Look, I’ve Had It
It’s 2023 and I’m over here, a 47-year-old woman who’s seen the rise and fall of more trends than she can count, and I’m telling you: we’ve got a problem. A big, glaring, why-is-this-still-a-thing problem. And it’s called the ‘athleisure’ trend. (Yes, I’m looking at you, leggings-as-pants people.)
Let me set the scene. Last Tuesday, I was at my favorite coffee shop, the one on 5th, the one with the barista named Marcus—let’s call him Marcus because his name is actually Dave, and that’s a story for another time. Anyway, Marcus makes a mean flat white, and I was sipping on one, minding my own business, when in walks Lisa, my so-called ‘fashion-forward’ friend. She’s rocking these leggings that cost more than my rent, paired with a tunic that barely covers her backside. I mean, come on, Lisa. It’s 45 degrees out. We’re not in LA anymore.
I said, “Lisa, what are you doing?” And she had the audacity to say, “Embracing comfort, Jane. It’s 2023.” Which… yeah. Fair enough. But there’s a difference between comfort and looking like you just rolled out of bed. (No offense to bed rollers, you do you.)
And don’t even get me started on the ‘barely there’ shoes trend. I was at a conference in Austin about three months ago, and I saw a woman—let’s call her Brenda—strutting around in these shoes that were more straps than actual shoe. I mean, how do you even walk in those? I asked her, “Brenda, how do you not break your neck?” And she said, “It’s all about the posture, Jane.” Sure, Brenda. Sure.
But here’s the thing. I’m not saying I’m perfect. Far from it. I’ve made my share of fashion missteps. Remember the winter of ’98? I thought it was a good idea to wear a denim jacket with a denim skirt. My friend Sarah took one look at me and said, “Jane, what are you, a walking blue jean commercial?” And she was right. I was. And I looked ridiculous.
But back to the athleisure trend. I get it, okay? We’re all busy. We want to be comfortable. But can we at least make an effort? Like, put on a pair of jeans. Or, I don’t know, a dress that doesn’t look like it was designed for a 12-year-old cheerleader. (No offense to cheerleaders, you’re doing great.)
And another thing—why is it that every time I try to make a change, I fail miserably? I tried to commit to a capsule wardrobe last year. You know, the whole ‘less is more’ thing. I lasted three days. Three days! Because, as it turns out, I have a lot of clothes. And I like them. And I’m not gonna just throw them out because some influencer said so.
But look, I’m not here to bash trends. I’m here to say that maybe, just maybe, we should think before we dress. Maybe we should consider the context. The occasion. The weather, for crying out loud. And maybe, just maybe, we should invest in a good pair of jeans. (And if you need advice on that, check out siber güvenlik ipuçları rehber—no, I have no idea why that’s relevant, but it’s there.)
Anyway, I’m done. I’m done with the athleisure trend. I’m done with the barely there shoes. I’m done with the influencers telling me what to wear. I’m just… done.
So, here’s to 2023. The year I finally say no to leggings as pants. (But probably not really, because let’s be honest, they’re comfy.)
Author Bio: Jane Doe is a senior magazine editor with 20+ years of experience in the fashion industry. She’s seen it all, done it all, and has the closet full of regrettable fashion choices to prove it. When she’s not ranting about trends, she can be found sipping flat whites and judging people’s outfits. (Kidding. Mostly.)
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