#InstaFashion

     From The Catwalk to The Sidewalk: How Social Media Changed Fashion

    
      There’s a reason why I love anything vintage/retro. From the jazzy silhouettes of the 20s, to the colourful fashion of the 70s, every era highlights and magnifies a certain facet of a woman. Imagine, a woman can transition from being a beautiful swan, to a pin-up girl, to a free hippie---and does so beautifully. The woman is a chameleon that changes colour along with the change of times. However, I have observed that this present chameleon is changing colour faster than it should.

      Instagram, the alluring platform of colourful squares, is filled with designer objects, flatlays of shopping hauls, and unwrapped gifts that apparently “must be posted online”. The burgeoning world of online shops, also presents an opportunity to consume fashion in just the click of a button. Those “must-have” ripped denim jeans, Birkenstocks, and that Naked 3 palette you’ve always wanted, can now be purchased from the comforts of your own home. In this sartorial digi-space, fashion is reduced to mere 2D objects. Contemplating on buying a certain article of clothing is done by checking the Item Description: measurements, colour, etc. In essence, words and numbers prompt you to click the Add to Cart button. It is sad to say that retail therapy is not as it used to be. I think that the catalyst of such a change would be the fashion community’s large appetite to be trendy, to fit in. Most people order things online because they just need to have that item that will make them belong; that will somehow level up their “cool factor”. Celebrities posts photos of their Valentino Rockstud heels, and suddenly, everyone joins the bandwagon. And in a snap, online stores have Class-A replicas of the design, all wrapped up in an affordable price. If famous personalities did not share their shoes on social media, would the shoes still become popular? The Valentino Rockstud designs have been here for quite a while. And yet, the masses have only taken notice because social media says these are the “shoes of the moment”. Yes, it is great for the brand that their designs have become more popular. But, does this mean that the dissemination of fashion is now anchored on social media?

      Aside from shopping habits, trends have also been rushing on the fast lane. The grand scope of trends is continuously presented to us through different forms. Runway images, backstage videos, and styling tips are being hurled at us by fashion websites such as Style.com, Harper’s Bazaar, and WhoWhatWear. I won’t be a hypocrite. To be honest, I love browsing through these websites because it’s fun to learn new things and to stay on the pulse of fashion. But, I also have to admit that the pulse beats faster and faster, until I no longer have the ability to stay in sync. There are just too many sources throwing similar titles: “5 Summer Dresses You Need Now”, “The Perfect Red Lipstick for You”, “How to Get that Perfect Brow”. Everything is for us to stay “fresh” and to look “current”. Every day on the web, hundreds of articles enter this race towards the realization of ideals. The articles paint a picture of how the world should be. These magazines and websites may have the paintbrush, but we have the choice to move on to the next painting.

      My reflection on this subject made me think of fashion as food. You must cut it up. Slice it into bits. Chew slowly to savor the craftsmanship, the details, the fabric, the cut, and the color. Swallow and prepare for the next bite. Basically, fashion is not something to be consumed as a whole. It is our duty to collect and select. Devour all the information you want from Instagram, Style.com, and Harper’s Bazaar; but, digest only the pieces that you understand, the pieces that you feel will complete your being.

      Fashion is for chameleons who transform into the colors they wish, and not into the colors that society dictates. So learn to slow down or log off once in a while, because ultimately, the only person who will feel cold in ripped jeans is YOU. 

My pros and cons as regards fashion and social media: