In today’s fashion landscape, personal style is often sacrificed to fit into the prevailing aesthetic of the moment.
This aesthetic, not only concerned with trends of the moment, is also integral to Queen’s University culture, manifesting in the classic “Queen’s girl” look. The common saying goes, “all Queen’s girls look the same.”
This standard starts with being white, blonde, and thin, often dressed in Aritiza and sporting an expensive shoe. While there are some aspects that can’t be achieved, dressing within the trends is a sure way to blend into this exclusive image.
The look defining many Queen’s students has become a symbol of overconsumption. Instead of considering timeless pieces or individualized fashion choices, students are driven by what’s trendy in the moment, even if these trends are fleeting.
In the era of social media and heightened consumerism, fashion trends have become more specific than ever before. Gone are the days when fashion cycles lasted for seasons or even years.
There are no longer resurgences of simply 90s fashion, but rather a piece from a specific designer from the 90s. Now, a particular item of clothing might be “in” for a matter of weeks before it’s discarded.
Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok are filled with influencers and fashion-forward individuals who showcase the latest “it” items, which can be as precise as a particular brand or item of clothing. At one point, it seemed every girl on campus was wearing Aritzia’s Melina pants paired with an Urban Outfitters corset top.
Generally, the quickness of microtrends and the overturning of one “in” style for the next can be accessible through fast fashion—inexpensive and quick manufacturing that allows consumers to see something online and have it in their hands in a matter of days.
On-campus trends are different as they’re ultra-specific and, for the most part, expensive. Clothing that was once an investment, intended to last for multiple seasons or years, is now treated as a fast-fashion item, discarded the moment it no longer fits into the ever-changing campus aesthetic.
This isn’t a benign issue. Unstainable clothing is produced from materials like constant cycling of clothing is actively contributing to environmental issues whilst we’re amid an environmental crisis.
It’s difficult to resist succumbing to trends, especially for those who may not naturally fit into the popular looks on campus. Being able to put on a pair of Birkenstock Boston clogs and Agolde jeans may be the ticket to being on the in, but it doesn’t justify the cycle of overconsumption it endorses.
We’re not made to keep up with these trends and neither is the environment.
Sarah is a fifth-year Concurrent Education student and The Journal’s Opinions Editor.
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