There’s a difference between a trend and a personality, and lately that line feels almost nonexistent. What used to be a fun way to experiment with style has turned into something heavier, where aesthetics are shaping identity instead of just expressing it. In my video, I break down the trends that personally frustrate me, not just because of how they look, but because of what they represent. This isn’t about hating fashion. It’s about recognizing when people stop using style as a tool and start letting it define them entirely.
One of the clearest examples of this right now is streetwear, especially the recycled, fake Y2K version of it that’s everywhere. It’s honestly exhausting, not just for men but for women too. Every platform is flooded with the same outfits, the same silhouettes, the same “aesthetic” that’s supposed to feel nostalgic but ends up feeling forced. It’s no longer original street style, it’s a copy of a copy of a copy. And because it’s so oversaturated, it’s taken the individuality out of getting dressed. Instead of people developing their own look, it feels like everyone is pulling from the same exact formula, which makes fashion feel repetitive instead of expressive.
On the opposite end, there’s this growing trend of adults dressing like children, and that’s where things get even more layered. This isn’t just about a few playful pieces. It’s the full embrace of overly cutesy aesthetics, exaggerated femininity, and silhouettes that mimic styles historically worn by young girls. And when people continuously engage with and promote that look, it doesn’t just stay personal. It encourages the market to keep producing it. Fashion responds to demand, and right now, the demand is leaning into infantilization in a way that feels intentional, whether people realize it or not.
What makes this more complex is that infantilization isn’t new, especially for women. Historically, women have been pushed into roles and aesthetics that make them appear smaller, softer, and more childlike. But now, instead of just being placed onto us, it feels like we’re participating in it ourselves. Through aesthetics, hairstyles, cuts of clothing, and hyper-curated “cute” identities, there’s this cycle of self-infantilization that’s being reinforced online. And when that becomes normalized, it shifts the standard of what femininity is supposed to look like.
That’s also why the conversation around North West is so frustrating to me. She’s faced backlash for outfits that people claim are “inappropriate,” but the reality is, the pieces themselves aren’t the issue. The reason they feel inappropriate is because we’re used to seeing adults wear similar styles in a sexualized or stylized way. When a child wears them, it exposes the double standard. It’s not that her outfits are wrong, it’s that adults have blurred the lines so much that people don’t know how to separate age-appropriate style anymore. And instead of questioning that, people project it onto her, which is completely unfair.
Another piece of this is how we approach promiscuity in fashion. I’m not against showing skin or dressing confidently, but there needs to be intention behind it. Right now, it feels like a lot of people are defaulting to revealing clothing without any real sense of balance or purpose. There used to be an understanding of contrast, showing one thing while covering another, creating a look that felt styled rather than intentional. When that intentionality disappears, it stops feeling like confidence and starts feeling like imitation of whatever is trending.
At the core of all of this is the same issue. Trends are no longer just influencing style, they’re influencing identity, behavior, and even perception. Whether it’s the exhaustion of oversaturated streetwear, the rise of self-infantilization, or the confusion around what’s appropriate for different age groups, it all points back to the same thing. People are relying too heavily on aesthetics to define who they are. And in the process, individuality gets lost. Trends aren’t the problem, but losing yourself in them is. Style should reflect you, not replace you.
Screen Siren 