Feeling Overwhelmed by the Fashion Industry & Social Media? Me Too
Recently, I have been feeling very overwhelmed by the fashion industry. This feeling stems from social media and the world around me. So many issues in the industry, from inclusion to sustainability, get pushed under the rug or simply lied about. While I have been searching for an internship, it is merely impossible to find one that fits my morals and qualifications. It seems like everything is a lose-lose situation; we’re always giving something up to fit into a mold. Especially when it comes to social media. I have been off social media for a while (TikTok for years now) and recently redownloaded Instagram for school purposes.
Getting back on the app made me realize how much I was missing out on. I had no idea what was trending, hadn’t seen recent runway shows, and felt uncomfortable posting about my life for somewhat random people to see. It didn’t take long for me to go down the rabbit hole of scrolling through unrealistic lifestyles that are seemingly realistic. Watching these fashion influencers display their amazing closet and unique personal styles honestly sent me into a horrible mindset. Expensive designer clothes, rare vintage finds, things I wish I had, an overwhelming assortment of different styles. If this is what fashion is supposed to look like, why don’t I have clothes like that? Why doesn’t my style perfectly reflect my interests and personality? How can I accomplish a fabulous, individual style within budget and sustainable restraints? It sounds silly now, but when so much pressure is put on our outward appearance and personal style, especially in fashion, especially when we’re trying to brand ourselves to fit a mold that we don’t even understand, we feel lost. I feel lost in all of the trends, influencers, designers, lifestyles, goals, and dreams thrown into our faces daily by professors, friends, family, and strangers on the internet. I constantly have to remind myself that social media is not real. My negative outlook towards social media does not apply to every fashion influencer, but it’s important to wisely choose the people you follow. Set a boundary with yourself to avoid mindless scrolling. As a student and young person, I have learned I can only focus on what’s right in front of me and what I can do in the moment. I can’t go out and buy a new wardrobe, but I can rethink the styling of pieces I already have. I can ask my professors for professional industry advice and my friends/family for personal advice. We have all experienced similar emotions and seasons in life. Give yourself some grace; it will go a long way if you don’t feel good enough. If you put in as much effort as possible without burning yourself out, that’s the best you can do, and if you’re feeling burnt out, remember why you wanted to be in the fashion industry, to begin with.
