Fashion is political

For the past month, I have seen a few creators discussing how fashion trends predicted the US election result, as many of them are linked to conservatism.

Fashion is politics—like everything else. That doesn't mean your outfit today is the political equivalent of a band t-shirt or a football jersey, showing who you support. But aesthetics have meanings; they are not arbitrary choices. What you wear is part of your lifestyle and, therefore, is linked to ideas, aspirations and a way of seeing the world.

(And, as you know, if your style doesn't match who you are, it will lead to disconnection, frustration and inner conflict. That's why I'm here to help!)

I worked in a department store until not so long ago, and the shop floor was inundated with understated, minimal and neutral-coloured garments. They were labelled as quiet luxury and chosen to help customers build a capsule wardrobe—a collection of basics, almost indistinguishable from brand to brand, to mix and match without thinking because they are all very similar and go well together.

Everything looked very "normal". Everything was meant to be subtle. Everything was meant to make you disappear and conform—at a very high price.

(Okay, not everything, because the odd brand wasn't like that, but that was the general vibe of the store. And what sold the most.)

This idea of buying something that is timeless means rejecting who you are right now in favour of remaining the same. Forever. Not allowing room for growth, exploration or mistakes. Staying in your lane: not allowed to peak and see what is happening on the other side. Timeless is also associated with gender norms: this is what men wear, this is what women wear, and there's nothing else out of that binary.

Minimalism also dismisses individuality, not allowing room for self-expression. It makes you adopt a uniform that is supposed to be aspirational with the lack of thinking, worrying and importance given to what would make you stand out and be different.

The lack of colour negates your emotions and perpetuates the idea that some colours are good, serious, and worth paying attention to, while others are lesser, childish, and can be disrespected.

So, yes, we can see conservatism there.

Fashion can be an act of rebellion—being unapologetically yourself, not conforming to standards and reclaiming your space.

By all means, wear what you love, but also pay attention to how it makes you feel, how it makes you act and how you are treated. Because it's never only just clothes—and they should be all about you.