For many of us, trends play a major role in our waking lives. As humans, it is only natural that we seek to imitate what others are doing, and what better way to establish that we belong than by staying up to date on what is trending? From snagging the newest sneakers to posting about the latest social media challenge, trends influence how we carry out our daily lives and present ourselves. But how do trends start, and how do they increase in popularity?
Freshman Bridget Guerra believes that idols and influencers play a major role in trends.
“I think trends are popularized when, for example, a celebrity, or someone a person looks up to partakes in the trend, or they wear it,” Guerra said.
However, Guerra does not see any trendsetters in her community.
“It’s most people who follow the trend, [but] they don’t necessarily make it [on] their own,” said Guerra.
“It just seems ridiculous because everybody looks the same”
These people account for the “early majority,” or a large portion of the mainstream who adopt trends that they have seen being advertised or worn by others.
Junior Kaitlyn Tonga believes that people follow trends based on their personal preferences.
“I personally like Jordans,” Tonga said. “Sometimes I follow shoe Instagram posts [or] pages, because they always come out with something new.”
Guerra feels that obsessively staying up to date with trends can be impractical and wasteful.
“When people constantly want to follow trend after trend after trend … you’re constantly buying more and more to get with the trend,” Guerra said. “Then, if that’s not popular anymore, you’re gonna go to the next clothing [trend] … It costs a lot of money.”
While some trends lose their appeal within months, others can become a staple in everyday fashion.
“Some of them can [last for a long time], and some can just [die] because … a better trend [comes along], or better types of challenges [come up],” Tonga said.
This situation can easily be observed through everyday items, from tools to vehicles. When a newer, faster, sleeker or more convenient version of a utility is produced, it automatically replaces the its older, less efficient parent.
However, sometimes fashion styles stay trending for a long time — some have even stayed in style since their creation. Mary Quant first brought skirts’ hemlines above the knees in the ‘60s. Despite sparking much controversy over its length, which was shorter than typically accepted at the time, it eventually secured its position in fashion and became a long-lasting trend that is still popular today. However, in contrast, clothes like low-rise jeans, or Juicy Couture sweatsuits, garnered much attention for a few years in the early ‘00s, but their appearances eventually dwindled on the streets, giving rise to new styles and brands, such as mom jeans and Anti-Social Social Club hoodies.
Sophomore Fiona Luk said she does not follow trends due to their lack of originality.
“It just seems ridiculous, because everybody looks the same,” Luk said. “If you’re trying to look for someone, there’s just no difference between them.”
Luk brings up blending in as a fault of following trends. However, Tonga believes this desire to conform with certain groups accounts for why many people follow trends.
“You’re like, ‘Oh, I have to wear that thing too,’” Tonga said. “[Things like] popularity and peer pressure from society to look a certain way [influence behaviors].”
At the end of the day, the consumers hold the power to determine what becomes a trend, and it is up to us to form our choices wisely.
