The Power of Your Individualism
Graphic by Isa Delgado
I have spent years trying to distinguish what I actually like to wear from what is a trend.
Before I say anything else, I want to preface that people can wear whatever they want to wear. Nonetheless, how I dress is my favorite way to express creativity on a day-to-day basis, so I embarked on a journey on how to do that while being completely myself.
When I was a freshman in college, I began to experiment with my outfits. Consequently, I flopped a lot. I still flop. On the bright side, I figure out what works for me and what does not.
I learned I enjoy wearing funky but functional pieces. Instead of buying into trends I like right away, I wait to see if I will still like the trend a few months later. I now dress for myself in a way that allows me to show up as I am while reflecting how I live.
About two years ago, I realized I was not dressing for myself – I was dressing to perform. I would wear clothes that made me seem “cool.” How I got dressed every morning reflected a bigger problem of conventionality.
It was not just how I was getting dressed. I was chasing to fit every beauty standard I could.
Recently, I have seen videos on TikTok about weight loss, glowing up, Looksmaxing and how to debloat. The app, while it does have a good side, perpetuates an obsession with conventional attractiveness.
The importance placed on conventional beauty leads to the assumption that everyone has to act the same as well. It is also a tool of capitalism used to feed overconsumption.
Fecal Matter, a fashion designing duo made up of Hannah Ros Dalton and Steven Raj Bhaskaran, tries to fight conformity in the fashion industry. Their mission is to express authenticity and inspire others to do the same with their avant-garde aesthetic.
Fecal Matter existing as they are is a radical act, Dalton and Bhaskaran said at Dover Street Market in Paris in September.
As much as I see TikTok reinforcing conformity, I see content fostering conversations about the toxicity of beauty standards and conformative behavior.
“You lose your humanity and your personhood chasing after beauty,” said TikTok user @moonboynewsletter. She goes on to say letting go of beauty standards allows hobbies and skills to shine.
An outward expression of self, such as fashion and makeup, is fun and involves creativity. However, looks should be the least important aspect of a person.
How many narratives of self-acceptance do people need to see in order to internalize it?
One example is the movie-musical adaptation of “Wicked.” The story follows Elphaba, a green witch who discovers what makes her different is what makes her powerful. The New York Times recently published “Julia Fox’s Guide to Being a Freak.” The article delves into Fox’s struggle with conformity and normalcy.
In truth, bias toward what is considered to be normal impacts everyone negatively. Societal norms make it incredibly difficult to be yourself, and that is why individuality is powerful.
Embracing individuality is a form of protest.