Whether we are willing to admit it or not, inside all of us is a burning desire to belong. It’s an unwavering and undeniable need to fit in amongst our peers. Even if we pride ourselves in our individuality or pretend to be the outlier in a crowded room, deep down we all want to be accepted and received with open arms. 

While it’s true that this desire may be some innate form of human nature, most of it is manufactured by companies and corporations — those that wish to prey upon the insecurities and standards that they created to sell their products in the first place. 

But it’s not just corporations. The algorithms of our favorite apps ensure that we are fed a consistent and tireless helping of advertisements and fast-moving fads. 

Call it a beauty standard, call it a trend cycle — it’s all the same. These unattainable metrics compel a sense of displacement — our society, our generations, and even our own bodies, especially when they are not unattainable to all but definitely to us. 

To cope, we find ourselves purchasing articles of clothing and trendy products that wouldn’t typically catch our attention. It’s an act of conformity, and we’re all guilty. 

Partaking in trends is nothing to be ashamed of. This isn’t a lecture aimed at bashing people, especially women, for enjoying things liked by many. Odds are, if that many people like it, it’s probably for a reason. 

The problem is, we lean so far into the opinion of others — what’s cool and what’s not, which trends are in and which are out — that we lose sight of our own tastes, our own likes and dislikes. We decide we don’t like the way our hair parts itself naturally because “side parts are out.” Like, what does that even mean? 

It’s a lesson we will keep learning the hard way. We will keep purchasing that teeny tiny top we saw on some girl on Tik Tok, and when it arrives and inevitably looks awful on our body type, is cheaply and unethically made or is see-through, it will sit in the back of our closets until it finds its home in one of the places trends go to die — Goodwill or a landfill. 

Or, it fits and looks fantastic, but we don’t feel like ourselves when we wear it out. Plus, two other people are probably wearing something similar.

Whenever the internet crazes over another product or clothing item, the cycle continues at our expense. We fall for it every time. 

It’s hard to be different. The last thing most people want to do is stand out in a crowd. So, it’s understandable that trends catch fire and burn out at such a fast pace. If it’s popular and provides the illusion of status, people will participate. Especially if they think it makes the unattainable within their grasp. 

But, trend-cycling is not sustainable to our self esteems, our wallets or our environment. It’s more exciting to be an individual and wear what we feel good and comfortable in, what’s already in our closet. It’s much cheaper, too.