As TikTok has risen from a dancing video app to the biggest fashion influencer, we’ve entered an era when fashion’s subcultures are now “core” trends, from #cottagecore to #coastalgrandmother to #weirdgirl. While on the surface, it may seem like a good thing that previously niche aesthetics have skyrocketed in popularity and opened the door for freer style expression, it also made everyone look the same. In place of personal style, there is a performative exercise to buy and show off the It-item or -aesthetic of the month, and then throw it away when the algorithm tunes it out. And while fashion has always been an exercise in flexing and tossing, social media has shortened a trend’s lifespan from a season to a copycat viral moment. ⁠ ⁠ This wasn’t always the case.⁠ ⁠ Tap the 🔗 in bio for more on whether or not personal style exists in the era of TikTok aesthetics. ⁠ ⁠ ✍️: @fransolasantiago, fashion writer