Hello, it’s Melanie. I made a fashion and beauty Instagram recently. Although I don’t need likes and followers to validify my part in the fashion and beauty community, I do appreciate the connections I am able to make and the inspiration I am able to draw from through social media. It’s also another medium for me to express my mind palace. Any Sherlock fans here? However, I’ve learned that there are several cons to the Instagram fashion presence. For instance, seeing the countless articles of clothes, shoes, and accessories you wish you had but you can’t because you don’t have legit fashion blogger money. Another potentially negative aspect of partaking in the Instagram fashion community is that you realize how much less of an individual you are. You are not the first to do or think of x, y, or z, because thousands have already done it. Therefore, you have to really push the envelope if you want to significantly stand out and get those likes and follows, which shouldn’t be the premise of fashion anyways. Lastly, and my least liked aspect, is that the background or setting of your outfit picture matters! I like clothes and I like seeing clothes. I DO NOT, however, like going outside for the sheer sake of taking a picture, but people on Instagram seem to care about that stuff. Why can’t everyone just look at my outfit and ignore my messy bedroom? Everything seems to be a production on Instagram. People seem to travel just to take pictures and say that they’ve traveled there. It’s kind of depressing. The last thing on my mind when I pick my outfit of the day is what place will compliment it best. Theodore Roosevelt spilled the tea when he said comparison is the thief of happiness. Maybe I should stop looking at other fashionable Instagram people in all their aesthetically pleasing backgrounds. I’m just going to do me. Get ready for outfit pictures on the toilet, in my bed, and on my couch. Those are the places I reside in the most and feel the most at ease. And isn’t fashion all about authenticity and feeling comfortable in who you are?
P.S. I went outside for the outfit photo and put my anxiety at risk for it. You’re welcome. My neighbors saw me and I ran into the comfort of my house as I heard cars rear the block. Please tell me this is making me more a confident person and not just crippling my anxiety and enhancing my embarrassment even further. Thank you for reading.
Melanie T / MelT
melt fashion 