Microtrend Danger
The rise and fall of trends in the fashion world is normal, expected, and inevitable. However, over this past year, the rate at which looks have come in and out of style is quicker than ever, with certain silhouettes looking dated less than a month after becoming popular. These are known as microtrends. According to forecast analyst Mandy Lee, the trend cycle used to be divided into five stages: introduction, rise, acceptance, decline, and obsolescence. These traditionally occurred up to every twenty years. Recently, this five-step cycle has been shortened drastically to last three to five years (with microtrends spanning less than six months). This has numerous negative effects, from perpetuating a lack of fashion individuality on the less critical end of the scale and exacerbating climate change on the extremely critical end. This is partially due to the rise of social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram that are saturated with clothing content such as hauls, fit-pics, and shopping tips. Our feeds are overflowing with fashion-related posts, prompting constant consumerism. Additionally, quarantine did not help the situation, as people spent their endless hours in isolation consuming social media, online shopping, or posting fit-pics. All of this further contributed to the normalization of overconsumption and the pressure to always have something new. While there are endless microtrends that came and went over the past year, here are five pieces that stand out among the masses.
Let’s start with the holy grail of microtrends: the House of Sunny dress. When Kendall Jenner wore the dress last summer, it had already sold out twice and the brand was accepting pre-orders for its third drop. In the months to follow, every influencer and their mother flaunted those wavy green lines on their social media platforms. Dupes were readily available on sites like Shein, Amazon Fashion, and AliExpress, making the pattern accessible to all at an affordable price—if you ignore the environmental havoc it costs in the long run. Inevitably, once it felt as though everybody had it, no one wanted it. This dress, while it is actually a cute garment, in my opinion, happens to represent everything terrible about the current fashion industry.
To continue to wear your House of Sunny dress, there are a couple of steps you could take. Wear a baggy shirt over it so it looks like a cute midi skirt, cut it into a mini dress or skirt and shirt set, or pair it with your favorite timeless shoes. Or throw bleach over it to add a unique pattern. Play around to elongate this dress’s life.
It pains my heart to acknowledge that the contrast-stitch patchwork tops that were so popular last April and May are now dated. This look rose out of a quarantine desire to upcycle old garments and DIY shirts at home. To me, it represented a rise in crafting and sustainability. Numerous small, independent designers were producing hand-made, one-of-a-kind garments out of thrifted materials. Unfortunately, the fast fashion industry got a hold of this trend.
This look can still easily be worn if styled correctly. If you have one of these tops, pair it with an interesting and unique pair of pants or skirt to let your unique style shine. Or throw on a big t-shirt over a patchwork dress for a comfy but chic look.
For the months of June and July, my entire FYP was filled with close-up shots of ring-studded hands. These rings skyrocketed to fame right around the rise of beaded necklaces and phone chains, both of which also spoke to the popularity of quarantine crafting. Colorful and chunky rings made of acrylic, clay, or plastic dawned the acrylic-clad hands (often holding Wildflower cases) of every influencer alive. While brands like La Manso and Mon Cher Moi pioneered this playful trend, it was extremely easy to get your hands on a cheap look-alike (whether through a fast fashion website, a small Instagram platform, or by making them yourself with clay!)
Please do not get rid of your chunky pink rings. They are still cute and wearable, even if they are not at their peak popularity. This trend pulls from the colorful early 2000s aesthetic, and if these rings were popular 20 years ago and are again popular today, there is a good chance that they will be popular in the near future. So, if you feel dated wearing them, save them! You will thank me later.
Last April, in the peak of quarantine depression, I made the decision to order a floral printed dress from Omighty. I am not proud of this, but it was the retail therapy I needed as the reality of COVID set in. By the time the dress arrived in California five weeks later, I was already weary. Launching the y2k, pastel-saturated Coconut Girl aesthetic, this dress has been worn by everyone on TikTok in the past year (guilty as charged). While it is a cute basic, the print is already oversaturating my social media and is beginning to feel slightly tacky.
While this dress is still cute and can be worn proudly, its eventual demise is inevitable. To extend its life as long as possible, pair it with funky accessories. Try tall boots, collared shirts, or offbeat cardigans. Pair it with a vintage find to offset the ephemeral trendiness with something evergreen.
Honestly, I am putting this shirt on the list preemptively to stop myself from purchasing it. Gimaguas (along with another Spanish brand, Paloma Wool) has gained a massive following in the past year and has produced many über-popular pieces that I guarantee you have seen on your FYP. Gimaguas has some beautiful pieces, and I hope the brand can sustain its popularity. However, as is the case with most microtrends, its lifespan is inevitably limited.
Again, pairing this piece with a unique bottom will make your fit more timeless and chic. Try an interesting pair of cargo pants or an adorable thrifted mini skirt. Wear this top with pride this summer. But, if you, like me, are still on the fence about purchasing, I would say skip it. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Please do not come away from this article feeling as though you have to donate all your trendy pieces. These garments can (and should) still be worn styled in an interesting manner. And let this article be a reminder that you do not have to purchase every trendy piece the moment it comes in style. There is a chance that the look will be out of style by the time it arrives from the warehouse. Take a step back and a deep breath before impulse-buying a piece that’s bound to come crashing down as fast as it rose in popularity. Not only will you help save the planet, but you will also have more intriguing and unique outfits. Win win!