Unpopular Opinion: Following Trends Isn't Really That Bad

Who hasn’t had a fashion faux pas? Who hasn’t had a bad haircut we regretted or a bad color that ruined our hair?

 

Fashion aside, we've all been victims of poorly aged trends, and we cringe every time we remember things we’ve done and posted online that are now part of internet history and not easily removed. 

 

Trends come and go, and with each year, there is always a take on how “following the trend is a part of not fitting in the crowd instead of standing out” that trends are basically made for us to be a cog and indistinguishable, yet that’s not always the case. 

 

From the outside, people’s search for the next hot thing to follow, a new place to visit, new food to eat, etc, seems like a hive mind, something we all collectively decided to do at the same time without questioning it or even adding something to the mix; however, I’d argue that trends, in their shapes and sizes, are crucial and even promotes creativity and innovation. 

 

 

The Journey to Self-Discovery Requires Tries & Errors 

Unfortunately, not all people are born knowing who they are, what they like from the start; they require time and experimentation to fully see their own potential and become comfortable in their own skin. 

So they try something new, hop on the bandwagon of the latest fashion trend, dye their hair, even if the color isn’t flattering, who cares, and why should we let what people think about trend hopping and hivemind while we do things for ourselves? 

Even people who have their lives together get phases when they start questioning their decisions, likes, and tastes, so they go off the wagon and start acting out of character to find a sense of belonging, not to a certain group of people who fit the status quo, but to belong to oneself and find autonomy. 

 

Trends are Made, Repackaged for Us to Enjoy

Trends come in all shapes and forms. They are made, repackaged, and sent for us to enjoy and consume.

From polka dots to animal prints or bixie cuts, if technology keeps on moving forward and reinvented to make our lives easier and are made to high praise, then why are we being dismissive to trends? 

Any trend that has popped of the past decade, whether the mannequin challenge, harlem shake, skinny jeans, flannel shirts, etc, not everything has to be serious and is rigid. Life already has it’s fair share of turbulence and bumby roads, if following trends gives us a bit of serotonin, even if we look back it and feel cringe, it will be worth it, because we took the risk and had fun. 

 

Experimenting and doing trends is about getting out of our comfort zones, trying something we normally wouldn’t do  and conclude whether we like it or not. 

Because at the end, it's up to us to take the steps to know what makes us tick and what makes us feel the ick.