Influencers influence — and most of us have fallen prey to purchasing products way out of our budget just because our favorite style icon wore them. But would you believe that these days, celebrities may or may not be getting their fashion inspo from us regular ole folks? Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Because looking “average” is trendy now due to the declining economy — and that fashion trend is called “recession core.”
So…what is it?
Why Some People Think Recession Core Is Problematic
Unless you’re famous yourself, what’s in and what isn’t is usually determined by who’s wearing it and who isn’t. In other words, celebs are usually the trendsetters. Remember when mom jeans were out until Bella Hadid wore them? It’s *very* like that — and it’s always been. However, if you browse pictures of the red carpet events that took place recently, you’ll notice that the influencers have been donning toned-down gowns and they appear to have forgotten their jewelry to complete their ensemble. When in reality, they purposely ditched the polished look for a minimalist approach.
It may be refreshing to many (because they can finally afford to dress up like their idols) but some people don’t “buy” this trend — they criticize the celebs’ “terrible” effort to look more “relatable” to the common people. They’re not on board with the thought that the A-listers are actually struggling with the economy alongside them — as they’re usually given lots of things for free (in exchange for brand exposure). In some articles on the web, it’s said that these influencers wear quiet luxury to “cosplay being poor.”
Should Recession Core Remain a Trend?
Fast fashion is, according to many, a problem that needs to be addressed — and we already have a few solutions to minimize its prevalence. However, designer brands have also been on the receiving end of backlash for several decades now. But these high-end brands aren’t always the ones to blame. If you try looking at the bigger picture, not only do they sell products that have their brand stamped on the products, but they also offer artworks that you can wear.
Furthermore, before you can get your hands on an affordable alternative, it’s usually (but not always!) the luxury brands’ designers that incepted the idea — and it’s the people from their atelier that materialized it. Therefore, it’s not always the brands that are the problem — it can sometimes be those who feel the need to have these designer products.
If you do find it difficult to keep up with fashion trends, know that what you wear doesn’t matter as much as you think it does. Recession core may be a celebrity thing right now — and it might’ve been your fashion sense since day 1 — but dressing up on a budget (just because someone famous wore that type of apparel) shouldn’t just remain a trend that will come and go.
What’s best to factor in is how much of this type of clothing you can afford, still — given the economic crisis the world is going through right now — and how fashion-conscious you are. At the end of the day, what you wear is still entirely up to you. Fashion can be defined in many ways. But it’s rarely about what cost the most.
The Wrap-Up
There’s nothing wrong with buying designer brands — and there’s nothing wrong with purchasing cheaper alternatives either. While fashion is irrefutably subjective, we’ll leave it to the fashion critics and historians to determine whether or not recession core is an inflation-related trend or minimalism is simply just “in” right now. Regardless of whether or not recession core is fashionable at the moment, you have full control of your own style — and affordability (especially during these trying times) should never go out in season!