Trends may seem like a modern concept, but they have existed throughout time. People have always strived to be part of these trends and assimilate with the people they look up to.
We gain inspiration from Pinterest and Instagram, see news articles about outfits worn by Kendall Jenner or Paris Hilton strolling down Hollywood Boulevard, deeming them as “iconic” or the “trend of the summer.” While these are more short-term, we can see the bigger and longer-lasting changes like overall clothing shape, fabrics, and even body shapes drastically develop over the years.
I think these big changes come from the perception of one’s status and the continued striving to be “better” than the average population.
These changes are easily identified from the fashion in the 16th century. During the Renaissance era, small, tiny waists suited with beads and gemstones were paired with a full layered skirt. This type of bodice was made to show off a woman’s hips and was popularized by royalty and wealthy aristocrats, most notably Queen Elizabeth I. Directly after the popularization of this style, a new smaller and smoother shape was introduced by the royals and quickly picked up by the aristocracy.
I believe that this drastic change comes from the shift in accessibility of the ball gown style of dress and the rich wanting to distance themselves from those “beneath them.”
As the gown became popular and normalized within the wealthy, the style soon entered the closets of the middle and lower classes. Before long, this style of dress could be seen all around England. This was displeasing to the aristocrats, as they no longer stood out when compared to the lower classes. So, the style changed again, leaving the lower class with an “outdated” silhouette. The royals and the rich wanted no chance of being similar to the poor.
This perspective has lasted through time and is still relevant today. In the 2010s, there was a huge trend of BBL and a thicker body shape for women, which stood out compared to the skinnier shape of the 2000s. This shape was popularized by the Kardashians, and in 2015, there were 320,000 procedures performed alone.
This pear-shaped body was all the rage and the ideal shape for women. But this changed after the introduction of drugs like Ozempic. Our standards have jumped drastically, and the skinny craze is in. We can see celebrities get their BBL removed, and their body weight drop. In a time of high grocery prices and the lack of high income for the general population, being this skinny isn’t in the cards for most people. They can’t afford to get their BBL’s and fillers removed, and people can’t afford Ozempic or even a gym membership. Once again, the rich want to distinguish themselves, leaving everyone to “outdated trends.”
The cycle will continue through time as long as we choose to maintain a social hierarchy, with the rich continually striving towards economic polarization.
