Are We Being Sucked In by 'Trends'

Article by BR Kellie

I was perusing the shops the other day, checking out what was in fashion, hoping for something spectacular to catch my eye for an upcoming party, when a piece of clothing came into view that made me smile. An A line button up denim skirt. It was like staring at a Jem doll (I had Roxy, the Misfits’ bass player), or a cassette tape, or a pair of denim dungaree shorts. 

I had to laugh a little, because this skirt is the hot new trend. It turns out they’re everywhere. All the fashion forward young things are snapping them up. But, the funny thing is, to me they’re not new and they’re not trendy. They’re something I saw at least two decades ago, and before that I saw a longer incarnation being worn by my mother and her friends. 

It reminded me of when bodysuits made a brief comeback and were fashionable again, and I flashed back to (vague) memories of trying to do their snaps up in bars after a few – not fun. Did I buy a bodysuit the second (for me) time round? Yes! They’re actually really flattering and are great when you need a top that won’t shimmy its way back up after being tucked into pants and skirts. But was I going to buy the skirt? The hot new thing?

The thing is, my latest shopping experience reminded me of what I’d previously been oblivious to but had begun to notice happening in the beauty world since joining Beauty Review. Trends come and go and so often they’re trumpeted as ‘hot’ and ‘new’, yet you have to ask, are they really? 

Strobing is hot right now, but as many makeup artists are quick to point out, it’s not a new technique, it’s just highlighting with a bit more oomph. Same as clown contouring, it’s been done for years by those working in film and theatre, as well as drag queens.  I look at the K-Dash girls all gussied up with loads of makeup, and yet their makeup reminds me of the original 1980s supermodel bombshells. Nothing is new, it’s just reinvented.

Even our beloved Wayne Goss (who I’m not sure if we’ve adopted as our virtual Beauty Review pet or if he is in fact a deity in the Beauty Review pantheon. Seriously my feelings for him swing between wanting to give those cheeks of his a good motherly affectionate squeeze to just only being able to sit and watch him in utter awe) feels the same way, and has something to say about it in this video:

Although I have to agree and disagree with him. I don’t believe that the cosmetic industry sets out to make us feel bad about ourselves, possibly because I believe that the only person who can make you feel bad about you, is you. If you feel someone is making you feel bad about yourself that is because you’ve given him or her that power (ok, I’m off my soap box, but must note that the only time I’d disagree with myself on this would be in extreme and persistent cases of bullying and abuse – but that’s a whole other soap box worthy rant). I do think though that the cosmetics industry do set out to show us an ideal, which we can choose to ignore or attempt. I do believe (and I’m pretty sure I’m right) that they do this and change up the ‘new’ trends regularly in order to make money. That’s called ‘business’.  If they didn’t do that they’d make next to no money, then they’d possibly have to stop producing makeup and we’d be left squeezing berries onto our face for a bit of colour. Have you seen the price of berries? I’d rather eat them thank you very much. 

Trends are like anything though, you can choose to try them or ignore them. No one’s forcing you to do anything. If skinny brows come back in will I be plucking my eyebrows like I was plucking a chicken? No. I would look ridiculous. Did I buy a contour palette back when heavy contouring is in? No. I know I’m not skilled enough and it would be a) a waste of money and b) I’d look like I’d fallen face first into a mud puddle. Was I tempted to? Heck yes!

I think the key to dealing with trends is knowing yourself. Knowing your capabilities, knowing what suits you, knowing what makes you look and feel good. I refuse to believe the cosmetics industry is an evil beast hell-bent on making me feel like a lesser human, but I do believe they hold the key to helping me enhance what I’ve got by constantly reintroducing me to ideas and ways of doing things I may not have known or may have forgotten about.

So no, I won’t be buying that A-line skirt, contour palettes can be left to those who know what they’re doing, but I will be purchasing some more highlighters… and that classic red lippy will always have a special place in my heart.

So what say you my darling hearts? Do you think we’re being sucked in? Have you been sucked in by a trend? Or are you a fan of knowing what suits you and sticking with it?