CuriositiesNOV 22, 2024

"Zero Forms Of Etiquette Exist": Viral Photo Of Gen Z Women Sparks Heated Fashion Debate

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A group of Gen Z women ignited a fashion and generational debate after being photographed wearing nearly identical outfits.

The photo was shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) and shows nine women getting ready for a night out, all dressed in light-wash jeans and plain black or gray tops.

"Does anyone have any theories as to how light-wash jeans became considered evening wear?" X user @rwxoxo asked.

Highlights

Viral photo shows Gen Z women in similar light-wash jeans and black/gray tops.
The photo sparked debate on X, questioning light-wash jeans as evening wear.
Bored Panda consulted two fashion stylists to weigh in on the debate and on Gen Z style.

"Past 6pm especially in the colder months you would rarely see lighter than an indigo.

"I support denim fluidity & everyone wearing what's comfortable to them but just noticing the dramatic & sudden shift," she added.

A group of women went viral for wearing extremely similar outfits, consisting of light-wash jeans paired with black or gray tops

Image credits: LordPFJoyde

@rwxoxo's question sparked curiosity, garnering 9 million views and over 500 replies from users eager to join the denim etiquette debate.

"I'm trying and I can't even perceive them as an evening jean. Looks like a lot of girls grabbed lunch together and decided to make a day of it," one of them wrote.

"My mother literally drilled into my brain that dark denim is evening and light denim is day time as a child. I truly can't break the habit either," someone else agreed.

"I've noticed the youth hate dark denim and love copying outfits from TikTok," a third commenter said.

"Outfit inspo & styling videos really push 'just change your top' for day-to-night looks, so I think that's a factor," a separate user suggested.

Blending clothes associated with both daytime and nighttime is a common trend among Gen Zers

Image credits: haileybieber

Image credits: emmachamberlain

Another group considered that the photo shows a lack of individuality and a tendency to follow trends popular among members of the same generation.

"I can't believe I sound like an old-timer, but it's wild how everyone dresses the same now! We may have dressed badly, but at least we had some PERSONALITY!" claimed one user.

"These girls are all very young, they most certainly are just going out for the night. Having just been in uni town for 4 years this is exactly what every single girl wears to the bar or house parties," someone else said.

"I once picked my daughter up at high school and as I watched all the girls come out I lamented how they all look the same. Well, a few months later she picked me up for work and said the exact same thing about all the women I work with as they walked out," another woman shared.

Some people believe light-wash denim is not suitable for evening wear, while others argue that it's not important to follow fashion rules

Image credits: emiliekiser

Others speculated that the women's outfits reflect a broader trend of rejecting societal fashion rules (or any norms altogether). "Zero forms of etiquette exist anywhere in real life anymore. Only on the internet," one user claimed.

"After covid I think things became wayyyyy more [casual]," someone else pointed out, suggesting the distinction between day and night outfits became irrelevant during lockdown and some people have chosen to stick with that approach ever since.

While some prefer more traditional nightlife outfits and colors, one woman emphasized that jeans–whether dark or light-wash—are a much more comfortable alternative to other looks often deemed "stylish."

"As a 30y/o who used to go clubbing in casual business attire/ bodycon dresses with heels that would make your feet bleed, I'm glad these girls are now warm & comfortable."

"In my opinion, all denim is casual and a dark wash does not somehow make it more formal," Welsh, also part of the Gen Z cohort, told Bored Panda in via email.

"Unless you’re going somewhere that is formal or has a specific dress code (in which case you’re probably not wearing denim anyways) you should wear whatever you want. If you want to wear light wash denim to the club, do it if you want to wear a floor length dress to the supermarket, do it.

"Your fashion choices should be a reflection of you, not a reflection of other peoples expectations of you."

"I think the younger generations are more comfortable breaking fashion 'rules,'" the fashion expert added.

"Gen-Z values authenticity. Personally, I think being yourself and confident with yourself is way more attractive than the wash of denim you choose to wear.

"I think (and hope) that people choose to wear what they feel most comfortable in, not just physically but emotionally. I encourage my clients to wear pieces that feel like home."

Rebekah Roy, a fashion stylist from the UK, also thinks Gen Zers are creating their own fashion rules, setting themselves apart from previous generations.

"If their mothers thought a dark wash was better for evening, of course they're going to wear a light wash and whatever jeans they want," the award-winning stylist told Bored Panda.

Roy believes 1990s fashion and the pandemic have had a "huge impact" on Gen Z style, with a tendency toward wearing more comfortable clothing. "College girls are wearing sweats and sweatshirts, athleisure to class, denim is dressing up for them!"

Additionally, fashion can be in the details, Roy highlighted. "Each of the girls in the photo has a slightly different look, they all belong to the same tribe, but they have their own uniqueness that other generations might not see if they don't look close enough. It's more subtle: from a shoulder bag to a cross body bag, denim jacket with a black skirt."