Are you an eclectic grandpa? Do you have a pair of chunky Dr. Martens and a recycled vintage sweater? It’s Shane’s, but no one would know it by looking at it, right? How about a pink Pilates princess? The latest matching Alo set and a pair of brand new pink Apple AirPod Max headphones with pink ribbon tied to each side?
Do you have blueberry milk nails, cowgirl copper hair, and latte makeup?, Or brownie lips? Do you find deer cute, foxes cute, cats cute, or aliens cute?
If someone said any of these words to you a year ago, would you know what they meant? How about a month? one week?
Ironically, I’ve been trying to write this article for about six months now, and the trends and aesthetics I wrote down for reference are now old news, or worse, cheeky news.
Large cups in pastel colors are the latest material fad and status symbol.
The combination of identity, algorithms, and aesthetics is creating a phenomenon in which the pursuit of a unique identity is synonymous with following a temporary trend. We call them “eras” as another way of emphasizing their ephemeral nature.
The search for a unique identity is a bit paradoxical. We always strive to be different, but that only makes us more the same. An impossible middle ground, a mixture of complete unconventionality and a degree of conformity that we can see and identify with. This is what is defined by aesthetics.
TikTok’s fast trend cycles have created an environment where the lifespan of trends and our attention spans are shortened. Our sense of self is tied to materialism, but more importantly, our purchases constitute a modern aesthetic. This creates a cycle of consumerism that is becoming increasingly difficult to break. It is important to recognize that these trends are temporary. Before your new lip gloss becomes just something TikTok “forced” you to buy, let’s think about it first.
The mind-boggling speed of these cycles may be confusing to consumers, but it’s a boon for businesses looking to capitalize on a steady stream of sales.
TikTok didn’t start the trend, but the app pushed the trend cycle into fifth gear. What we are seeing is an increase in young Western women investing in products that represent their ideal lifestyle, rather than using that money to enrich their lives. The result is a society that ties its sense of self to material possessions, further exacerbating our nation’s overconsumption epidemic.
It’s all an illusion meant to capture the attention of our screens and wallets. This is just yet another marketing scheme aimed at manipulating our spending habits. Cowgirl on the coast. wife of mob. Clean girl. What these “aesthetics” have in common is that you need to buy something to get them. These campaigns foster false expectations and ultimately lead to a buy-and-waste cycle. This culture of consumerism leads to unsustainable lifestyles that are economically depleting and environmentally harmful.
Even if people say that I’m basic or that I like trendy things, that’s not what people think of me.
Unfortunately, the price we pay for these aesthetics is also paid by our planet. Today’s trends will fill tomorrow’s landfills. This is the influence of fast fashion. According to an analysis by business insider, the fashion industry produces 10% of the world’s total carbon emissions.The industry is causing great damage to our planetarter sauce and is a significant source of pollution in rivers and streams. Additionally, 85% of all textile products end up in landfills every year. Just washing these clothes releases 500,000 tons of microfibers into the ocean every year. this is, There are 50 billion plastic bottles.
I’m not saying it’s wrong to buy something just because it’s trendy, I’m just saying it’s easy to fall into the trap of having to destroy yourself to fit into any arbitrary box on the internet. Exploring identity and aesthetics through purchases is where we cross the line. TikTok’s quick trend cycle reinforces this dynamic, tying our self-perceptions to materialism and trend-driven purchases, furthering this difficult cycle of consumerism.
So, buy what you like! It’s not just because someone told you to. Take a moment to understand yourself as a whole. After all, you are more than just an aesthetic person.
Ainsley Foster (she/her) is a second year student studying Primary Education.