The Epidemic of Fashion Experts: Do We Really Need This Many Opinions on Pants?

Once upon a time, knowing fashion meant actually knowing fashion. Designers spent years perfecting their craft, editors agonized over every page of a magazine spread, and critics had resumes longer than a CVS receipt. But now? If you’ve got Wi-Fi, a ring light, and a strong opinion about cargo pants, congratulations—you’re a fashion expert!

These days, getting dressed feels less like self-expression and more like trying to crack an unstable stock market. One day, you’re told to burn your skinny jeans, the next, they’re "vintage chic." Last season, cowboy boots were a tragic mistake, and this season, "A must-have staple!" It’s like fashion advice is being handed out by a Magic 8-Ball that can’t make up its mind.

Welcome to the insane world of modern fashion discourse, where the loudest aren't always the smartest but just the bravest. You're wearing a garbage bag, but if someone who has 100K followers calls it "avant-garde minimalism," ta-da. You're a trendsetter. And in the meantime, actual designers are over there in the corner questioning how in the world fashion turned into Survivor: The Show.

When Everyone’s an Expert, No One Is

Once, determining what to wear was simple, well, simpler. You had a couple of reliable sources: Vogue, seasoned stylists, maybe that one effortlessly stylish friend who never seemed to get it wrong. Fashion tips were presented by the people it would seem who actually hung out in the industry, people who knew a thing or two about fabric, silhouette, and how to pair up what's timeless with what's trendy. Now? Your fashion education is being provided by a sea of micro-influencers, TikTok trend forecasters, and Instagram stylists who, despite their confidence, never agree on anything.  One day, a 300K follower decrees ballet flats are "cheugy" and so on.

Last summer, every Instagram "guru" was adamant on the minimalist holy grail wardrobe, a mix of pastel and vibrant colors, with sky blue, sun orange, blush pink, lilac, and peach fuzz being particularly popular. Now in 2025 with spring on our heels, Maximalism is in charge, and if your closet isn't bursting at the seams with next things we don't even know about yet, do you even exist as a personality? And let's not forget the skinny jean betrayal, because I'm still there personally. First, we were all instructed to make fun of them. Then, all of a sudden, the very same social influencers who were over the moon with wide-legs are sporting skinnies with Chuck Taylor’s or Jordan 12’s. It is as if fashion itself is ruled by a council of indecisive kids. This is not the advice of a fashion guru. This is bull****.

And here we are, actually making our own wardrobe decisions based on the fickle posts of strangers online. You're thinking you're curating a closet, but really, you're trying to play an endless game of "hot or not" imposed upon you by people who were definitely wrong a few months back. It's exhausting, expensive, and quite frankly, a little ridiculous. Maybe the true fashion statement is just to wear what you like and to completely disregard the algorithm. 

The Trend Cycle:​​ Too Fast, Too Unhinged

Summer 2024 was a season where fashion was a mix of nostalgia, elegance, and practicality. Fashion designers revisited classic styles with a new twist, looking back at denim-on-denim styling that dominated runways. From Dior's crisp denim suits to Ulla Johnson's loose-fitting styles, the trend proved that the ageless fabric remained a staple. Bermuda shorts also made a strong comeback, offering a more elegant yet casual alternative to shorter lengths. Givenchy and Valentino showed knee-length shorts with tailored jackets, a move towards easy chic. Nautical style was also on the agenda, as Max Mara and Nili Lotan incorporated sailor collars and sea colors to evoke an ageless seafaring charm. Elegant minimalism and opulent comfort were also on the rise this season.

Puddle pants: dramatically long pants that puddled around the ankles were a bold statement, with Valentino and Khaite leading the way. The color palette softened, with pastels like lilac, butter yellow, and glacial blue substituting for years of bold color. This fit with the onset of "quiet luxury," where quality fabrics and understated design took precedence over flashy, logo-stamped products at brands such as The Row and Bottega Veneta. The emphasis on elegant simplicity was a part of a greater cultural shift toward embracing timeless fashion instead of ephemeral trends. Despite this emphasis on elegance, fanciful and romantic styles also got their turn in the spotlight. Bohemian fashion came back, with Chloé's flowing gowns and lace trim reactivating the boho-chic look popularized early in the 2000s.

