2025 Consumption Trend Reversal, ‘Frugal Chic’ Offers New Aesthetic
The consumption style ‘Frugal Chic’, which captures both practicality and style by taking advantage of economic sensibility and taste, is gaining attention. We explore the essence and practical methods of this smart alternative to consumerism.
Frugal Chic, Style Against Fads
In these times, finding one’s identity amidst ever-changing trends is not easy. The style world is filled with trends that change overnight from cottagecore to hyperpop, to the clean girl aesthetic. If you’re tired of this trend rollercoaster, feel free to change direction. Quietly gaining traction on TikTok and fashion communities, ‘Frugal Chic’ is a response to this fatigue.
Mia McGrath, a former model and financial content creator, is one of the leading proponents of Frugal Chic. She describes this style as seemingly elegant on the outside yet highly strategic in consumption.
“Those who practice Frugal Chic are actually very savvy about their money.”
Instead of choosing the flashiest new products at the department store, they discover gem-like items at second-hand markets and question whether they truly can’t do without something.
Economic Sensibility and Dignity Coexistence According to Mia McGrath
Practitioners of Frugal Chic are wary of being perceived as ‘cheap’. Style is not solely defined by the price tag. During a Zoom interview, McGrath paired a simple white t-shirt with a black blazer, exuding a restrained elegance even through the screen. She asserts that a ‘high-quality life’ is the essence of Frugal Chic.
“Frugal Chic is based on taste and wisdom. Anyone can live a stylish and elegant life.”
She recommends durable glass containers, upcycling candle containers, and versatile beauty items. For instance, using lipstick as a blush and reusing the empty glass container of a candle as a brush holder, allowing one to realize ‘small elegance’ in daily life.
Revamping the Frugal Wardrobe
Frugal Chic is also about exploring past wardrobes with today’s perspective. Adding new buttons to an old coat, layering lingerie as outerwear, or using a scarf in unexpected ways. The approach is that style begins with composition and reinterpretation rather than buying and discarding.
<Vogue Business> guest editor Amy Francombe emphasizes this point.
“Clothing looks more sophisticated when found for much cheaper than the original price. Where and how you acquired it is what makes it special.”
This mindset prompts a reevaluation of existing consumption patterns. Style is not summarized by ‘how much you paid’, but rather focused on the perspective and sense with which it was chosen.
Celebrity Clues: Zoe Kravitz and Kaia Gerber
Zoe Kravitz and Kaia Gerber, considered style icons, epitomize the Frugal Chic trend. They build their wardrobes around timeless items unaffected by trends, maintaining an attitude of always ‘wearing their clothes’.
This approach is not difficult to mimic. It is feasible even on a budget, and practical since these styles can be utilized over a long period. McGrath states.
“I didn’t invent this style. It’s just that the term spread among those already practicing frugal consumption.”
Notably, she mentions that many of her clothing items are purchased from second-hand platforms, and a classic combination of an unassuming black belt and blazer is enough to complete a style.
Anti-Consumerist Style Declaration
Frugal Chic is not just a matter of fashion. It is a philosophy on consumption, and indeed a perspective on our era. Francombe likens overconsumption to ‘doomscrolling’ news addiction.
“We are now in an era where we consume with quality of life in mind, rather than seeking short-lived pleasures through buying meaningless things.”
It’s time to move away from the routine of wasting time with a phone in hand in bed, the mindset captured by endless sale notifications, and fashion choices dependent solely on AI-recommended products. Instead, we are reclaiming a sense of choosing clothes for ourselves and imbuing even the smallest items with presence.
Frugal Chic, Aesthetic of Careful Selection
Frugal Chic offers a lifestyle proposal that, while not flashy, makes an unmistakable impact. As seen in McGrath’s example, she demonstrates that style can be sufficiently enhanced even with a mini bag used for five years or a pair of loafers found in a second-hand market.
The core of this style is a balance of intentional ‘small restraint’ and strategic ‘expressive methods’. Viewing shopping as a means of realizing ‘selfness’ and ensuring those choices remain without waste over time.
Ultimately, style is a subcultural code that reflects oneself. A trend asking how autonomously you chose rather than whose trend it is, is now blossoming.
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