The state of fashion according to a fashion-obsessed boomer and a few stylish millennials

The fashion industry is understood for selling aspirations. Often the models are slim, sometimes plus size models are rarely seen on the runways, and models with disabilities are even rarer. It’s elusive for some reason, the allure and desirability that is an element of this industry keeps outsiders isolated. Roles and positions could appear out of reach for many individuals from marginalized communities. Despite these views, over the past few years, mainly through the pandemic, it gave the impression of the industry was turning over a recent leaf, with diversity and inclusion being the buzzwords. To take a closer look, we asked several millennials and baby boomers to share their ideas and how they feel. From their point of view, they analyzed personal style, diversity and more.

Shelton Boyd-Griffith The 31-year-old freelance fashion author believes there are some changes within the industry that she needs to address. “There are still many issues, such as size diversity, which is still not a priority [and] the same white designers [being] moved away from the roles of creative director,” he says. Boyd-Griffith notes that celebrity oversaturation can also be part of the industry.

He strongly believes that fashion is in a decent space and claims that the industry is “not very accessible and mainstream.” As the industry grows in popularity, this offers more room for other perspectives and entry points into the fashion industry. The positive he sees is that menswear is way more exciting and the conversation around sustainability is becoming louder thanks to related initiatives.

Conversely, when it comes to self-expression through fashion, the twenty-something millennial Utibe Mbagwu it feels, to put it bluntly, strange. Her TikTok channel “For You” is always pushing her trends and “cores”, and recently she is following the “mob wife core” trend, which goals to lock down quiet luxury.

“While it’s true which you could tell by the way in which you dress who has a similar timeline as you, I still feel that due to the realities of our bank accounts, we proceed to wear clothes that suit us slightly than refurbish them. our closets because a recent ‘core’ has just dropped,” says Mbagwu. He adds which you could rejoice with trends, especially in the event you mix them with timeless elements.

“I also don’t think the increase in following peers and dressing is specific to this period,” Mbagwu notes. “Your formative years of taste building are always inspired by your surroundings, and we find balance with time and trial and error.”

Sonya Shields, 60, the nonprofit’s executive director and president, has a way more positive attitude toward fashion. Shields lives for fantasy and fashion innovation. “I have been exposed to fashion since I was a child and now have a deep love and passion for fashion,” Shields shares in an email. She equally appreciates the unlimited creativity of fashion that opens doors for her. “I love that I can use all of these creative approaches to fashion to express my personal style.”

From the woes of the fashion industry to issues with self-expression, it’s protected to say there’s all the time room for improvement. We can take a page from fashion-obsessed Sonya’s book and find pockets of positivity within the ever-changing landscape of different layers of fashion.