Inspiration over Replication

A quick note on thoughtfulness

I recently unfollowed the majority of “influencers” that I had been following on my personal Instagram. I often find myself thinking about the extreme overuse of the word “follow” in our culture. “Follow” – previously a word reserved for literally taking the same steps as another person. The opposite of a leader, one may remember. So why is it now a form of endearment? Following someone we have never met, solely with the intention of playing copycat (and for most social media users, to discover the most affordable finds). The word “unfollow” would sound incredibly silly, even just twenty years ago.

Let’s be clear: this is not an anti-influencer campaign. I think influencers have done worlds of wonder for businesses and consumers alike. What a gift for both sides of the consumer market.

I think where we have strayed is the lack of creativity that comes from the ease of the “follow.” Our decisions are becoming less and less our own. The same is true with our needs (wants).

My recent unfollowing spree has allowed me to consider those who we admire as our source of inspiration – whether they be your favorite online creator, a dear friend, or someone from afar.

I’ve found I really resonate with the content shared by those working in luxury fashion, ultra-cool-friends-of-friends, creators who own their own business, my best friends, and artist who are also Substack creators. It won’t be the same line up for any of you . . . it shouldn’t be.

There is no thoughtfulness in replication.

Replication has taken over our sense of inspiration. That’s why brands are often victims of modern virality: selling out the entire collection and launching a months-long pre-order period, only to be met with fans upset at the lack of quality / efficiency / you name it for whatever they “had” to have (because their friend has it).

I love a trend just as much as the next girl (and love to hop on the train early… Salomons were all over London last spring and I have a pair coming to my doorstep on Tuesday… hoping I don’t look *too* crazy sporting them this spring in Mississippi). I also know that trying on a trend does not create a sense of personal attachment or style. I most admire the pieces / products / lifestyle choices that took thoughtful personal discovery.

I’ve found myself much more motivated after intentionally considering what inspires me. I never realized how much thought must be going into the content I loved to consume! Pulling back from the commercialized content made me realize how often I was looking for something to just “copy and paste” instead of creating my own version.

A final note: A Create Academy interiors course I am currently taking said that there is usually one element of a Pinterest image we really like. Dive deeper than just the whole image and find what truly captures your attention. Your inspiration comes from dozens of thoughts / images / ideas / words … all blended to create a true sense of ownership with your style and taste.

Xx, Miriam