Self Expression: The Rise of Indie Fashion
Photo by Aeryn Hart
This is the time for self expression. Through art or music, dance or socialization, we must break through the depressing mold of 2021 to remember who we used to be. But this past year, with its trials and tribulations, has changed many of us, often for the better. We are non-conformist. We break boundaries. And, for us members of Generation Z, this can be shown through our fashion sense.
Indie fashion, as defined by a The Ladies Fashion Resources article, is “...any style of fashion that is unique and created with an independent mind.” This mindset, particularly one of individuality, is rampant in modern culture–one may say it is our duty to express ourselves and contribute to the public discourse. Inspiration for these expressions comes from many sources, including VSCO, TikTok, and Instagram, but only the inspiration baron of these sites, Pinterest, actually predicts the future of fashion.
In a recent site update, Pinterest Business released its predictions for 2021 trends, including a segment on indie fashion. From its numbers, indie is on the rise; data like “21x increase in searches year over year for indie nails” or “6x increase in searches year over year for butterfly eye makeup” help its analytics.
“Take it from Gen Z: indie isn’t what it used to be. Their version is defined by bold-colored crop tops, baggy jeans and emoji-inspired makeup and nails. When it comes to beauty, 2021 will be about feelin’ cute,” reads the section intro, spelled out in pink and yellow lettering.
Much of this article is meant for Pinners, a division of the workforce devoted to populating Pinterest with pins. For students, however, this inspiration to divert from the everyday comes with the restrictions of school and home life. But according to TheStyleWright, students can express more than their fashion sense with their clothing.
“From your beliefs to your life experiences, self-expression through style gives you a way to highlight your quirks and traits and share the parts you’re happy for others to see.”
Some common items include nature-inspired accessories, bright colors, little shirts, big pants, statement makeup, and unusually-patterned clothes (including purses). These items are tailored to a person’s individual “aesthetic” and compliment their personality.
No matter your chosen style, there’s always a way to incorporate indie fashion in. For goth or dark alt styles, try big cargo pants or dozens of barrettes. For dark/light academia or preppy styles, pair a pleated skirt with bright socks and Mary Janes, or take a risk and drape a crocheted shawl over your bright green tank top.
Indie fashion may not be for everyone, and that’s okay. In the end, no trend should change who you are nor how you express yourself, but if you’re interested in changing up your style just a bit, then Google and Pin to your heart’s content.