Similarly, "balletcore" also gained the spotlight, with designers incorporating soft tulle, dainty wrap shapes, and ballet flats into their designs. This ultra-feminine fashion trend infused a dreamy, romantic air to summer outfits, which revealed how much 2024 fashion was about uniqueness rather than functionality. Looking back, the season was rich in diversity of styles, with its retro nods balanced by more innovation to suit a myriad of tastes.

The sheer volume of Summer 2024 trends, be it minimalist, quiet luxury, or boho revival excess, only added to the fashion chaos. With one set of influencers preaching crisp, fitted Bermudas and neutral tones and another pushing ballerina-flair tulle and totally excessive puddle pants, the diametrically opposed counsel made it nearly impossible to keep up. One day, social media was feeling polished, sleek dressing; the next, it was exhorting everyone to adopt a more-is-more philosophy. This perpetual seesaw left fashion enthusiasts rushing to create their own style in the face of an ever-shifting terrain driven by algorithms, viral events, and commercial fancies. Rather than offering authoritative advice, the season showed how fashion had come to be less about long-lasting style and more about reacting to the prevailing digital trend cycle, making personal expression an ongoing guessing game.

Whatever Happened to Personal Style?

Despite the din of fashion voices, personal style has been slowly eroding. As influencers ever more loudly declare the "right" way to dress, more and more have started outsourcing their clothing choices to the internet rather than their own voice. Aesthetic dressing – whether "clean girl," "coquette," or whatever microtrend is currently trending – has turned getting dressed into a never-ending theme party rather than an act of self-expression. Meanwhile, the emphasis on "timeless" dressing has terrified others into wearing nothing even remotely trendy, as if fashion pleasure is somehow a fiscal gamble. On the other end of the spectrum, pressure to keep up with every successive trend inspires panic-buying of whatever happens to be viral that day, without even asking if it even suits them. The hard truth?

The most stylish people in the past weren't waiting for a 19-year-old in a well-lit apartment to tell them what to wear. They wore what they felt was appropriate for them, not what was trending in an algorithmic cycle. Fashion was, at one time, about art, personal style, and self-expression. Now it often feels like a race to be relevant in a system that is going too fast to enjoy. Your style shouldn't be dictated by a revolving door of influencers or a TikTok feed; it must be something that resonates with you. 

We Don’t Need More Experts—We Need More Originality

Fashion has never been short of opinion, but the real problem is not the perpetual talking back—nevertheless, the lack of voices speaking out for creativity, originality, and self-expression. Instead of being told what to buy next, we need to be inspired to wear what totally makes us feel at ease. The vicious cycle of endless trend forecasting, viral must-haves, and rigid fashion rules has turned fashion into a never-ending competition rather than a tool for self-expression. Dressing up shouldn't be about reaching an unattainable standard set by influencers and algorithms; it should be about dressing in what makes you feel confident, comfortable, and genuinely yourself. What we really need is an attitude shift.

More emphasis on personal style and less on trendy moments. Not every outfit has to be a statement or a "moment" that's Instagram-worthy. Fashion culture must prioritize longevity over instant gratification, encouraging people to build wardrobes that are an expression of who they are and not whatever is trending that week. Instead of self-styled critics informing us what's in and what's out, we need more reminders that the best-looking outfits are the ones we put on with integrity. Because in the end, the people who really shine are not the ones desperately struggling to stay current—they're the ones who exactly know who they are, without anyone's validation. So maybe it's time to silence the chatter and tune in to our own instincts.  The best fashion guide you'll ever have is yourself.

If you love quiet luxury, bohemian revival, or wearing the same pair of jeans for five years running, the only one that counts is your opinion. And if that is taking out a pair of ballet flats from the depths of your closet for the hundredth time? So be it. Apparently, they are back. Again.