CULTURE
Fashion as a Political Statement: The Return to Conservatism in Fashion
By: Sheza Qasim Edited By: Maya Merante
Fashion has long reflected societal and political trends. In the 1940s, womens clothing was modest in times of war. Throughout the civil rights and feminist movements of the 1960s, we saw more mini skirts, bright colors, and futuristic fashion. The 2000s and the early 2010s were dominated by individuality, featuring different aesthetics like boho and emo. Fashion and trends tend to reflect a broader societal shift. In the past year, we’ve seen subtle but significant shifts towards more traditional, conservative values in political ideology and fashion.
A recent TikTok trend – “when my frontal lobe develops”– discusses how mature decision making affects our personal style and presentation. Many people said they no longer wear crop tops and regret their piercings and tattoos since their “frontal lobe developed” (i.e. they matured). The sudden pushback from society about tattoos, piercings, and crop tops isn't just a developmental change: it's a direct response to the fashion trends and political climate of the world. Although this trend could be an unconscious switch, our clothing fads have historically reflected broader cultural movements.
The Tradwife aesthetic, which gained popularity through TikTok figures like Nara Smith, has been trending over the past year. This trend embraces a return to traditional gender roles where the wife stays home to care for the children while the husband works. The Tradwife aesthetic revolves around wearing long, modest dresses and sporting a “clean girl” makeup look. This trend reflects a shift in the political climate – one reminiscent of the gender norms from the 1950s – signaling a sort of regression to those earlier roles.
The “old money” fashion trend reflects simplicity and embraces classic wardrobe staples. It involves clothing items like blazers, solid-colored knit sweaters, and trousers. While wearing this style seems innocuous, it may be connected to the dominance of conservative politics in this past election cycle, with rising financial stressors encouraging voters to conform to the safety and styles of the past.
Neutrals have also been on the rise as of late: found in everything from beige clothing, to beige furniture, to beige children’s toys. The increase in these neutral tones points to a change from embracing individuality to a focus on mass consumption. Fashion is retreating from the vibrant colors we saw throughout the 2000s and 2010s.
As a reflection of this, Pantone's 2025 color of the year is “Mocha Mousse.” The beige trend signals a broader societal shift away from excess and bold self-expression. The 2000s and 2010s were dominated by the pursuit of uniqueness, with people striving to stand out through individualistic fashion choices that spoke to their distinct personalities. However, the recent popularity of beige points to a new conformity in style.
Colors can carry meaning, today any red hat can be seen as support for President Donald Trump. After the election, people refused to wear the color red ever again so they wouldn’t mistakenly be taken as Trump supporters. The recent Democrat vs. Republican makeup trend on TikTok has people of opposite political parties doing their makeup in a style typical of the other party. This trend again points to the divided political climate and shows how beauty can be a factor in politics.
Alishba Qasim, political science student at New York University, explained how public perception affects political figures’ use of fashion and beauty to express their roles. “One example I can think of is how Michelle Obama’s hair during President Barack Obama’s presidency was kept straight, and now she's embracing her hair in braids and natural hairstyles,” she said.
Michelle Obama said she opted for straight hair as the first lady because the American public “wasn’t ready” for a black family in office. Hair can be used to express one’s personality and culture, or in this case, the need for conformity and tradition. By having straight hair during President Obama’s presidency, Michelle Obama avoided controversy as many Americans picked apart the first families’ every move. Fashion, beauty and hair can easily influence people’s thoughts around a person and continues to be a political statement.
As with any trend or movement, there are going to be outliers. Many people still dress in maximalist styles and champion individualism. As the pendulum swings back toward more conservative aesthetics, we should encourage people to dress in the style that feels most comfortable to them rather than conforming to an aesthetic that doesn't reflect their personal style.
