The beauty industry, a 677 billion dollar industry, has shaped and changed the very definition of beauty numerous times over the 21st century. With constant trends coming in and out of fashion, the pattern at which societal standards move is unpredictable to those outside this business. Stepping back, it is nothing short of astonishing to watch how styles have come and gone, and how some even made their way back around.
Beginning with the early 2000s, fashion icons such as Brittany Spears and Paris Hilton set the tone for much of this time period. Wearing the lowest of the low rise jeans, the shiniest of bedazzled accessories, and having the thinnest eyebrows, young girls across the nation quickly strived to fit the new norm. However, just as fast as these new trends were set, they were quickly overtaken.
Entering the era of the early 2010s, the increasing popularity of social media led to an uptick in individualized fashion and style. While labeled as such, this period was less based on individuality and mainly dominated by new influencers of the time coming from social media and creating their own styles. What followed was the demise of low rise denim and the replacement of high waisted jeans, typically paired with a neon peplum top, chunky jewelry of some nature, and bright lipstick.
As the years progressed, these jeans became ripped, chunky jewelry was replaced with chokers, and the outfit was finished with a nude lip. Leggings and other athleisure quickly climbed past jeans and became the go-to look. This style remained for much of the late 2010s and early 2020s.
Recently, denim has begun to see yet another shift. It is out with the skinny shape and in with the baggy fit. Another interesting twist in fashion has been the return of the low rise style. Sophomore Libby Baxter commented, “I love the low rise style and think it is exciting that this style has come back around”. While barely comparable to the early 2000s, low rise styles in both denim and athleisure has taken the wallets of teens and young adults. With these constant changes in the fashion industry, it will be very interesting to see what stays, what goes, and maybe what will come back around!
With the unpredictable turns coming from every which way, it is hard for teens to keep up with what is “in”. Freshman Emily Koskinas reports “It’s hard to know what to buy when the style changes so fast.” Emily’s sentiments are what thousands of teen girls struggle with daily and what causes so many self-esteem issues within our society today.
With clothing models creating unrealistic expectations, and confidence in newer generations lacking so much, girls in 2025 often struggle with feeling as if they are beautiful. The National Organization for Women shared that 50 percent of teen girls do not feel confident in their bodies. While this can be caused by a variety of factors, one of the leading causes is the changing trends that seem to only look good on a select few.
With these statistics in mind, it is important to circle back to the early 2010s theme of individuality. While peer pressure may cause some to feel as though they should look and dress a certain way, it is crucial to keep your own identity. No matter what trends may come and go in the foreseeable future, let us all embrace our own uniqueness and encourage others to do the same!
