Fashion is a visual trend that marks generations. Over time, certain articles of clothing become indicative of an age group. Georg Simmel writes, “the elite initiates a fashion and, when the mass imitates it, in an effort to obliterate the external distinctions of class, abandons it for a newer mode” (1957: 541). Although fashion is constantly changing, Simmel writes that there is a cyclical element, in which a power dynamic is maintained through time.
Millennials have witnessed a great deal of social justice achievements, as well as persisting acts of extreme oppression. From the legalization of same-sex marriage, to the election of Donald Trump, millennials have come of age under polarization. For this reason, millennial fashion is often politicized and analyzed as resisting the norm. At the same time, as an extremely diverse generation, millennial fashion is portrayed as an inclusive embrace of difference. Do millennials use fashion to resist hegemonic norms? Do millennials actually interpret their style in this way? Is Simmel’s theory still relevant? Through research and interviews, we will make a film that attempts to answer these questions, and explores millennial fashion as a tool for resistance.