New York City, the fashion capital of the world. The kind of
place where you have to make even your comfiest outfits cute or you feel
self-conscious. Whether your style is chic and fashion-forward or relaxed and
edgy, New York City seems to have a whole lot of people who seem to have the
same unique vision that you do. Even living in a small town I noticed this
becoming a problem: no matter how different your “you” style was, you would see
other individuals who looked as if they were going for the exact same vibe. My
question is this: how do we remain a one-of-a-kind when everything different
about us is becoming mainstream?
I don’t
know about you guys, but I always considered my personality and my interests as
slightly quirky. I tend to be a combo of hipster, nerdy and fashionista. It
works somehow, I swear. Anyway, I enjoy videogames, both old and
under-appreciated music, records, Disney and superheroes (I tend to be more of
a Marvel girl as well). On top of this, I somehow also tend to enjoy the more
mainstream girly things, including makeup, fashion and the classic Audrey
Hepurn. These have obviously been interests that have developed throughout my
entire life. Do any of these things sound familiar? It seems like all of these
special topics that I thought made my interests unique have become mainstream
in every way possible. In other words, what I’m finding now is that a huge
challenge is facing all of us: being different is now considered generic. I’m
therefore finding it even more difficult to attempt to be original, seeing as
the majority of my interests have become mainstream phenomena. Everything we
thought we knew about “hipster style,” “boho,” “superhero nerds” and “cute
girls who secretly like videogames” is disappearing into mainstream concepts.
So here’s
an even bigger question: what do we do now? After a long and thorough thought
process before posting this article, I finally came to a concrete conclusion:
Screw it! If everything we do in an attempt to be different is getting
classified as mainstream, then who cares about labels? I say dress how you
want, be interested in what you want, do what every person should be aiming to
do with their style. This way, whatever makes you the happiest and brings you
the most joy is going to become your “style.” I’m pretty sure that’s how most
types of styles were created in the first place! Instead of trying to fit into
an existing type of style or a combo of different styles in an attempt to avoid
being mainstream, just take all of your favorite things and combine them to
make your own style, a new style. And if anyone calls you mainstream for what
you enjoy, then who cares? If it’s a part of your style, then there’s a reason
why you love it.
Peace and love, Emmy
