time it can be really difficult trying to get why people come up with these in the first place ^^'

[@katierobinson]

haha i think ppl not on tiktok / insta / twitter who watch my videos to keep up must always be so confused about how things evolve like i can so clearly see how brat summer lead to messy girl lead to mary kate olsen lead to THIS trend of destroying clothes, but for someone who didn’t see the pipeline it must be confusing af 💀

[@jessicakoeh]

huge aspect of personal style (to me) has been adapting my style to what my days actually look like, dressing more practical, so really dressing for my every day occasions. There's no use in owning a lot of going out stuff when all u do is go to the library. My style became even more personal when I took that in consideration (and my life became easier and more comfortable too)

[@iramishura]

I’ve been watching your videos for a while and just wanted to say thank you. A bit of fresh air and normal thoughts, I needed it)

[@katierobinson]

aww tysm!!! glad u enjoy 🫶

[@ryeofoatmeal]

tbf I lowkey like looking at the airport tray and loot drop photos bcos they're pretty. but I am no way influence to buy any of that. idk man, maybe I'm at the stage where I really appreciate beautiful and nice things. doesn't mean we have to own it. this is why I don't have ig and tt, you really can't enjoy things?? always have that comments where to buy, what camera bla3. pinterest is more quiet even tho i still see that type of comment but most of the time nobody answers and people ignore such questions 😂 just bcos it's annoying, otherwise you'll create engagement in the comment. some acc disable the comment which is great lol

[@katierobinson]

I feel the same, it's v nice content to look at but there needs to be a separation between liking something and needing to possess it!

[@icommenttoplay1301]

Honestly, new favourite channeling aligning with my interest and needs for more sustainable choices in purchasing clothes!

[@katierobinson]

aww tysm this is a massive compliment lol 🫶

[@amxranthine]

I feel like this is not the whole picture and simply shouldn't be taken this seriously lol. I have commented on videos of fictional vampires, blood thirsty killers "this is literally me" or "this is who I want to be when I grow up" because I like the vibe. Not that I actually want to carbon copy myself into that character

[@katierobinson]

oh agree that the "this is so real" comments aren't all that serious but the way the comments go from that to "where can I get this" to achieve this aura is an issue imo

[@floralfaun]

We're living in a black mirror episode 😭

[@amorosavintage]

I completely agree - you found the perfect word 'staged' way - It's exhausting to 'consume' this kind of content as well. For the faked distressed items - I don't understand why they don't just directly buy vintage or secondhand! Absolutely loved the video.

[@MikuHatsune159]

Can't be me, I like too many fandoms at once and everyday i feel the vibe of one series more than another.

[@b.6826]

I think that considering the practicality of clothing is important. I know that I need to buy 1-2 jumpers for the winter, as last year I had 1 jumpers which left me cold when it went in the wash. I also know that I don’t need more than that, so I’m on a mission to find something in a colour/ style that I love and I’m likely to wear again and again. Furthermore, I am aware that I would like something I can just throw on at the weekend, I have some jeans (some of which need repairing) but I have the same issue again with the laundry. I was thinking a pair of dungarees would be cute, they are a one piece and I could wear any kind of t-shirt with it really. People buy multiple of things they like rather than thinking about how many they actually need and going from there. Setting a limit for yourself is helpful to stop overconsumption. Once you know what you want/ need you can then look at buying something high quality or thrifting. I’m not perfect by any means, but I’m trying to think about clothing in this way. Function first, then style and cost etc.

[@naonaop3531]

A lot teenagers post things like “I like x aesthetic but also x aesthetic too! Idk which one to choose :(“ and I be thinking…you can do both?? There’s no rules for fashion

[@katierobinson]

exactly!! you don't have to fit into a box!

[@cap4life1]

There’s no good way for young people to experiment with style anymore. Either you’re branded as inauthentic or you’re made fun of for being too enthusiastic. If I were under 25, I would focus on what I like outside of algorithmic social media. How do I want to spend my time? Reading, listening to podcasts, creating things, gaming, working out, designing my interior spaces etc. Style flows from the day to day.

[@katierobinson]

and it's so hard to find stuff different from everyone else bc the stores all stock the same thing, and charity stores are flooded with the cast offs months later too 😭

[@affectojfgidi1246]

You have a new subscriber! You're also calm and pleasant to listen to

[@katierobinson]

aw tysm 🥹

[@yomogi-mochi1840]

It's bizarre to me that people literally worship any H bags, Kelly or Birkin, and when people wear these bags and treat them simply as carriers for their belongings, they often get called out for using "fake" bags. Yeah, for some, Hermès bags or Rolex watches are seen as investments, kept in their boxes and treated like fragile art to avoid losing value. However, they are just a bag, not a decorated piece of your closet. My mum has beautiful Chanel and Ferragamo bags that she's had since she was in her 30s, she wears them like crazy and takes them on trips and uses them as everyday bags. Yes, they are visibly worn and have some scuffs, but it shows that they are loved and treated like a bag.

