The pandemic, trend fatigue, and a looming climate crisis have triggered a seismic shift in fashion. We have cycled through trends faster than we could keep up with so much so that we are already cycling back to 2010 aesthetics. What was once deemed too avant-garde for the masses is now inching its way into the mainstream.
In a world desperate for a jolt of creativity, people have stopped searching for the next viral trend and started mining their worlds for inspiration. By reimagining unconventional items as accessories, figures in the media have trailblazed a movement that prioritizes personal style and authenticity over conformity.
Mama said it’s here – today’s personal style
Upcycling and eliminating waste have been as exponential as the climate crisis. The fashion industry is one of many fields that have adopted these methodologies. Through it, Gen Z’s love for thrifted, vintage, and sustainable fashion was birthed.
In December 2024, Julia Fox posted a picture campaign to her Instagram. Her cyber-tech, baddie look featured a skin-toned mesh micro-skirt and tube top, layered beneath recycled Y2k e-waste. Adding a retired CD player and flip phone made the look refreshingly futuristic. This avant-garde ensemble wasn’t just a fashion statement– it was a collaboration between designer Gab Bois and Back Market, to promote the upcycling of old tech to combat waste.
Fox’s campaign promotes this niche, but evergrowing, genre of alternative-meets-eclectic aesthetic that’s naturally brewed from upcycling. The highly experimental era in fashion we are currently in is under the spotlight as well. While using unconventional items for fashion isn’t new, it has never reached this level of mainstream popularity. So, when did fashion get so absurd–and how might this be the key to saving personal style?
From loungewear to renaissance
Since the start of the pandemic, when the world was forced to stay at home, day-to-day fashion became largely confined to loungewear. This period put a pause on Gen Z’s journey of discovering and shaping their style. Now that lockdown restrictions have been fully lifted and social events have been rampant, we’re experiencing a fashion renaissance.
The lockdown and the binge consumption of film and media helped bring alternative styles into the mainstream. During this time, we saw the rise of the e-girl aesthetic and the Japanese decora kei style, known for its love of over-accessorizing, dominate social media. On TikTok, creator @aliyahsinterlude gained fame for blending Y2k with decora kei influences, coining this unique aesthetic, Aaliyah-core.
Since the lockdown era, we’ve cycled through many trends, phasing through cottage core, Y2K revival, regency core, quiet luxury, and indie sleaze, to name a few. At the height of these trends, people were flocking to purchase whatever items most closely resembled this style, only to have them change even a month later. After years of going through polar trends quicker than most people can keep up, the notion of personal style has begun to be explored.
Outfit repeating is an art form
@r.tuluka capitalism is rotting our brains 🙂 #fashiontiktok #personalstyle #substack #fashioncommentary #outfitinspo ♬ Hide CS01 (Ambient Rework) – Eleftherios & GLO
Some fashion influencers like Tuluka have commented on how this act of over-consumerism is rotting our brains. The reason we don’t like how we dress has a lot to do with the items we choose. Through exact imitation of another person’s style, we are choosing items devoid of our character. Tuluka shared that by re-wearing an item over many times you will begin to discover what your style is. The more you wear and re-work an item, the more you give the item character.
Myra Magdalen on TikTok brilliantly exemplifies this in her get ready with me videos. Her style is a maximalist camp, utilizing unconventional items as accessories. She re-purposes the same items for different themes or rework her existing wardrobe into new combinations. Some of her favorite items to repurpose have been her collection of safety pins, computer mice, wired headphones, and a variety of old tech. Myra’s outfits always have a theme, usually inspired by one or more items from her collection of trinkets.
She sources most of her items from thrift stores, estate sales, and auctions. In an interview, she shared that her getting ready process always starts with the thought, “How do I make this the most me it can be? And then even more me?” It’s an art form when you eliminate the fashion and body aspect of getting ready. She still thinks it important to keep up with trends and will experiment with a few that she likes. However, perceiving what she does as art rather than wearing clothes helps keep her authenticity.
Authenticity in adaptation – your personal style
Through her content, Myra is inspiring others to develop a unique and adventurous sense of style as well. It’s unclear whether the micro-trend began before or after her video where she styles wired headphones, but since then, headphones have been perceived as much of an accessory as they are functional. This playful approach to fashion shows how people are embracing experimentation simply because it appeals to them.
@imwill.iv Car belt but worh my spin on it (literally) #fashiontiktok #baggyjeans #ootd #fashiontips #beyblade ♬ K DOT LIKE THAT – Stank Music
Personal style, sustainable fashion, and trendiness are not mutually exclusive. Take TikToker @BadBarbie, for example. She went viral for transforming old toy racecars into a one-of-a-kind belt using wire and an old belt. Her design quickly spread and many were creating their own versions of the belt. One creator, @imwill.iv, put his own spin on her design, tailoring it to suit his style better. Instead of toy racecars, he decided to make a belt using Bey Blade toys, proving that you can be inspired by trends while being authentic.
Whether it’s transforming old tech into accessories or giving childhood toys a new life, this movement rejects the constant churn of fast trends. It’s not about keeping up—it’s about slowing down, experimenting, and finding joy in what you wear.
Fashion is personal
Personal style–curated to reflect a person’s interests, hobbies, and personality, is dying in today’s society. The overconsumption of media has tricked us into thinking that following rapidly changing trends is a creative style. Instead of fostering authenticity, this cycle pressures people to constantly update their wardrobes in pursuit of relevancy. However, emerging figures are starting to show that while trends can play a role in your personal style, they don’t have to define it.
The burnout of ever-changing ideals has more people stepping away from the race for validation. Instead, people are exploring fashion that truly resonates with them whether it’s well received from others or not. Ironically, this personal and sometimes unconventional approach to dressing has been met with widespread appreciation. After all, creativity and authenticity never go out of style.
Fashion becomes more than just clothes; it’s a way to tell your story and connect with the things that resonate with you. As we lean further into this mix of creativity and sustainability, it’s clear that the future of fashion isn’t just bold—it’s personal.
