Why We All Dress the Same and How to Stop

It’s not a glitch in the matrix. It’s the algorithm.

In 2026, we’ve reached a point of "Style Flattening." For the last few years, our personal taste hasn't been growing; it’s been curated by a feedback loop designed for engagement, not expression. We didn't choose our closets, a line of code did. But the good news? Your true style isn't dead; it’s just buried under a mountain of "core" trends.

Here is how to dig it out.

The "Filterworld" Effect: How We Got Here

In his book Filterworld, journalist Kyle Chayka describes how algorithmic recommendations have essentially "flattened" culture. The exact same aesthetic universe that millions of other people are viewing is displayed to you by an algorithm when it detects that you enjoyed a picture of a particular minimalist blazer.

The result? Algorithmic Mimicry. We start dressing for the "For You Page" (FYP) instead of our actual lives. We buy pieces because they look good in a 15-second vertical video, only to realize they feel like a costume once we step out the front door. We’ve traded the slow, messy process of self-discovery for a pre-packaged identity.

1. Perform a "Digital Detox" for Your Taste Buds

If you want to find your style, you have to stop the input. Your brain is currently being flooded with high-definition, high-speed fashion "inspiration" that is actually just a sales pitch.

2. The "Left-to-Right" Wardrobe Challenge