For years, each generation has brought something new to the table, fashion trends among them have been huge. Generation Z (1997-2012) fashion focuses on comfort, individuality along with trends from more recently and older trends from the early 2000’s.
Trends are formed among this generation now through social media in comparison to magazines or TV. Now majority of the time by using apps like Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok. All of these media platforms algorithms are able to determine what is trending therefore reaching out to more people allowing it to have more outreach. Celebrities and influencers also have a lot of impact on what will start trends. Because of these influencers brands become popular in instants whether it is through brand deals, certain hashtags used, wearing certain items of clothing or accessories or doing OOTD (outfit of the day) videos where people will showcase all the different aspects of peoples outfits.
“Whenever I post something on social media. I feel that the heat to put together a good fit,” senior Daniel McFarlane said.
Aesthetics start to form as well throughout trends and social media. Currently there are many different types of styles one person can choose from. Some examples would be Y2K style which is based off early 2000’s style, Clean Girl which is pretty minimalist with more neutral colors, streetwear includes cargo pants, hoodies and hats and Skater/Grunge type of look is described as a more baggy vibe with flannels, beanies and baggy pants. These are just some of the more popular style aesthetics among Gen Z although there are multiple.
With this new age of technology online shopping has made shopping in general so much easier in comparison to the last generation. With many stores someone could find in a mall they are now easily accessible through an online platform where all the shirts, dresses, pants, shoes, accessories and other products are available in one place with easy access.
“I see all these, super cute girls, and like street wear, and Y2K and just, all these super cute like baggy jorts and tank top grunge outfits, lots of chunky jewelry, slick back ponytails. And I think that that is such a cute look. So I feel like social media definitely has, like an influence on what I decide to buy. Because if you know, social media wasn’t a thing, I’d probably just be doing what I saw like in person, which is just, normal clothes, but it’s kind of nice to have some variety and to be able to span out from what a lot of people normally wear, to just kind of express myself in a different way, which is super cool that a lot of people are starting to pick up on new trends,” senior Ella Josephson said.
Thrifting has had a huge impact on Gen Z style with bringing the oldies back. Many stores such as Goodwill, Savers, Turn Style or Plato’s Closet to name a few are some of the more popular ones in the Stillwater area. These stores over the past couple of years have earned a huge profit with The secondhand apparel market and were able to grow 14% in just 2024 alone. As Gen Z begins to shift towards sustainability of clothing there are some cons for teens to engage in the trend.
“It’s a concern that people who have the money and wealth and resources to buy more expensive clothing, maybe take from the resources like places like Goodwill or Plato’s Closet for people who don’t necessarily have those resources. And also big enterprises like Goodwill, throw out a lot of their clothes as well, just because they can’t take millions of clothes every time someone donates them. So thrifting is not a perfect solution,” senior Jessie Dean said.
Fast fashion is also a huge way of fashion in the 2020’s as well with stores like Fashion Nova, Shein, H&M, Forever 21 and Brandy Melville are some of the bigger named brands although there are hundreds out there. When people are ordering clothes lots of the time they may not know where they are originally coming from. Many times they will come from sweatshops across typically in countries where child labor and slavery are endorsed. Often these clothes are made cheap and not for sustainability and will end up getting thrown out instead of reused and recycled.
While there are a multitude of ways for Gen Z to shop compared to the millennial generation before. It shows the progression of how clothes from that time can still be trendy today along with 30 years ago and along with how the rise of technology have affected the shopping and fast fashion world.
