In recent years, the view on women’s fashion has changed. Different trends are gaining more attention and value and changing everything that was known about fashion until now. New trends are emerging and becoming realities, such as: millennials looking younger than they are and women having an influence in streetwear culture. According to Maria Zvinca, a passionate trend influencer, fashion has become bolder and a powerful tool for self-expression.

Millennials and the Youthful Aesthetic: Is Fashion the Key?

These changes in fashion have been known for so many years, but does the fact that millennials look younger have anything to do with the fact that 25-30 year olds don’t dress like those in the 90s?

For so many years, women’s fashion was all about form-fitting clothes that would show off your body and attract as many looks as possible. It was more important how attractive you could look than how comfortable or who you really are. However millennials have rejected this idea, for them what they feel is much more important than what they should be. Now, finally, women can focus and choose clothes that reflect their lifestyle, and this comes with the advent of discussions about feminism, the sexualization of women, in the public space.

Social Media’s Influence: When Trends Become Movements

This movement has been gaining more and more momentum on social networks like TikTok and Instagram, and the discourse of most fashion influencers is focused on understanding this trend. The conclusion is that we can no longer call it a trend anymore because it has been around for too many years already.

Some believe that the “youthfulness” of millennials comes from the fact that botox and facials are now more affordable, some blame technology in that they can see themselves more on camera and that’s why they are more careful. (source: Vogue) “The lifestyle is more experience-oriented and emotionally oriented” according to Maria. She believes that the tendency to have a different mindset on life and to disregard societal milestones has also helped to create a ,,fresher” image of millennials. 

Millennials vs. Gen Z: A Fashion Compromise

The direction in which fashion is heading has helped millennials to shape this image. Fashion trends such as relaxed pants, leopard prints, hoodies, are at the heart of this movement. When it comes to fashion trends, Gen z and Millennials have reached a compromise in terms of taste, flattening the differences between the generations. (source: The everygirl) 

“Gen Z and Millennials are the ones who have most defied this tendency of women to dress for the male gaze.”

Maria Zvinca

But how do these fashion trends come to influence an entire generation? The answer is simple, social media and influencers have become trend setters. As stated by Maria Zvinca ,,You are influenced to try, find your style, use clothes and fashion to express yourself”. With social networks, you see people you admire defying the norm and influencing your opinion. Unfortunately, when it comes to high fashion, fashion is still very sexist.