In today’s fast paced, Internet driven world, trends change quickly, and the need to keep up is made harder by apps like TikTok and Instagram. Influencers drive people to spend money on what’s “hot” right now by constantly filling our feeds with the newest trends from viral products to fashion “must haves”. People may become overwhelmed by a constant flow of new trends and feel if they’re falling behind or not doing enough. As people struggle for unrealistic standards set by online personalities, the pressure to meet these changing standards can result in stress and anxiety. Expectations change along with trends, making it more difficult for people to stay genuine to themselves in the middle of consumerism and comparison.

Sophomore Maja Unger, known for her effortlessly stylish yet comfortable outfits, or may also be seen as “downtown girl style” shared her insight on how social media shapes trends.

“Social media is filled with influencers who a lot of the time promote products that aren’t real. This creates trends that are not always needed or useful which is a waste of people’s hard earned money. Trends tend to catch on when a well-known person recommends a product or starts a new trend, it immediately gains attention and spreads quickly on social media,” Unger said.

Shani Rodin, often seen in minimalist, fashion forward outfits, reflected on the significant influence celebrities and influencers have on shopping behavior.

“Influencers and celebrities promote a lot of different brands and all of the stuff that they wear, so others feel the need to buy it because they want to be that celebrity, not because they actually like the style or product,” Rodin said.

Sophomore Lola Stern, mostly seen in cozy trending outfits that reflect her deep knowledge and understanding of fashion, discussed the impact of fast fashion on shopping trends and consumer behavior.

“Fast fashion definitely has an impact on the trends, because the clothing that fast fashion offers is pretty low quality. It’s got to be cheap to make and distribute. So, you’re definitely not going to get good quality,” Stern said.

Fast fashion also impacts consumer behavior, because if someone buys from fast fashion sites like shein or forever 21 often, then they’re going to start normalizing very cheap prices, which aren’t going to be actually accurate to how the economy is doing.

Trends and fast fashion have become central to modern consumer culture, but the emotional toll of trying to keep up with ever changing styles is significant. Unger explains how financial stress of constantly chasing the latest trends can lead to emotional stress.

“I think that money is definitely a big issue, especially in this economy, because trends like clothing and accessories can be very expensive. I also think it’s not worth all the money and time as well, because as soon as one trend starts another one comes around.”

This cycle of trends, combined with their high prices, can leave people feeling overwhelmed. Rodin adds another layer to this, discussing the emotional impact of peer pressure in fashion choices.

Lauren Brackney with Dart News back in 2019 said “I think that trends are putting too much stress on teens. Keeping up with fashion trends can become overwhelming. Trends appear and disappear within the blink of an eye. You don’t want to risk falling behind and being scrutinized for not being up to date. I think peer pressure can affect a lot of people because everyone sees others wearing certain clothes or following specific styles. If someone doesn’t have the same style, they might feel pressured, thinking they won’t fit in or look like everyone else.”

For many, the need to belong can distract from the emotional consequences of trying to keep up with quick trends. Stern also highlights the stress of keeping up with fashion in today’s world stating

“I  think keeping up with fashion trends can cause stress because there’s a lot of pressure from outside sources like people or social media, or you might just want to impress someone. So I think it can just be difficult from the pressure from external things, Stern said.”

These comments highlight how, for many people, the search for style causes emotional stress in addition to being a matter of self expression.

Unger explains that personal preference should guide someone’s decisions on whether to follow a trend or not.

“I think it really depends on your personal preference and style. Because even if something is cute on the internet, or If someone wanted to do something just to be with the trends I would not do it if it wasn’t how they really wanted to dress. So it really just depends on personal preferences,” Unger said.

This view shares the concerns of Rodin, who shares the emotional impact trends can take on self esteem.

“It could make people feel less of themselves because they don’t have the item or accessory and it can make a disconnect from the people around them,” Unger said.

For example, brands like Lululemon push items that become status symbols, leading people to feel the pressure of needing to own them. A pair of Lululemon leggings can cost anywhere from $98 to $160. These items may be seen as “must haves” for those wanting to keep up with current trends, but the high prices can create a divide for those unable to afford them.

Stern speaks on how shopping habits shift across different age groups, and notes that age plays a crucial role in determining what is seen as “appropriate.”

“For different age groups, there’s a different sense of what’s considered appropriate. You don’t want to put a child in something revealing, but you also don’t want to put down someone young who wants to show off some skin,” Stern said.

She also mentions the financial limits of many young people face in trying to keep up with trends, adding,

“But also I think that if you’re young and you have an elegant style, it’s going to be hard to achieve that, because what money do you have to buy? the money you have has an impact on what brands you can buy from,” Stern said.

Stern offers her insights into the repetitive nature of fashion, predicting that certain trends are going to make a comeback.

“Now that fashion keeps repeating itself around every 20 years, I  think that streetwear has made a big comeback,” Stern said.

Stern envisions a fusion of baggy styles with high end fashion, reflecting on the current blend of casual and luxury. She also believes animal print will come back in style, just like cheetah and leopard print regained popularity.

“I’m really hoping that zebra print will make a return from the 2000s, especially since cow print came back in 2019,” Stern said.

Her predictions are in line with a bigger fashion trend where nostalgia is in style and timeless styles are reconsidered from new perspectives.

“I feel like the definition of fashion has definitely changed over the years and it’s not what it used to be,” Stern said.