Help, someone stole my style

This chronically online millennial will paint you a picture. Sex & The City 2008 — Kim Cattrall’s Samantha Jones and Miley Cyrus as herself are caught on the red carpet wearing identical bejewelled lingerie. In the (slightly earlier) aughts, this was a much more rare situation than it is now. It’s embarrassingly as common as spring flowers today.

This ‘coincidence,’ I have personally experienced, happened once at a party and again at the airport. C’est la vie. I bit my lip then. While it is a great way to break the ice, should we accept that being caught wearing the same outfit is an inevitable faux pas?

Few people are unique anymore. If they do stand out, it is more for their statement than because of their style. This reminds me of a pick me-cult, where everyone tries to be different and fails miserably. Faced with the expansion of everyone’s favourite pastime, i.e. scrolling, I question just how subjective fashion is today.

Over-exposed, overwhelmed and inspired. We don’t have time to consider what we really want and how we could make it our own. Since we’re already there, it’s best to dig in.

Is personal style safe in an age when even the fabled haute-couture havens are influenced by trends?

Are we crossing the line between inspiration and complacency while the It crowd is leading the way? The ‘What is cool?’ dilemma has replaced the more important question, ‘What is cool to me??

Add to this how everyone is so visible now. It’s not a mystery where to find clothes and accessories. Our style is also not a mystery. Our tastes may be on the brink of extinction as the magnifying lens becomes thicker.

Colour me concerned–witnessing how the lust for trends is only getting more ferocious by the minute. How can we be so advanced and yet limit something as infinite as fashion? Is it nearly impossible to develop a personal style? Were we all inspired by something we saw in someone else? Are we leaving rush hour with our train of sartorial thoughts? Are we just a group of people in uniforms that are slightly different, marching to burnout, when the ‘personality’ has become more public?

Today’s playground is more about style awareness than style ambition. Risk-taking is fine as long as you keep it within the scope of what’s cool. What is cool, though? There is a guide that can offer a shoulder for crying. Do we put our faith in a small group of Instagram-friendly people? There might be a light at the end.

Labels such as AVAVAV and Balenciaga, along with local brands, lead the conversation about trends and boundaries, if there are any. Supriya’s fusion-fatale goes right to Dua Lipa, the pop princess. Schiaparelli, on the other hand, serves up a full-on portion of poise and progression with no room for excuses. People-watching is a bore now that we are all so tired of the aesthetics. Instead of copying your mood board or saved posts, I suggest being original and ogled. You can take inspiration from fashion icons such as Rekha, Jackie Shroff and Usha Uthup to create a strong case for your sartorial convictions. Fashion without courage is simply clothing.

Dressing for yourself is important, both consciously and unconsciously. Switch your rose-tinted sunglasses for the lime green ones that you really want to wear.