Christina, otherwise known as chriena on Instagram, has over 500k followers and is, as she introduces herself, a digital creator. Her posts usually are related to fashion, beauty and lifestyle.
She is also an ambassador for Fashion Nova, an online fashion store for women known for defying fashion industry standards and for pioneering ultra-fast fashion.
Some of the most popular posts on Christina’s Instagram are videos belonging to a series in which the woman will choose an article of clothing and will create 3 completely different looks. Some examples include a corset top styled in a casual, spicy and fancy way or a statement coat worn classy, cute or comfy.
Recently fashion content blew up on social media so we wanted to know what are the reasons behind it through the eyes of a person who is in the industry, so Bored Panda got in touch with Michaela Leitz who is a plus-size fashion stylist and size inclusive fashion expert. She specializes in image consultations, personal shopping and fashion styling virtually and worldwide.
She explained us, "I think its popularity speaks to the way it can be both aspirational and accessible. Social media has been a place where people can curate their own style, find inspiration from what others are wearing, and of course - shop. Not only is fashion a powerful tool for self-expression, but it's also incredibly fun to showcase your unique style and create exciting looks that push the boundaries of traditional fashion."
The fashion expert adds, "Additionally, new ideas and trends can spread quickly because of how much information is shared within networks on social media. It’s no surprise that fashion content has become so popular - we all need an outlet to express ourselves and social media provides us with an amazing platform to do so!"
Sometimes it’s hard to see a piece of clothing worn differently than you are used to and that is how we start hoarding clothes. We wear them for that one specific outfit and then try to avoid people seeing us wearing the same clothes too often.
That is why you could say that styling the same clothing in different ways is a skill. Michaela agrees, "Styling the same clothing in different ways requires more than just having a good eye for fashion - it requires a knowledge and understanding of what works best for your body, as well as an understanding of current trends and styling techniques. By combining elements such as fabric textures, color palettes and silhouettes in unexpected ways, you can create unique and striking looks which will turn heads."
The stylist brings our attention to the importance of accessories as well, "when it comes to accessorizing, choosing modern or vintage-inspired accessories that are timeless yet edgy gives any look an effortless upgrade." Hats and scarves give you a different look every time and "jewellery and bags not only reflect your own style, but also have a modern twist."
It's a useful skill to make a clothing item work for you for multiple ocassions because buying new clothes every time is truly wasteful. Both financially and environmentally. While we can choose where we spend our money, we should think about what impact it has on the environment, especially if we get rid of the clothes without wearing them.
Statista data shows that in 2017, the cumulative number of clothing products women have in their wardrobes was 21.3 billion and they didn’t wear 5.3 billion pieces even once, which means it’s about a quarter of all the clothes they buy.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, around 85 percent of all textiles are thrown away in the US. In 2017 alone, about 13 million tons were dumped in the landfill or burned.
The True Cost reports that “The average American now generates 82 pounds (37 kilograms) of textile waste each year.” They explain further, “Historically, clothing has been something we have held onto for a long time, but with cheap clothing now abundantly available we are beginning to see the things we wear as disposable.”
Unfortunately, only 13.6% of clothes and shoes thrown away in the US are recycled and if you ever find a clothing item that claims to have been made out of recycled materials, more often than not the material will be plastic from bottles and not other textile.
Chetna Prajapati, who studies ways of making sustainable textiles at Loughborough University in the UK, explained to the BBC that the percentage is so low because of how complicated the process of recycling textile is.
She explained, “a typical pair of jeans are made from cotton yarn which is generally blended with elastane, and other components such as zips and buttons and polyester sewing thread and dyed using a range of dyes.”
Textiles being made of numerous materials makes them hard to recycle because the different materials have to be separated, which is not simple, “Sorting textiles into different fibres and material types by hand is labour intensive, slow and requires a skilled workforce. Growing use of modern fabric blends in clothing also makes it hard to do this mechanically too.”
Good news is that to be fashionable and stylish, you don't need a lot of clothes and that comes from a stylist, "Being fashionable does not necessarily mean having a closet full of clothing. In fact, as a fashion stylist, I'm a huge advocate for finding ways to reduce our consumption of new fashion items and instead focus on reusing and repurposing the pieces we already own."
Accessories play a big part in making the same outfits look different and Michaela suggests trying out DIYing, "You can easily transform old or boring clothes into unique masterpieces that will be sure to turn heads! With all these tips in mind, it’s easy to make sustainable yet fashionable choices while having fun with your style!"
Another way to look stylish but have a small wardrobe is to save money for more quality pieces instead of focusing on quantity, "if you invest in a few timeless pieces that are well-made and versatile, you can create an array of different looks without needing too many items. Capsule wardrobes are another great way to practice sustainable styling - where you keep your wardrobe minimal but still make it look stylish with fewer pieces."
Actually, buying quality instead of quantity, is Michaela's biggest styling tip, "by choosing good quality fabrics and pieces that fit you well, you’ll end up with outfits that are stylish and allow for lots of mixing and matching."
So these kinds of videos that Christina creates are quite beneficial because they can inspire people to look at their clothes with new eyes and style them in a different way that would give them a new life instead of being thrown away.
Because let’s face it, most people don’t throw away clothes because they are no longer usable, but because they are bored of them or because they are no longer fashionable.
Seeing influencers rewearing clothes may teach consumers to also use what they have and search for new combinations, which can make you feel like you have a whole new wardrobe.
After all, fashion is supposed to be fun and as Michaela concludes, "Experimenting with different styles allows you to find the perfect look that most accurately reflects your unique personality. That being said, don’t forget that personal style is more than just clothes – it’s an entire lifestyle! Therefore, don’t be afraid to take risks and express yourself through your wardrobe – you never know what kind of magic you can create!"
What do you think of Christine’s styling decisions? Did it inspire you to style something in a way you never have before? Which of the combinations did you like the most? Also, do you think that you have more clothes than you actually need? Do you think you would be able to resist buying new clothes before the old ones are unwearable? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
