It has always been a particular interest of mine to find out why people dress the way they do and what that can tell you about them as an individual. Perhaps that curiosity comes from my own journey with style and fashion. In my teenage years, I wore skinny jeans, converse, studded collars and a whole lot of black because I wanted to fit an ‘emo’ identity. As I have grown up and changed as an individual, my style has developed into a vibrant, maximalist one with lots of pattern, texture and colour. I wear a lot of second-hand and vintage clothing and smaller brands which makes a statement about who I am – conscious and mindful. In recent years, Gen Z has become a generation who are specifically known for their innovative, provocative and unique style.

I put out a question on my fashion and lifestyle Instagram page, (@abby.fantaisie), asking my followers to tell me what they think their style says about themselves. Several people mentioned that their clothing helps them feel more confident. One told me that they chose to dress “aesthetically” because they have always found clothes hard to feel good in as a plus-size person. Another person mentioned how being tall and more masculine caused them to use fashion to soften their appearance and to “show I’m really a gentle giant”. Someone told me that their style reflects their gender identity and affirms their sense of self which reaffirms the important role that personal style has on identity. One person commented, “I think clothes are the most important way to show who you are, and who you want to be”. They are our outward expression of self, the first thing a person sees about you.

I asked Natasha Moffett (@tashmoffett) and Caitlin Heather (@kingkazzii), two local fashion Instagram influencers, about their relationships with clothing. Natasha told me that she does not feel herself when she dresses like everyone else and blends in. She wears what makes her feel confident. Instagram has solidified her love of fashion by helping her to try new things every day. Caitlin told me a similar thing. She dresses to express how she is feeling, wearing more colour when she is feeling happier etc. Her opinion of clothing is that it can “tell you so much about a person and how they think, or it can also tell what you’re feeling”.

Natasha Moffett (@tashmoffett on Instagram)

The rise of Instagram and Tiktok has led to some interesting developments in fashion and personal expression. New forms of internet subculture like ‘cottagecore’, ‘E-girl’ and ‘dark academia’ could be defined as specific aesthetic ideals. When I put up a poll for my followers asking if they dress in a particular aesthetic 58% of them said yes. One follower cited ‘chaotic academica’ as their aesthetic while Instagram fashionista Milly (@rosetintedmilly) says they wear all pink because it “makes them happy” and their account makes that very clear. Several people mentioned their use of tattoos and piercings to reflect their identity through subcultures like ‘goth’. Two-thirds of participants mentioned that Instagram and Tiktok influenced them personally, saying that it helps them find new small businesses, style tips and helps them to remain creative in their styling.

Most participants also said they wear thrifted clothes. The influence of second-hand selling apps like Depop and Vinted has certainly contributed to this trend and traditional charity shops are still a high street staple showing their popularity. There were several strong opinions on this subject, one person saying, “I hate fast fashion, thrifted clothes save the environment”. Others said they thrifted because it was cheaper, more ethical, does not follow trends and is generally better quality. There also seems to be a sense of pride found in having a piece of clothing that is one of a kind and encourages you to have an individual style rather than one that follows trends. The main downfall of thrifting is the lack of accessibility in terms of sizing. One individual stated that they “find it so hard to find accessible clothing” and that influences their shopping habits.

From these conversations, it is fair to say that students and Gen Z use clothing and style to express something about themselves. Whether that is mood, political persuasion, identity or something else completely, the spectrum of aesthetics and styling choices makes this an exciting and innovative period of fashion history to be living through and I am proud to be a part of this movement.

Abby Davidson is a Culture reporter for The Scoop and a Liberal Arts student at Queen’s University Belfast

Fashion and Identity: a generation making history