A Guide to Being a Trendsetter (Article

Fashion is all about feeling confident in our outfits and embodying our personality. This photoshoot and article present a mix of various styles which represent the models’ personalities.

Leather is back in! Skinny jeans are out. Double denim is in, so are knee-high boots. An extensive list of dos and don’ts develop every season, influencing what we decide to buy. These purchases are likely to only last through the season, purchases that instantly make us cringe when we look back on them. So, why do we fall for this cycle, when we have timeless pieces that make us feel empowered? Pieces that exist beyond the realm of trends.

We often hear about the concept of personal style, an outlet of expression that is unique to each person. It stems beyond your preferred clothing choices and is rather a process of discovery related to your identity, embodying the true power of fashion. It is a fascinating concept that we all strive to find. However, this is definitely easier said than done. With trends constantly circling in our society, it is difficult to distinguish what you like and what you think you should like. This raises the question of whether it is truly possible to have a personal style, untainted by the ever-changing fashion world of norms.

Fashion has been fueled by a rotation of trends, with fast fashion taking the lead, mass-producing a myriad of clothing articles in the attempt to keep you intrigued. With the increasing creations of microtrends by brands and influencers, we are led to believe that this constant consumption and rejection of clothing is what constitutes style and even happiness. However, just like with clothing, trends are not one size fits all. What one person finds flattering is not the same for another. Consequently, this desire to consume is being rightfully questioned.

Searching for your personal style is now a growing phenomenon. I know the rollercoaster it is, and I would be lying if I said that I knew my style exactly. I decided to conduct interviews on this topic, reaching out to Olusola Awosika (Sola), German Baraev and Jai Mohan (all photographed, styled by themselves), who

EMPOWERED

are much farther along in their process of fashion discovery than I am. I asked them about their personal style and how trends influenced them. Although their styles all differ greatly, they appeared to have very similar opinions. The concept of silhouettes is one that was important to all. As aforementioned, trends often overlook the individual experience of fashion, assuming that they are for everyone. However, the fit of an outfit is unique to each person, as indicated by Sola, she chooses styles to enhance her height, bringing in shorter tops, longer bottoms and platforms. Sola emphasizes the personal aspect of fashion, saying that “seeing people break the trends made me think, maybe I can do that too”. “Especially up until 2017 where white, very slim, tall, lean, models were the face of fashion”, it was difficult to use fashion as a form of expression when this beauty standard was not met. This lack of inclusivity for other races and bodies makes it difficult for those who do not fall under that umbrella to feel comfortable in clothing. This issue was also brought up by German, who drew inspiration from the super skinny, heroin-chic look, with icons like Hedi Slimane. Nevertheless, he quickly realized that this look could not be replicated by him as the body type comes with it and what was important was pulling influences from that style and learning to incorporate it.

Having a personal style often comes with the rejection of fashion norms. Maison Margiela’s split-toe tabi shoes have risen in popularity, becoming iconic to the brand. For German, these are a generator of confidence. “I don’t know many guys my age who wear super high heels and I think that that’s something that really sets me apart.” He highlights how they can trigger emotions of empowerment. “When I walk down the street and I’m like ‘these people are looking at me, I’m looking sick!’” The uniqueness factor creates an exclusive feeling which embodies the power of fashion.

Trends, however, are not always a bad thing.

For Jai, trends were what initially got him into fashion. The skinny jeans, Chelsea boots look that dazzled the male fashion industry was what got him started. As his style progressed, he prioritized timeless pieces and now uses trends as a form of inspiration rather than something to copy. This combination is what makes him feel the most confident. For example, balaclavas are now seen on celebrities like Justin Bieber, A$AP Rocky, and Jared Leto. This new fashion item intrigued Jai, and he says it’s“amazing how versatile they can be, whether you get a knit one, a fleece one” they can be adapted to each person’s taste. Sola had a similar approach as “trends can be extremely useful sometimes, things are trendy for a reason.” Pieces like trench coats and Dr. Martens can be styled in an infinite number of ways and can be worn far past a season. “I styled those docs all throughout secondary school, those were my school shoes” and yet Sola still considers Dr. Martens to be a part of her personal style. Trends are thus This inspiration is not limited to clothing. Much influence can also be drawn from art and music. Sola found much of her style in R&B music, fascinated by how “artists look like their music.” This pattern appeared in artists ranging from Khalid to Gunna and Megan Thee Stallion, whose fashion styles mimicked their music styles.

The common consensus is that inspiration is key. The aim should not be to replicate looks but to see how to incorporate them to fit with your own style. This is a process of trial and error, heavily reliant on experimentation. While it is easy to crave the newest collections, once you find what works for you fashion can take on an extremely powerful role in shaping your identity.

CONFIDENCE

Models - Camilla Mina, Murph Zhang, Alina Zhang, Olusola Awosika, German Baraev, Jai Mohan Photographers - Eugenie Sere, Amber Bennett, Stefano Blumberg