If you’re like most people today, the pandemic changed how often you’re on the web. Stuck on the couch, you wind up scrolling through Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok more than you ever have before.
When these apps expose you to the hottest brands, luxury goods, and must-haves for your wardrobe, it can be hard to ignore the temptation to snap up the latest trend for yourself. But all that online shopping can creep up on you, especially if it’s fueled by FOMO.
WHAT IS FASHION FOMO?
Fashion FOMO is a fear of missing out on whatever’s trendy today. You see the fashionable people online wearing the latest “it” piece, and you’re worried you’ll get left behind if you don’t snag one for yourself.
There’s nothing wrong with updating your wardrobe from time to time, but it becomes a problem when FOMO convinces you to constantly buy new clothes.
LOOK FOR THE SIGNS OF FASHION FOMO
Few people are immune to FOMO — most exhibit at least one of the signs below:
1. YOU’RE IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE
It’s a costly habit to shop all the time. If you don’t have a lot of expendable cash, you’ll slowly collect charges on your credit card.
Maxing out these cards puts you in a precarious position. How will you afford to call a plumber in the middle of the night when there’s a flooding emergency? Without a credit card, you may need to take out a line of credit for additional help.
If your shopping sprees have brought down your credit score, you may only qualify for line of credit loans online with costly rates. These high rates are why lenders at MoneyKey recommend only using line of credit loans for bad credit for unexpected emergency expenses.
2. YOU ONLY BUY FAST FASHION
Hot new designs are created to burn brightly for a short time, but they have no lasting power in your closet. That’s the reality of living in a world dominated by fast fashion. Your cheap jeans will fall out of fashion as quickly as they wear through the knees.
The individual price tags of fast fashion pieces are pretty cheap compared to ethical alternatives. But they add up when you have to constantly replace these items, whereas more sustainable options are designed to last.
3. YOU BUY IT EVEN IF IT WON’T FIT
A sale goes on the skirt or pumps you’ve been eyeing for ages, only to see that your size has sold out. That won’t stop FOMO from causing you to buy the item in the wrong size. In your head, you’ll squeeze into the shoes to make them work and take your skirt to the tailors.
More often than not, these end up being empty promises. A closet full of clothes in mint condition, still with their tags on, is a big sign you’ve got FOMO bad. For you, it’s the act of having the latest fad that’s important. Wearing it doesn’t even factor into the equation.
BREAK OUT OF THE FOMO MINDSET
Fashion is supposed to be fun, not a source of anxiety that you might miss out on a trend. If you show any of the signs described above, it’s time to take a step away from social media, retool your budget, and explore why you feel as though you need to shop. Understanding the source of your FOMO can help you kick it to the curb.