How to be THAT girl this summer?!?!?!?!

Summer to-buy-list:

1. White flowy skirts
2. Anything with ribbons, pink ribbons preferably
3. Puff-sleeved dresses
4. Striped linen button downs
5. Woven bag for beach dates
6. A whole new wardrobe from brands that prey on overconsumption and hyper-consumerism.

Although the sun has decided to hide for the past few days, it's official! Summer is approaching, which means a vacation in the south of France and a call for new outfits. As the seasons change, what better way to celebrate than by buying loads of new clothes, even though your wardrobe is already overflowing with items you've worn once and then decided, "I have nothing to wear" ?

I understand—it's not just about creating new looks, but trends have changed, right? It's so irrelevant and uncool to be seen wearing last summer's clothes. Like, who even wears denim maxi skirts and oversized cargo pants anymore? That's so last year! With the growing list of new trends for this summer, you need to jump on the bandwagon. Of course, you don't want to be caught wearing something out of season, or, God forbid, an outfit you posted on Instagram a few months ago. People need something new, something fresh, and you need to provide that!

With the ever-growing fast fashion brands such as Zara, H&M, and SHEIN, overconsumption has become easier than ever. They stay very up-to-date with the latest fashion trends, and they are cheap (totally not because their workers are underpaid or because they use cheap labor from less economically developed countries like Bangladesh or Vietnam, or even child labor in their garment production). I also want to point out that to meet the rapid demands of fast-moving trends, these companies use cheap synthetic fabrics in their garment production, which means these clothes don't last long and are of very low quality. We rarely wear our clothes twice, so I am utterly grateful that they make it so easy for us to dispose of these garments and make space for more clothes! Some say that the goal of fast fashion brands is to encourage people to spend more money on more clothes that we use for a shorter time, which is why I love shopping at these retail stores. They make our lives so much easier!

I apologize if my previous paragraph did no justice to my trust fund babies who prefer to splurge on designer brands: Prada, Chanel, Hermès, Ralph Lauren, Loewe. I can't believe I forgot to mention all these brands first. Who are we without our Vintage Alhambra 5 Motifs Bracelet, Loewe Basket Beg made from calfskin, Bottega Andiamo Leather Bag in Black or the classic, ever-so-lasting Re-Nylon Prada Re-Edition 2000 Mini-Bag this summer? These brands shape who we are as a people. How do we even express our identity and signals our values, interests and social status if we are not seen wearing all these designer brands? How can we attain our validation from people through our branded purchases if it is not from buying a handbag that is worth the minimum wage of this country?

Oh, you are a government sponsored student who depends on your nation's taxpayers? That is alright, we can still figure something out if you still want to afford one of the bags from the list of Top 10 Best Designer Bags That Are Worth the Investment. We can perhaps use Klarna; it is only £150 per month for one and a half years. With the amount of attention and validation you get from your peers, that amount is insignificant. You can surely maintain this lifestyle even after you graduate and stop receiving money from the government. Wearing designer brands is a lifestyle that you need to learn to adapt quick. Ignore the fact that your mother waited until she was 45 to finally own her first designer bag.

But if you truly don't have enough money to revamp your identity this summer, perhaps you could try thrifting? I've heard it's something less fortunate people do, where they buy second-hand items. Truthfully, I don't think that's hygienic; I'd rather spend money on clothes made by underpaid workers in lower-income countries than lay my hands on garments that others have worn before me. Plus, you won't be able to keep up with the current trends, so I apologize that you'll end up with last season's clothing. Also, bad news alert: thrift stores don't sell clothes according to your specific aesthetics. They don't organize their garments by aesthetics or whatever. So, it might be difficult to keep up with your style, whether it's old money aesthetic, light academia, coquette aesthetic, or early 2000s aesthetic. Ugh, it must be frustrating to try and mix and match clothes without a cohesive look. And the smell—nothing quite like that vintage thrift store aroma of mothballs and mystery. Not to mention the thrill of discovering mysterious stains and wondering about the garment's previous life. But hey, look on the bright side: thrift store items are cheap, much cheaper than my favorite retail website, SHEIN. This means you can buy more and more items that you wear only once. Either way, you can still commit to overconsumption. Yay!

Have fun with your summer retail therapy and hopefully this blog post helps you contribute more to hyper-consumerism!

PSA, While the above essay is written as a satire to highlight and critique the obsession with designer brands and the social pressures surrounding them, I want to be transparent about my own experiences. I personally own two designer bags and understand the allure and satisfaction they can bring. I also sometimes shop at fast fashion retailers and am a victim of consumerism myself. This piece is not meant to judge or shame those who enjoy or invest in designer items and over consumerism, but rather to spark a conversation about the broader societal implications and pressures that comes with it. It is also a critical evaluation of my own behaviors and attitudes towards overconsumption.