Urban Dictionary explains originality as “probably the hardest thing to be nowadays.” This difficulty can be applied to the fashion world and trying to stand out amongst millions of others trying to accomplish the same feat. With the continuation of the hipster movement and the eclectic fashion styling of celebrities and personalities such as Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry and the likes of them, it seems as though everyone is trying to be as original and creative with their fashion. Celebrities are trying to be more daring and take unusual risks on the red carpet. Fashionistas in the making update their blogs with creative pictures of their representations of originality. Lookbook.nu is full of photographs of edgy teens, young adults and older fashion lovers alike “competing” to get the most “hypes” or likes for their ingenious crafting of personal style.
As the need to stay different and not conform to the style trends forecasted for us, the populace has become a collective group of individuals. The need to be free of the restraint of trends has fashion patrons scouring local and high-end thrift stores for signature pieces to set them apart from the others in the populace. Being normal and playing it safe is basically fashion suicide in 2012.
As fashion designers recycle material from previous eras to reinvent looks, the amount of originality is continually detracted, so how are we to say that we are really being original? It goes alongside the ironic dilemma of the hipster subculture. We try to be so different that we are all being the same by trying to be different at the same time. Plenty of earthy and eclectic stores cater to this such as Urban Outfitters, Free People and Anthropologie, as well as H&M and Forever 21. We end up all looking the same by shopping at the same stores. It ends up totally defeating the purpose of originality.
In the end, originality shouldn’t be a trend. It should be what the definition entails. It is the ability to think independently and creatively. If we are all taking bits off of each other and all trying to be different, then are we truly being original?
Beautiful & so true. People should just embrace themselves as individuals.
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