Men’s Online Fashion Inspiration

By Callie Schaefer

In the middle of a pandemic, there is no better place to find fashion inspiration than online. School, work and social gatherings all became virtual towards the beginning of 2020. Finding fashion inspiration can seem daunting and difficult. How does one find examples of their personal style on social media and then discover those pieces in real life? With social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest, finding your style inspiration has never been easier. TikTok has increased in popularity since the start of the pandemic, due to its ease of allowing many people to express themselves through short videos and the role it has played in today's current fashion. TikTok has created a space for people to be creative and has a huge outreach. Kobe Knettel, senior at Sauk Rapids-Rice in Minnesota, is very active on the app. He said he finds the majority of his fashion inspiration on TikTok. He thinks the app has had a large influence on current fashion trends.

“I think fashion trends are extremely influenced by social media, especially with the rise of TikTok,” said Knettel. “I feel like a lot of fashion trends have been shared through it, especially when they become popular.” Knettel described his process for putting together outfits after pulling inspiration from social media. After seeing a piece online he likes, he will try to find it to purchase. He often found after finding the exact item that spiked interest on social media it would be sold out. He has made a habit of heading to thrift stores to find similar items for a good price. Looking at how influencers may have styled their pieces, Knettel will replicate it with some twists of his own.

Yahsiah Scott, a resident of the Des Moines area, also looks to TikTok for fashion inspiration. He, like Knettel, looks in thrift stores to find pieces similar to what he saw on social media platforms. Scott sometimes even takes a second look at what he already has in his closet. While TikTok does a good job of reaching many people, spreading trends and giving many people inspiration- Pinterest is also a great platform to gain inspiration. Pinterest allows you to explore many different posts customized to your interests, pin the images you like onto categorized boards and organize inspiration in a personalized way. Scott personally uses Pinterest. He appreciates how he can search for specific things and also let Pinterest find similar items for him.

Knettel and Scott both spoke on pressures for men on social media. There is an unspoken pressure for men to be plain. in the sense that there is a fear to be unoriginal. It appears that for men there is a block to really expressing themselves. There is a pressure to not stand out due to fear of what others might say. This happens specifically when it comes to displaying yourself as being masculine versus feminine. Showing a feminine side as a male can be reacted to negatively. Often when men express their feminine side their sexuality is invalidated and they are heavily judged. Scott commented on his personal experience with this after he shot with TREND.

“I’m comfortable with my sexuality enough to wear makeup or hair clips for a photoshoot. [My family] believed this was “making me gay” which is just ridiculous,” Scott said.

Knettel voiced how TikTok has allowed him to explore his femininity.

“I am more confident with wearing things that are inherently considered feminine,” Knettel said.

He believes social media like TikTok gives people a space to challenge gender norms. However, it can also be a platform for people to do the opposite. Knettel personally recommends ignoring the bad that may be said and embrace your inner-self/fashion sense. After coming out as bisexual and embracing what he wanted to wear and how he wanted to act, Knettel gained confidence. He said, “that’s really what makes the difference”. Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest have not only become great places to find fashion inspiration, but also places for people to express themselves. While issues like toxic masculinity and expressing femininity still exist, these platforms have become great places for many and allow men to find their own style.