Not to discriminate but this one is most likely for the ladies.

Let me start by saying, there is nothing wrong with a good remix and bringing back old style staples and aesthetics, but giving old things new names, feels like plagiarism of its original era & cultural icons.

The “protective hair style” with deep conditioner in a slicked back bun, became the clean girl aesthetic trend, and Jersey Italian culture is this weeks mob wife aesthetic.

All art is stolen and history will always repeat itself. (*yes, but*)
We are becoming clones on a fast moving train with no brakes.

Let’s start by outlining some definitions & word associations,
(these are my personal definitions because you’re in my house) *ahem*:

Trend: a direction you follow because its repetition is socially palatable and/or feels inclusive to a larger societal group during a period of time.

Aesthetic: a set of principals that define an identified body of work, character, or personality type, through physical expression. Requires rigidity to be defined and curated.

What do they both share? The desire to attain them, gives off the strong need to belong to a tribe. Stay with me.

Our collective need to feel community is so primal, that it outweighs our natural instincts to express ourselves through individualism. If we outshine others, we risk being excluded from the tribe, if we call too much attention to ourselves, we risk being excluded from the tribe, if we go right when everyone is going left, we risk being excluded from the tribe. And the development of community and finding likeness through self-expression is a beautiful magic to share. But at the rate we are going, we are not only losing our authenticity, we are adopting this need to present as having a perfect life through these trends and aesthetics.

The phrase “I don’t want to Gatekeep” was developed out of the desire to create community & not be a “mean girl.” Yet, the result of oversharing your innate discoveries and interests is the risk of us all looking alike. And even worse, the risk of someone really freakin’ unique, special, stand-out, hiding their one-of-a-kind style out of fear that there will be no tribe for them to be held by – siloed.

But what is style if not to be inspired by some other origin? Notice it’s impossible for me to take sides in this discussion that we are having.

I don’t want us to all be clones of one another and yet I can’t take credit for my thrift-store find and consider myself wholeheartedly unique, why? Miranda Priestly said it best:

(*skip over the monologue if you know it by heart, otherwise, consider this my gift)

– The Devil Wears Prada –

Andy Sachs: (snickers under her breath)

Miranda Priestly: Something funny?

Andy Sachs: No. No, no, nothing’s… you know, it’s just that… both those belts look exactly the same to me. Y’know, I’m still learning about this stuff, and uh… (giggles uncomfortably)

Miranda Priestly: This… “stuff”? Oh, okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you.

You… go to your closet, and you select… I don’t know, that lumpy blue sweater, for instance, because you’re trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back, but what you don’t know is that that sweater is not just blue, it’s not turquoise, it’s not lapis, it’s actually cerulean.

You’re also blithely unaware of the fact that, in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns, and then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent, wasn’t it?… who showed cerulean military jackets. I think we need a jacket here.

Nigel: Hmm.

Miranda Priestly: And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. Then it filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic casual corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin.

However, that blue represents millions of dollars of countless jobs, and it’s sort of comical how you think that you’ve made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you’re wearing a sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room… from a pile of “stuff.”

Mmm, mm, m.

It makes you distaste fast fashion and grow an appreciate for curation. It makes you abhor TikTok Shop and admire how Pinterest delivers inspiration without selling you almost anything. It makes you understand that although you are not the icon that birthed the concept of the thing you’re wearing, the way in which you wear it is your own, and will always, belong to something bigger than you.

I’m reflecting on this as I’m writing and I’m left with no, “aha.” The need for community still exists, sharing ideas and inspiration still holds value, and icons & eras will still hold their place in history.
All I ask is that we try to slow the train down, and bring our individualism with us.

Happier you’re here,

Kenny