Was fashion actualluy better
before social media?

“You’ll regret that outfit,” grandma warned. But honestly, the regret had already kicked in before they even left the house; trends move that fast now.

By Mehak Aggarwal

Fashion didn’t used to be this chaotic. You either had an eye for it or a tailor who ghosted you just enough to keep you humble. Trends used to take their time. Back then, the harshest fashion critic was probably an aunt side-eyeing a pair of ripped jeans. But then social media showed up, and suddenly getting dressed wasn’t just about personal style anymore, it became a constant performance, with even the neighbour’s cat ready to throw shade.

Before Instagram, shopping was a gamble. That neon green skirt? That velvet blazer? You were stuck with them. No influencers whispering sweet things about ‘dopamine dressing’ or ‘Barbiecore’ into your feed. You tried things on under harsh fluorescent lights and hoped for the best. Meanwhile, men had three choices: dad jeans, office formals, or cargo shorts—the holy trinity of “no effort required.”

Trends used to take their time. If a designer declared, “Dungarees are back,” you had two years before they were available on the stores. Now? Bella Hadid sneezes in a Victorian bonnet, and by evening, fast fashion brands have 17 versions of it ready to ship.

A decade ago, a woman could buy a classic black dress and call it a day. Now, she’s caught in an identity crisis, does her mini dress scream Y2K revival or just 2007 reality TV contestant? Men, once terrified of pink, are now confidently rocking pearl necklaces and mesh tops because that one influencer on Instagram said why should only girls wear all the pretty?

And let’s talk about comfort, or lack thereof. “I wore a corset top to brunch, thinking I’d look like Zendaya. By the end, I was reconsidering my life choices and basic respiratory functions,” says Ishita Malhotra, a 20-year-old fashion designing student at Pearl Academy. “I tried one of those ultra-skinny suits everyone on Instagram wears, and suddenly I knew what a sausage feels like,” laughs Aarav Deshmukh, a 19-year-old engineering student in Maharaja Surajmal College.

Meanwhile, fashion’s mystery is gone. Once, stylish people had an aura. Where did they find those perfect boots? How did they make that look work? Now, you can track their aesthetic journey through tagged posts and haul videos.

So, was fashion better before Instagram? If you liked mystery, craftsmanship, and the thrill of truly standing out, then yes. If you prefer instant access, inspiration overload, and knowing exactly what shade of nail polish Timothée Chalamet is wearing today, then welcome to 2025. Either way, one thing remains true: fashion will always be ridiculous, but at least now, we can all laugh about it together, preferably in matching sequined palazzos and impractically small handbags.