The anti-aesthetic aesthetic is taking over. Post C19, minimalism hit the streets running, with lounge wear and athleisure being the go to for the years we spent inside. The lack of runways, high streets and fashion events left us in a fashion-inspiration vacuum. Coming out the other end, we were met with a slew of micro aesthetics, the clean girl, the coquette, cowboy core and Y2K which has never truly left the scene but now we’re in a new realm.
From marketing campaigns to how we use social media to how we shop, theres a sense of free-for-all, A ‘do what you want before it’s all over’ energy is creeping in. Being unapologetically self indulgent is the move, putting your energy into the things you care about, abandoning the idea of the ‘aesthetic’ is the new aesthetic but that authenticity isn’t something you can learn from TikTok, this one’s not a trend you can type into Pinterest for inspiration.
Curating your own sense of style, from the outfits you put together, the hair styles you choose is a great beginning point. Ask yourself what influences your outfits and why? what aspects of the way others dress do you like? it could be their confidence or the way they style an outfit that seems so everyday, to look so distinctive.
Misfires are the whole point. Putting on an outfit that sucks at first, then adding and subtracting until it works is all apart of the fun of curated chaos. Similarly, Dopamine dressing involves dressing in a way that brings you joy, putting a colour or piece on just because they make you happy
Although these terms are different they both demand you let go of every fashion rule you’ve ever heard. Fill your bag up, let it be mishapen, add badges, charms and chains, mix metals, wear pink and red, navy and black. Renounce gender, look at shopping as a buffet of unregulated options. Have the confidence to wear what you want and keep that confidence up there after you walk away from the mirror, carry that confidence down the street because thats half the outfit.
The skin you’re in, is in! Down with the summer body, the dad bod and slim thick. From here on out we’re appreciating the bodies and skin that got us where we are, its tough and it deserves to be celebrated, show it off.
What Caitlin Says 
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