Let’s Talk Microtrends

Courtesy of Connect Everything Collective

Written By: Olivia Belasco

Many may not know what a micro-trend really is, but I can almost guarantee you have at least one micro-trendy item hanging in your very own closet. So, let’s talk microtrends. According to an article from The Harvard Crimson, “Microtrends are fashion fads that experience a surge in popularity before often falling off just as quickly”. Microtrends are trends that come and go in the fashion industry in a matter of months. They are usually focused on standout pieces, prints, or colors that start in high fashion runways and trickle down to fast-fashion companies. Microtrendiness has seen a surge in popularity with the advent of large-scale social media-fueled fashion consumption. In a matter of weeks, a plaid sweater vest or a cherub-printed mesh top can go from a photo of a fashion it-girl to the Shein cart of any average consumer. Today we are here to discuss some current fashion trends that are destined for microtrendiness and take a brief look into why microtrends are dangerous.

So where can we see microtrends on our TikTok FYP or Instagram Explore feed today? Some microtrends to beware of are ballet core, colored tights, and what I like to call “unironic camo.”

Courtesy of Observer

Ballet Core has gotten a lot of buzz in mainstream fashion in recent months. The Miu Miu ballet flat was the true advent of this trend as the semi-realistic ballet flats took the internet by storm. Resurging the classic ballet flat silhouette with a much more whimsical feel that mimicked true ballet shoes alongside edgy ribbons and studs. These ballet flats have gone on to inspire the creation of an entirely new style. A style that plays on the previously micro-trendy “coquette core” with very similar elements of ultra-feminine styles. Ballet Core is marked by tying dainty ribbons just about anywhere, styling hair in a slick back style, wearing light pink tones, and normalizing flowy skirts with wrapped knit tops and tights. This “core” has many classic elements that are sure to stay relevant like plain ballet flats and tights but will also see some out-of-trend elements in the future. Deeming “ballet core” a microtrend is not to discount the way that dance has influenced fashion for years and the fashion sense ballerinas have created for themselves. But beware when purchasing a knit puffer or a studded leather ballet flat because this microtrend is sure to die out in time.

Images Courtesy of Dairy Boy and Abercrombie

Unironic camo is the next microtrend to avoid at all costs. While camo is a natural print choice for hunters and has long been a staple in Southern culture it does not often become a mainstream fashion trend. Yes, there are events like a “mallard ball” that take place yearly in some predominantly southern communities, but it is not a trend we see very often. Yet, it seems as though camo sweats in light tones have become increasingly popular. This may be due to the resurgence of the “Country House” style which plays on classic twists of upper-class hunting culture. But it is also thanks to the production of trendy pieces from brands like Paige Lorenz's Dairy Boy. Dairy Boy produces hats and sweat sets with their logo in a camo print that skyrocketed in popularity thanks to the social media presence of the brand’s founder. This camo style is now available on more notable retailers like Abercrombie and Shein where trendy teens and young adults are hunting down (no pun intended) these coveted pieces. But camo will never be a staple piece in a wardrobe and while the trend is fun it is sure to be sitting in a donation pile in a few months. 

Courtesy of The Tights Spot

Last but certainly not least we have another addition to the 2023 microtrend lineup: colored tights. Colored tights have attained mainstream attention thanks to their appearance in many popular runway collections. These runways include Ferragamo F/W 2023, MiuMiu F/W 2023, Gucci F/W 2023, and Bottega Venetta F/W 2023 among others. With these top fashion houses showcasing colored tights as both monochromatic staples and statement pieces it is no surprise that we are now seeing mainstream outfits styled with this trend. It is now very popular to spice up an all-black holiday look with maroon tights or add colored tights to a Halloween costume, but it is not likely that this trend will make it through the next few years. Again, microtrends clearly come from top brands and are quickly consumed by the average buyer.

Courtesy of University of Queensland AU

These microtrends are fun and cute for an Instagram photo but in essence extremely harmful to the fashion industry. With the popularity of fast fashion, it is becoming increasingly normalized to buy a microtrend piece for cheap wear it a few times, and then donate it or throw it away. These pieces are usually produced quickly and of poor-quality materials which is why they do not last more than a season or two. This is not to say that some consumers do not continue to sport micro-trendy items, but this is usually not the case. According to The Center for Biological Diversity, “The pollution introduced by the fast fashion industry results in devastating impacts to both terrestrial and aquatic environments, with harmful effects linked to habitat degradation, proliferation of chemicals and microplastics in waterways, and the increasing impact of climate change from anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.”. Fast fashion is killing our environment and making incomprehensible amounts of waste for our planet to take on. Microtrends are eye-catching and profitable for the fashion industry but, at the end of the day, not worth indulging in and can have much larger effects on enabling fast fashion.