Is My Body Out of Trend?
“The truth is, that the human body is made to move and bend freely, with rolls, bumps, marks, and imperfections.”
- Indigo Carter
You are flipping through Vogue in the ‘90s and notice the main aesthetic in all the photos is extreme thinness and dark circles under the eyes. Flash forward to today, and guess what is back in style? You guessed it–Heroine chic.
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“Heroin chic” is the coined term for a fashion trend and aesthetic that romanticizes the sickly look often associated with drug addiction. Models that fall under this trend typically are extremely thin and have an overall disheveled look. The term “heroin chic” suggests an allure of danger and edginess. It became popularized in the 1990s, emulating the countercultural movements of the time.
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The trend that popular fashion magazines were loving ended up receiving a lot of backlash for allegedly promoting unhealthy behaviors and glamorizing illness or addiction. The media slowly moved and made strides toward body positivity, and in recent years, “thickness” became the main trend. This is because of celebrities like the Kardashians popularizing Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLS) and curvy bodies.
Trends are known for gaining popularity and then quickly burning out. At the 2022 Met Gala, Kim Kardashian showcased her much smaller figure, telling the press how quickly she dropped 16 pounds. While Kim Kardashian is not the poster child for all women, she is a significant way to gauge the current fashion trends.
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Skinny low-rise jeans are back in style. Ozempic, a weight loss drug, is trending on social media. Celebrities are popping up on red carpets sporting their fresh buccal fat removal. There is nothing shameful about wanting to follow trends. People, especially women, are often wrongfully judged for plastic surgery, but everybody has the right to do what makes them feel confident and good. Plastic surgery is becoming normalized and is commonly desired among teens and young adults. It creates a socioeconomic divide that separates looks based on money. Bodies have become an indicator of status and an extension of our consumerist nature, reflecting to the public how much we can invest in the beauty industry. A body that looks or feels out of trend can be immediately isolating.
Another problem with the comeback of heroin chic and extreme thinness is the damaging psychological and physical effects yearning for thinness has on the body and mind. It is clear that not only girls and women suffer this toll, with 79 percent of Americans dissatisfied with their bodies, according to an Iposos survey. Not to mention, Ozempic gaining popularity amongst people who do not need it comes at the expense of those who need it for blood sugar control.
In the game of chasing unrealistic beauty standards, it feels like I am always going to be one step behind, because of how fast they change. With the constant consumption of influencers and marketing schemes telling us how to look and how to dress, it is only natural to feel self-doubt and insecurity at times. For a person who feels like their body type is “going out of style,” it can be disheartening, and even scary. The social media message has been clear– big asses and boobs are out of style, while small wrists and miniature waists are the new “thing”. With summer around the corner, the “dream summer body” content is already lurking in the shadows, and with thinness being the new trend, it is important to recognize what these impossible beauty trends are: an ever-changing apparition of fleeting attractiveness. The truth is, that the human body is made to move and bend freely, with rolls, bumps, marks, and imperfections. Confidence and security in your skin are not ever going to fade out of style.
Image Courtesy: Instagram
Indigo Carter is a writer for Strike Magazine. She is an English major with a deranged love for Hello Kitty and constantly re-applying lip gloss. You can reach her at @indigocarterr@gmail.com or on Instagram @prettypretty.princesss
