I mostly blame Gen Z (in a good way) for this change.
The line between celebrity and social media influencer is completely muddied these days and TikTok has been one of the largest drivers – of this – and new trends. Enter Generation Z. Born in the mid-to-late 1990s and the early 2010s, this generation grew up in a world dominated by smartphones, the internet and social media. It’s practically a requirement for them to document their OOTDs.
I’ve been on a TikTok spiral lately, and honestly, it’s super addicting. What I did not expect was for my bank account to take a hit because of teenagers unboxing gifted items from their bedrooms. From this green sweater to this Abercrombie & Fitch vegan leather puffer jacket (Side Note: I hadn’t shopped there in over a decade – until yesterday!), Generation Z is paving the way for fashion as we know it.
Bucket hats, tennis skirts and butterfly clips are acceptable again?! Sign me tf up.
My favorite part about this digitally savvy generation is the fact that they live by rules that literally everyone can apply to their dressing – so inclusive of them. Not to mention, they’re all about that sustainable fashion life, which, respect! Maybe the world really is changing?!..
While normcore (the anti-trend) and athleisure seem to be their top priority, gender neutral outfits, comfort, and convenience are also key. Timeless staple pieces, gender-fluid denim (who doesn’t love wearing their boyfriend’s jeans?!), unisex hoodies, boxxy tees, the list goes on and on..
According to the Huffington Post, less than 50% of teens identify as straight and the truth is that more and more members of Generation Z are not letting their genders dictate their style. So what does this mean? They are looking to embrace freedom in fashion.
See: Harry Styles
Moral of my rant? While many of us are quick to brush off TikTok as another silly app, Gen Z will be the ones with the last laugh while they’re busy changing the fashion industry as we know it.