[@elisatantari6867]

I think a thing that a lot of people talking about the “obsession with finding a personal style” often forget is that most of the people commenting and consuming that kind of content are young teens that are still developing their personality. So I think it’s normal that they look for external influences, everybody starts their style by copying in some way, and that they want everything quickly, the difference is that social media is built for that and gives them exactly what they want. I think that adults that come across this kind of content know what it is and enjoy it for the aesthetic and kids will grow up and do the same, it’s going ti be ok.

[@green-tea-yakult-with-honey]

Something that could help speed along the like/dislikes discovery process is the Kibbe body type system. When you get your type right, it really helps narrow down the precise fit, fabrics, and proportions that look best on you, down to the hem lines, details, and patterns you should be looking for. What I love about it is, unlike the usual body type systems (like the pear, triangle, rectangle, etc. body types), Kibbe isn't about creating an "illusion" of having the ideal body type, but about complementing and highlighting the innate beauty of your own body. Your Kibbe body type also stays the same at any weight, age (after puberty), and even if you do/don't work out, so it truly is the framework for lifelong personal style imo.

[@katierobinson]

oooh i had no idea about this but i’ll definitely be looking into it, it sounds brilliant! tysm!!!

[@emilyjane3870]

Heavy on figuring out what works for you and learning that through trying on different items!! I also find thinking about whether it goes with other items I already have in my wardrobe helps. If it doesn't go with 3 or more things I have, I usually don't buy it.

[@katierobinson]

yes definitely a good tip!!

[@insatia.c]

Literally spent years finding my style and the ideal wardrobe, and it still updates sometimes because some of the micro trends are actually perfect for it 😭

[@katierobinson]

and that's ok!! if you're mindfully consuming and paying attention to only your personal style then it's ok to purchase things in moderation, especially if you know you'll look after them & keep them forever!

[@rosereddened]

i think an important rule is to stop buying clothes that go with existing clothes you have but don't love! i struggled for a while with buying warm-toned clothes because i was trying to pair them with a warm-toned green skirt i loved but i wanted cool-toned clothes in general. if you know you love one pair of jeans and 2 sweaters, focus only on getting new pieces that go with THOSE pieces. Not the other things in your wardrobe!! (also in general analyse the clothes you bought and don't wear, because it's important both to know why you bought it, and why you don't like it!)

[@katierobinson]

great advice!!

[@susanma4899]

I'll just say this: messy hair tutorials and lessons in distressing clothing are nothing new. They existed WAY before tiktok. So if you think this is the end of civilization, it isn't.

[@katierobinson]

agreed! but I think it's interesting that it's becoming a quick way of saying you have personal style without the effort of wearing the stuff down organically, tiktok always has a way of over commodifying something

[@Mitzy655]

I think looking back on what you've worn in the past that you've felt most comfortable in is very useful. You should also think about the combinations that you feel suit you best. For example, untucked/longer shirts pair with skirts doesn't suit me, but short and flowy dresses with undershirts make me most comfortable. Hats and hair accessories are also much more important than people realise, figure out what hats/accessories you like and which ones to avoid.

[@itme999]

I'm GenX Millennial cusp and at the same time that I'm like "lol that's silly, why would you wreck your clothes?"... in the 1990s, I drew on my sneakers and thrifted vintage shirts because that was the girl I wanted to be, the aesthetic I wanted to have. Everything old is new again 😂 Glad the algorithm served me this ❤

[@TheWatcherCouncil]

I also think the problem with the idea of personal style in general and using social media to do it is that you just like don’t have to follow one aesthetic all the the time and you shouldn’t have to- nor does your aesthetic have to be perfect. Sometimes I prefer wearing more masculine business-casual style clothes. Sometimes I like wearing more feminine clothes. Sometimes I just wanna wear track pants and a hoodie. They all look very different aesthetically, but I like all those clothes and how I fit in them, and how they feel, so I’m free to mix and match them and wear what I want depending on how I feel any day. Which is what is should boil down to- wear what you want and what is comfortable for you. That’s what will make you happy and give you a style catered to you and only you. Nothing else should matter than what you feel good wearing and it’s sad social media makes people feel so pressured to fit and follow the trends like this and just loose who they are in it.

[@raraavis7782]

Oh dear. I'm getting flashbacks to my mother objecting to me getting ripped jeans as a teen, because she 'wasn't going to pay for clothes that looked already used' 😆. I mean, is this really so different? Except that it's happening on a much higher level and the pressure on the individual is much higher. And the consequences for the environment so much more dire. But yeah... the whole 'expressing your personality through your clothes' thing is certainly interesting. Why is this so so important to some people and barely so for others? Is it still individual style, if you follow a trend or a part of a subgroup? Would you still love your style, if everyone dressed like that?Are you trying to stand out or fit?

