Aspiration in Fashion is Overrated.
Why trying to fit in can cost you your true creative voice
You know those people in fashion who just get it? They walk into a room, and immediately change the energy. They don’t have to try too hard—they just are. It’s like everything they do or bring to the table just feels fresh, new, and exciting. But they don’t do it by following the trends—they kind of make their own. It’s not like they set out to be “cool”; it’s just that they are cool. They don’t try to prove anything, but their confidence, their vibe, it pulls people in.
When you look at them, the glamour is undeniable. It seems like they’re always in the spotlight, working on the coolest projects, collaborating with the most exclusive brands, and living these wild, adventurous lives that seem full of artistic freedom and endless inspiration. It’s easy for another creative to look at that and think, “That’s where I want to be.”
Then, there’s this pressure to stay relevant as you develop your career in the industry. The fashion world moves fast, and it often feels like if you’re not plugged into that “cool” vibe—whatever that is—you’ll get left behind. There’s this unspoken rule that to succeed, you have to look and act the part—even if it’s not entirely who you are.
But this whole “cool creative” image often leads to imposter syndrome. You start to wonder, “Am I really cut out for this?” or “Maybe I need to represent myself more like that person who seems to have it all figured out.” Self-doubt creeps in, and it feels like the pressure to fit a mold is never-ending.
If you’re one of those people who just gets it right from the start, good for you. And I truly mean that.
But for many of us, especially when we’re just starting out, it can feel like there’s this ideal version of a creative persona that we’re not, but have to fit into. The industry tells us that if we’re not “cool” or “intuitive” enough, we might not make it.
I spent much of my career wrestling with these unspoken rules and taboos, which only made it harder to find my own path. I started out thinking success meant following this cool creative mold, but I quickly realized I couldn’t force it. The pressure to be someone I wasn’t was real, and it was exhausting. There was this constant battle to prove I belonged, to show I was as visionary as the next person. And if I didn’t fit that mold? It felt like I was failing.
The truth is, after being around in the industry for many years, I think I can confidently say—there’s no one “right way” to be a successful creative. What we define as the “cool creative” is very subjective. You might be looking up to someone, focusing on becoming them, when you might already be seen as an aspiring figure by someone else. And that’s where I think a lot of people, myself included, get lost.
We get so caught up in “aspiration” that we forget creativity is all about being true to ourselves. The thing that makes us unique is our own voice, our own way of seeing the world.
Which brings us to the title of this article (which could probably be slightly softened)—Aspiration in fashion can be a double-edged sword.
It can push us to grow, but if we’re not careful, we might find ourselves chasing someone else’s version of success. In trying so hard to fit a mold that isn’t ours, we lose sight of what makes us unique. We end up confined by expectations that don’t suit us, endlessly pursuing a dream that was never really meant for us.
So, I argue that it’s far more important to know who you truly are and where you really belong before you even consider your next aspirations. Immerse yourself in what excites you—not because it’s what the “cool creatives” are doing, but because it’s where your true talent lies and what you’re genuinely passionate about. When you do this repeatedly, you might just find yourself becoming the one who gets it—without even trying.
The industry doesn’t need another version of someone else. It needs you.