Escaping Microtrends
- instyle2324
- Feb 27
- 3 min read
Mahak Chaudhry for MacInStyle
Bows. They’ve taken over. From hair accessories, shoes, shirts, everything, you name it. The coquette girly aesthetic on TikTok blew up the need for everyone to add something as simple as bows to their closet, and yeah, I may have fallen for it. Did I immediately jump on the trend? Guilty. Have I touched that piece since the hype died down? Noooo….also guilty.
It's so easy to get caught up in these trends, but let’s all take a second to think about how long these trendy pieces last us. I have a closet full of clothes that I bought solely based on microtrends I saw, and I soon realized that maybe that was never actually my style. With the powerful influence of TikTok and Instagram, it's hard not to fall into these trends.
So let’s take a deep dive on some of these pieces. And here’s a little challenge for you. Think about some of the trends you've followed. If you still have those pieces sitting in your closet untouched, maybe it's time to let them go. Instead of letting them pile up, let’s take a moment to donate them together and give them another life!
Fila Sneakers
I know you all know the shoes I'm talking about. The thick platform dad sneakers that everyone had at one point. These shoes offered a platform look and (apparently) went with everything. I remember everyone had the classic white Fila sneakers, so I thought "Hey let me be a little different", and got mine in pink. Let me tell you those were the hardest shoes to style. Now I go on TikTok and see people hating so hard on them even though I know a lot of you wore them too! We’re all guilty of these shoes.
Ripped Jeans
Think back to the time when having extreme rips in your jeans was considered flattering. Everyone went around with massive holes in their jeans and I know many of us loved this one for a while, until someone on TikTok told us to stick with wide jeans with no holes. Of course, some people can pull off the ripped jeans, but I’m afraid I was not that girl and looked like I went through and destroyed my own jeans.
While we’re on the topic of jeans, can we take a second to acknowledge how suddenly Alix Earle brought back skinny jeans? Personally, I’m not a fan of skinny jeans, and will always opt for wide leg or straight jeans, but I think this is a perfect example of wearing clothes YOU like without needing a celebrity or influencer to ultimately drive you to want to wear something you like. At the end of the day, it's all about doing what makes you happy!
Neon Colours
All I have to say on the subject is that with all the bright neon greens, yellows, and pinks that somehow ended up in my closet I looked like a highlighter everywhere I went...
These are just a few of the many microtrends that come and go. If I were to offer one big piece of advice, it would be to invest in a capsule wardrobe–a collection of timeless pieces, focusing on quality staples that can transcend into the future. Capsule wardrobes are built around essentials, prioritizing quality over trendiness. Building one is an investment, where you focus on your own style, wants, and future needs.
With that, I just want to end by saying that I know many of us are guilty of following microtrends, and stepping away from the influence of social media can be tough. Let’s all make an effort to focus on the trends we genuinely like and prioritize our own sense of style.
Until next time,
Mahak Chaudhry
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