[@katierobinson]

haha this was my first thought, what would my mum say to this content 💀but yh I feel like it's the same idea just a bit more rage-bait or higher effort 😅 and all good questions!!! feel like ppl on tiktok are desperately looking for identity but instead of trying to develop that organically it's how can I buy into it quickly

[@fRiiEdA97]

on the lived-in-trend: The thing is, whatever you do on social media will always be shaped by the structure of that medium. For Instagram and TikTok this is: What matters is what things look like and things need to be immediate. And that's how everything will come out of that medium -whether that are fashion trends, political engagement, lifestyle etc etc.

[@mnrv_nn]

my current day bag i washed recently. i really love it, but i love it enough to clean and care for it. my favorite pants have a couple holes from where the fabric has friction. i need to figure out how to sew them before the holes worsen. i have purchased second hand jeans with holes on purpose for the aesthetic. those jeans are now for messy tasks, like my art. i think for me there’s a line between needing worn down clothes verses taking care of the items i love. i know washing bags and sewing are so important for keeping clothes for a long time. the sew marks and annoying stains will show my love for the item. holes and dirt worry me that the item will age faster. taking care of things i own is an aesthetic. it shows i’m living and what i care about.

[@katierobinson]

yes! clothes with a visually story and life on them is so beautiful, but manufacturing that it super weird

[@angelsuspiriorum]

i stopped organizing my clothes by color and put everything i love and wear often on one side of the closet and everything i don’t like or don’t wear often on the other side. the instances where i was lying to myself about what i wear often (when i don’t) stood out so heavily. the patterns were so clear, both in what i feel comfortable wearing and in what shopping mistakes i’ve made. when i’m considering buying something it’s so obvious which side of my closet it has more in common with. still keeping a few sentimental items from the “don’t really wear” side but want to donate/sell the rest of that category.

[@carlamoss89]

this isnt new, we saw those kinds of flat lays and style guides in magazines back 20 yrs ago. it's just on TikTok now.

[@millsi9642]

I think for me, I need to learn that ps has no borders and that I don’t need to exclude anything. I look at the clothes I already own,because if I have them I like them! I also think about things I have idolised over the years. For me I love the 1950s - my grandmas style and also ‘the queens gambit’ was an obsession of mine. Also I grew up in the 2010s so the fashion from that decade I do find myself drawn to. My mums style is very 90s and we look identical so I also like to explore with my mums ‘look’

[@sweetagain]

I have always hated when my clothes look too new, so it's interesting to see this trend. Because my solution has always been to thrift or depop/ebay it. Seems like the easier way if that's what you actually like lmao

[@IM_ThePurplesloth]

In my Pinterest board I have saved mostly long stretchy dresses in the colors black, grey, and some purples and blues and dark greens, cardigans, some dark denim jeans, and shirts with a v line, u line, t-shirts, buckets hats, overalls and sneakers. They are things that both flatter my chunky figure and are comfortable.

[@katierobinson]

oooh some good inspo here!!!

[@baconaxolotl]

my problem is with trends is that when their are little pieces of clothing i want to incorporate into my own style by the time i have bought one thing to see if i like it, it’s gone moved to the next 180 of this micro trend styles. along with living in australia, the only cheaper stores that you can physically walk in and go to, all have fallen into the trend cycle instead of each shop being its own place

[@pouchika5672]

People should prioritise cultivating hobbies instead of spending too much time on the internet. Many individuals are eager to define their personal style, yet end up looking just like everyone else.

[@katierobinson]

agree, need to take this advice myself 😅

[@siphona_will_eat_you]

Hobbies are too expensive. Get with the times.

[@Hellisarickroll]

After deleting all my social media a few years ago idk what is happening there but it sounds like a capitalist hellscape. Personal style warped by the algorythm isnt personal style sorry. Having and partaking in hobbies even if its one is better than alluding to having hobbies through your style, that to me is just an empty shell.

[@katierobinson]

it’s definitely a weird concept to be more concerned with presenting ur personality than having one in the first place, i think tiktok is just brainrotting everyone and we all need to step away 😭

[@teodoraschudeck2951]

A basket full of expensive, unnecessary, color-matching stuff is, in no way, A PERSONALITY

[@CarbonMonoxideBarbie]

I just want to be fair- people have been artificially distressing their accessories and clothes since at least the 80s

[@sophiamalinsky9603]

in the fashion podcast 'Articles of Interest' , the host does a series called American Ivy about prep style and the 'old money aesthetic' and the history of prep, Ralph Lauren, etc etc. She does an amazing job taking about how Ivy League students would have to buy nice clothes for school, but they'd purposefully beat them up to make them look worn. At the time, it was probably less scrutinized than the beating-up-a-luxury-bag thing is now, because it was a smaller niche of people. Nonetheless, it seems like it's long been a habit for people trying to look fashionably unkempt. Amazing podcast 'Articles of Interest' by Avery Trufelman!

[@katierobinson]

oooh so interesting, may have to listen to the podcast!