How Social Media Is Shaping the Way We Dress
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Inspo in Your Feed: What Social Media Gets Right
Let me start by saying I genuinely love that we live in a world where outfit inspiration is just a scroll away. There’s something magical about seeing how someone halfway across the world styled a vintage blazer or turned a thrifted slip dress into an everyday look.
Social media has become this incredible, instant fashion show we all get to be a part of.
I remember when we all used to tune in to shows like What Not to Wear or watch red carpet specials just to see what people were wearing. Now the “celebrities” are everyday people.
I’ve discovered amazing small shops, thrift accounts, styling hacks, and inspiring creators who’ve made me fall in love with clothes again. Sometimes a 15-second video is all it takes to get me excited to dig through my closet and put together something different. That’s the beautiful part.
When the Scroll Becomes a Spiral
But here’s the thing I didn’t realize was happening; slowly, my feed started to influence more than just my inspiration. It started influencing my self-doubt.
I’d scroll past dozens of perfect outfits, polished capsule wardrobes, and trending aesthetics and I’d start to question everything in my closet.
Should I only wear neutrals now? Is bold color out or back in? Are my jeans the wrong cut?
We have always changed with the fashion tides. That’s part of the fun. I wore bell bottoms in the 70s, swapped them for straight-leg Lee jeans in the 80s, transitioned into Britney Spears low-riders in the 90s, and eventually made my way to high-waisted everything. There’s nothing wrong with changing it up, trying new things, or enjoying different phases of style.
But back then, the influence came slowly. Trends moved in seasons. I’d flip through the Seventeen and Glamour once a month and pick up a few new ideas. Now? Trends move in scrolls. I can see a hundred curated closets before I finish my coffee and scone (yes, I eat scones).
The influence is constant. The content is endless. A firehose of must-haves, dupes, and mini trends that vanish in weeks. That loud but subtle message: “You need to buy what she’s wearing. You need to look more like this.” All just trying to keep up—even if looking like that influencer isn’t truly you.
That’s when the scroll becomes a spiral. And that’s when we forget we were never meant to keep up. We were meant to dress up.
The Algorithm Isn’t Your BFF (But It Thinks It Is)
Let’s be honest! The algorithm doesn’t know the real you. It doesn’t know your mood today, your body, or that today’s plans involve a work-from-home morning or a coffee run. It doesn’t know you’re not in the mood to dress up, that you’re having a bad hair day, or that your feet are swollen and you can’t squeeze into those new shoes for a last-minute girl’s night.
It just knows what’s trending.
Social feeds are great for inspiration—we’ve all saved that outfit we loved. But while the feed may suggest we all need to dress like clean-girl influencers in flowy neutrals, the truth is not everyone feels their best without some pizazz. Some of us feel alive with more color, more texture, in sequins, or cowboy boots, or mismatched patterns that make no sense and yet all the sense at once.
We’ve all gotten caught up in what I call The Closet Comparison Trap. Trying to fit other people’s looks. Buying things we don’t love or passing up items we adore. Forgetting to ask ourselves: what do I actually want to say with my clothes?
At 54, I want my clothes to make me feel like I’m floating. I want them to make me feel ethereally sexy. I want to look powerful, gentle and wise. I want to look both unbothered and interested.
These days, I choose clothes that feel good on my body and in my soul. Not because they’re trending. Not because they’ll look good in a post. But because they feel like me.
Moon Loop Tip: Wear the Damn Thing
You want the fringe bag? Sling it. The bold lip? Swipe it on. That gaudy inherited brooch? Pin it on. That thrifted sequined blazer you’ve been saving for the right moment? My friend, this is the moment. If something catches your eye and makes you smile, don’t second guess it. Don’t wait for an occasion. Don’t wait for a trend to circle back. If it lights you up, wear it.
Final Thought: Scroll for Inspiration, But Dress for You
We can love the creativity of social media without letting it tell us who we should be. We can be mindful of how it’s shaping us. We can scroll for fun, shop with intention, and get dressed like the main character we actually are.
So, here’s your gentle reminder from an old wise ethereal woman: You’re not falling behind. You’re not out of style. You’re not too much, or not enough. You are right on time. In whatever outfit you damn well please.