The fashion industry has seen trends come and go since its inception. More recently, such trends have been moving much faster than before. With tools like social media, people are able to post outfits, opinions, and advice on how to dress. This tool, however, has now become an instigator of micro-trends and cultivated an overwhelming environment full of tips, tricks and any ‘hack’ imaginable. The latest trend to arise has been the ‘personal style’ trend, which is meant to get people to find or create a unique, original style for themselves. But can originality also be trendy?
The term ‘personal style’ is quite fluid in its meaning, with every influencer and blogger offering their own take on this fashion concept. For example, one article titled “How to Find Your Personal Style, Once and For All” defines personal style as how one “interpret[s] fashion and incorporate[s] it into [their] daily life.” A separate article, which asks “What is personal style? And how do you find yours?”, considers personal as “your brand as an individual” or even something that you must discover within yourself. Overall, personal style can generally be understood as one’s way of self-expression. The fluidity of the term speaks to the very personal aspect of this style concept, as it means different things to different people; yet, the unclear definition of personal style also makes it difficult to understand. In fact, attempting to define personal style seems to go against what this concept stands for. A quick search of the term yields many opinions and definitions, presenting this concept as a set of rules to follow, a way to think about one’s life, or something that is to be discovered yet should also be created. The question of personal style seems as difficult as the question of who you are as a person, and this discovery or creation of the self appears to be the center of this confusing concept.
Many influencers and social media posts list clearing out your closet as one of the rules for finding personal style. According to the Government of Canada, in 2022, the National Association for Charitable Textile Recycling (NACTR) collected over 945,000 tonnes of textile waste in Canada. Put into perspective, this figure is equivalent to the emissions of 460,000 cars. While fast fashion and micro-trends are only contributing to these figures, finding one’s style does not have to. For example, people can easily donate their clothes to help local communities. Thrifting has also seen a rise in popularity, which could help solve our textile waste issue. However, there is still much work to do regarding sustainability in the fashion industry. Looking at the government’s report titled “Opportunities for circularity in apparel textiles in Canada”, key findings reveal that our municipal textile collection programs represent only 1 per cent of the total textile collection in Canada. However, a simple shift in mindset around clothing waste can help us begin moving toward sustainability.
Alongside the material wastefulness of the personal style ‘rulebook,’ various online terms and attitudes can take a toll on one’s wallet and mental health. The term ‘outfit repeater,’ for example, has taken on quite a negative connotation online. Labelling one as such seems to highlight one’s laziness or lack of creativity for wearing the same outfit multiple times, but what are clothes made for otherwise? Of course, you are going to repeat some of your outfits – your clothes are not made to be disposable. Mindsets like this can make people feel as though they need to ‘keep up’ with current trends, leading to overconsumption. For reference, the average Canadian household spent $2303 on clothing and accessories in 2021. Creating these negative terms, however, speaks to the greater issue of gatekeeping certain looks and spreading negativity online. In an age where social media is so deeply integrated into our lives, many young people are exposed to environments that can often be toxic and even damaging to one’s self-image. Such negativity completely undermines the idea behind personal style as well, forcing a ‘correct’ answer to the question of self-expression. In essence, this continual ‘rebirth’ of the self has the propensity to do more harm than it intends. Finding one’s personal style does not have to follow strict guidelines or budgets – it can and should be something personal and unique.
In trying to understand personal style, how can we understand the central idea of the unique self? The question of personal identity is difficult to approach, seeing that it does not have a right or wrong answer. The idea of personal identity began with philosopher René Descartes in 1637, who coined the infamous phrase “I think, therefore I am.” Initially arguing that one’s consciousness, or the presence of one’s thoughts, proved that one existed in reality, Descartes’ work set the foundation for various branches of modern-day philosophy. From this starting point, personal identity has taken on many forms for many people outside of philosophy. Viewing the self from the perspective of fashion and self-expression, the self can be defined by the Kibbe body type one has, or the seasonal colour palette that best matches their skin tone. But what is the ‘self’? Like the concept of personal style, it seems that trying to set a universal definition removes the ‘personal’ aspect of the self.
It can seem pretty scary not knowing exactly who we are, and following the ‘rules’ of personal style can help provide some structure to this undefined space in our minds. We may feel in control of ourselves by following these guidelines, but that does not mean that we need to restrict ourselves to style rules and shopping algorithms. The self cannot be found in the advice and ‘hacks’ of other people and influencers. Rather, it can be found within one’s own life experiences. Your clothing does not denote your existence, it describes your life experiences. The ‘self’ is whatever you make it to be, whether it be basic or unconventional. Regardless, we should not be afraid to make ‘personal style’ as personal as possible. However, if you find these rules and shopping hacks to be helpful, don’t be afraid to use those either. Reflecting on who we are not only helps us figure out how we want to be perceived, but also helps us to really think about our personal needs and what might be wasteful. The journey to personal style is as unique as the individual, so take a step back and simply consider: in this moment, what makes you, you?
Featured Image Source: Pixabay
