Not everything has to be an aesthetic. Apps like Pinterest have forced this aesthetically pleasing lifestyle onto us, which in reality is just not feasible. And nowadays the amount of different aesthetics is getting out of control, like what is “office siren” and “frazzled English woman?” Don’t get me wrong, I know people go on apps like Pinterest to see pretty pictures, and I also love scrolling on Pinterest, but not everyone has to have an aesthetic they stick to. You can just dress how you want. It’s important to buy things because you like them not because they’re trending. Trends come and go, and I know that it’s just not practical or affordable to try to keep up with them.
I haven’t even mentioned the overconsumption that comes with this. With everyone trying to keep up with the latest micro-trends, so much waste is being made. If you want to look at the numbers, 120 billion pieces of cosmetics are thrown away every year. The cosmetics grossed $670.8 billion in 2024. It also has a growth rate of 9 percent while the population is only growing by 0.85 percent each year! Additionally, the clothing industry is even worse, this year the global apparel industry is worth $1.79 trillion. And they produce a total of 92 million tons of waste each year! I know that clothes and cosmetics aren’t the only things people are buying, but they are definitely significantly impacting the current overconsumption trend. If we want to stop or at least slow down climate change we have to have net zero emissions by 2050. It might sound like a while away, but it’s only 25 years from now.
On the bright side, I’ve seen a lot of people buying things second hand instead of purchasing items from the newest brands. If you’re looking for recommendations, Urban Ore on Ashby has everything you could ever think of, from clothes to books to toilets, and their prices are great. If you’re looking specifically for clothes then I would recommend Anastasia’s on Telegraph or Crossroads Trading Company, which has multiple locations. You could even buy books second hand at places like Pegasus Books which have much more affordable options. Their second hand books cost ten dollars on average while a book at Barnes and Noble bookstore will cost $20-25.
Sometimes things can be messy, you don’t have to have a room where everything is color coordinated and your outfits don’t always have to look like you stepped out of a Pinterest board because that’s just not real life. Most people who post on Pinterest have to curate everything for their photos: the lighting, the outfit, the background. You should buy things that you love and will wear over and over again. So the next time you’re shopping, think about the impact of your purchase. Do you love it? Or do you only love it because someone else does?