One of our readers recently sent in an article from The New York Times titled “Why Don’t People Dress Up to Go Out Anymore?” In the article, author and chief fashion critic Vanessa Friedman acknowledges and explores the fashion shift towards a lack of formality. People used to dress to the nines to attend restaurants, operas, and work. Nowadays, you can find society… in sweatpants and sneakers.
It’s 2025 - just wear whatever you want! Heck, why not PJs?!
Although Friedman focuses on fashion, her analysis speaks to larger themes about society and culture. She points to the cultural influences of historical fashion movements, from 1960s antiwar protests to the pandemic lockdown.
“I think that the right way to look at it… is as an expression of a much larger and more significant social and cultural shift. One that has been taking place over decades and essentially says that we all have a right to dress as we want. It’s a shift that reflects the prioritization of the individual over the institution.” — Vanessa Friedman
The prioritization of individual needs shapes more than our fashion choices — it also influences how we interact with people and interfaces. People gravitate towards solutions that are convenient, customizable, and accessible. It explains the adoption of sweatpants, build-your-own burrito bowls, and Netflix subtitles. Let’s explore more specifically the influence on digital UX practices.
Since the dawn of mobile devices and social media platforms, informality has crept into our communications. Letters became emails, and emails became texts. The data limitations and physical interface designs of early mobile phones encouraged the adoption of convenient texting slang (i.e. LOL, OMG, IDK). And despite the fact that such limitations were conquered over a decade ago, users continue to use the slang — even in professional contexts. You can now respond to questions with just emoji reactions.
User-generated content is similarly losing its formality across social media. Feeds have become overwhelmed with TikTok rants and Reels brainrot. The popularity of short-form content is its own shift towards informality — after all, why watch a 20-minute Youtube video when you can get the gist in a 30-second clip? It’s a convenient and accessible solution, but we may be (correction, are) becoming addicted and losing our attention spans in the process. (Check out Joelle’s piece on the effects of overstimulating short-form content on kids’ executive functioning skills.)
Although the shift started with users, businesses quickly latched onto similar practices. Many consumer-facing corporations, for instance, adopted a marketing strategy to post more informal comments on social media. It started as clever Twitter clapbacks, and has now become simple comments that aim to relate to the views of their audiences.
Corporation brand presence on social media: from clapbacks to comments
Some find it clever and engaging while others object to the practice, calling it “gross… cringey and annoying… an invasion” (see Reddit post below).
A Reddit user’s critical take on ‘relatable’ corporate brand comments