The style of Generation Z
Generation Z. Internet Culture. Style. Activism.
Man & Identity Module 2
Introduction With the aging of the babyboomers in full swing, the labor shortages will approach us.The new generation, which has to ensure sufficient labor masses, is now still in school. It is Generation Z. Everyone looks forward to this group, which uses a computer at everything it does, but there is more
happening in this generation. Generation Z was born in mid or late 1990s. Born into a post-internet world, Generation Z are high-speed, mobile and digitally adept; they are an open citizen of the world, with great skill in interactive new media, and likes to contribute to it’s society; as long as it involves a lot of self initiative. Stylewise Generation Z is very free in their way of dressing and expressing. Their style has a lot to do with their perception of life, beauty, gender and aesthetics. Since their perception about all these things are shifting due the digital world (think about blogs, people and cultures from all over the world) they all look different and very individual.Although you can generalize them with their references to the 90’s, playfullness, and optimistic appearances.
“The internet has helped us in making the world a better place. It’s our generation’s ears and eyes, giving us the knowledge and tools to implement change. Change happens when we’re told stories that “provoke and inspire us”
“ The best about being young in 2015 is the internet: with this platform you can achieve so much and have an international network, but also the acces to loads of information! Making friends on the whole globe, and keeping contact doesn’t matter where people are.�
Interview “The internet is often painted as a black hole of activism – In my experience, the internet has been transformative in the way I understand the world. “
I went to Amsterdam to meet with a girl called Iriée Zamblé. She and her friends represent Generation Z of Amsterdam. Iriée is 19 years old and lives in Amsterdam Zeeburg. She had two gap years in which she had 5 different jobs: from bartender in a gaybar to babysitting. After the summer she will study at HKU.She adores cooking, drawing, making pictures and shopping for new clothes.Her mother is dutch and her dad is from the west coast of Africa.
“You should always do what you want to do yourself, whether you have much or little money it is very important that you can do whatever what you want.�
“Loyalty and identity are very important to me. Stay true to others but also to yourself; stand for who you are and dare to be yourself. People don’t think for theirselves anymore; they are guided by what others do (following the crowd) and it irritates me so much! Use your own common sense.�
“Everyone got a life thanks to their father and mother, with that life you can go into so many different directions! Anything you want, you can accomplish a lot in your life. Just don’t take the time to think about what others think of you; eventually you’ll wind up on your feet again and those people that are judging you now aren’t going to be there by the time you’re 40.”
“I get my clothes from everywhere, small vintage shops or Ebay. I like Monki a lot but Waterloo square has everything I need; small markets and little shops, even piles of clothes on the streets will do! I don’t really follow the trends although I like clothing, I just put on whatever I like and whatever I want.�
“I think the essence of my appearance is mainly to do as many different things with your looks, you can do so much with it and look different every day.There are more possibilities than just a little blush and mascara; it is something you should embrace and use.“
Characteristics & Influences (invented) traditions, body and face decorating. body and face decoration is becoming more casual instead of occasional for these people, with stickers, and makeup they create fairytale stories and create their own invented traditions, While religion played a big role in body decoration (bindi’s or african tribes) aesthetics are playing a big role now. In this way people achieve a very personal and fantasy like appearance.
oriental / tribe / etnic / linework
FKA TWIGS
princess / childish / fairytale / manga
fluffy / fuzzy / fantasy haircolors
adhesives / sticker / emoij / sticker / childish acts
artifical worlds / digital / hyper realism / seapunk
kitsch / 90’s / cyberworld / gameworld / Netart
baggy / gender mix (skirts, hair extensions and very long shirts)
playfull / game / hyper print / hippy / trippy
childish / tacky / kitsch / manga / innocent / chokers
sportswear / vintage sportswear refers back to 90’s raves
pop culture / humour / digital emotions
90’s nostalgia in 2015: the tattoo choker to fake a tattoo.
celebrity’s from the 90’s as an inspiration for today’s fashion.