Trends come and go in the world of fashion. Many are in fact cyclical, brought back to life by adventurous fashionistas. Therefore, we exist in a paradox where nothing is new, yet everything is new. We’re currently at a point in time where the bounds of acceptability can be stretched thin by the brave. Following trends is fine and definitely still a thing, but one thing millennials and gen-z’s have realized and taught us is that you can take the opposite route and if you do it well enough, it’ll be embraced by others. Now, all we have are blurred lines and the opportunity for more diversity/fluidity.
These days, we kick against profiling not because it doesn’t provide clues, but because it’s unreliable in times like this. The tribal chic kid you met yesterday, may today be dressed in some Y2K outfit. The lines are being gradually erased, fashion-wise, and the rulebooks that told people where they fit into are being torn apart. These “rules” are understood within the social contexts of what’s cool and what’s not. Think beauty constructs, think about the brand name craze, and so on. Millennials and gen-z’s are no longer desperately trying to fit into set roles. Instead, they are creating and defining their fashion/style on their own terms.
In Nigeria, fashion subcultures have never really been evident, compared to the West. What I’d say we’ve had here is split into the classification of the classy rich, extravagant celebrities, the cool middle class, and then the outsiders. Needless to say, everyone strived to be cool, trying their hardest to buy into the latest trends, from snapbacks to AirMax shoes. Well, until the alté subculture sprung up.
Alté is Naija speak for alternative, for whatever doesn’t fit into the norm. As with many fashion subcultures, the alté scene got a lot of disapproval but mostly shocked people into the realization that life existed outside the box. Everyone who wanted to stand out, at some point began to identify with the alté name. However, it didn’t take long to realize that even this came with its own set of “qualifications.” For a long while, anything “different” was classified alté. It still holds true but more and more, many are seeing past the labelling and for these people, fashion has become limitless.
Furthermore, many people are abandoning the binaries that dictate being either-or. This is especially true when it’s put in the context of gender expression via fashion. Increasingly, the “woke” crowd is tossing out gender expectations and fashion is now mostly about self-expression, however, it may look. In a country like Nigeria, this may be tricky but every day some fashionista is stepping out of the gender binary.
This is because millennials and gen-zs have discovered the power of individuality. Individualism and authenticity (used loosely here) are celebrated by these two groups. Those confident and skilled enough to channel this into their fashion/style are ultimately rewarded with some form of social capital. These generations know that aura is an endless resource when it comes to fashion. This enables them to capitalize on it and this way, the bar can only get higher.
It should be said that with this comes the extinction of the idea that one should only be one thing: “Pick an aesthetic or style and stick to it.” By realizing that individuality is the spice, millennials and gen-zs are able to explore all facets of their identity. Therefore, the status quo is abandoned; today the individual feels like one thing, tomorrow something else. What really matters is the delivery and your ability to maintain your unique aura. It goes without saying that doing this is a lot of work. However, those who put in the work inadvertently become trendsetters.