The Chic List: ‘Likes’? It’s a love-hate thing... - YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Sign in Welcome!Log into your account Forgot your password? Password recovery Recover your password Search Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Home Fashion The Chic List Likes It s a love-hate thing… By You Magazine - July 11, 2021 Every year we all grow a little, evolve a little, as does our personal style. You, like me, are probably not quite the same woman you were this time last year – especially after the real-life horror movie we’ve all endured. Ever look back at photographs of yourself and think: how on earth did I ever wear, do, say or date that? Me too. Posted on Instagram in a dress by Usisi Sister and black Havaianas As an avid user of social media in the world of fashion, it’s been fascinating of late to watch something that’s been unfolding among my peers. In 2019, Instagram announced that it was taking away its ‘likes’ feature to combat the negative effect it can have on people’s mental health. A ‘like’ count feeds straight into the powerful human desires of wanting to be admired, popular, flattered. That’s why they’re so damn addictive. The famous line in T S Eliot’s poem The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock always comes to mind: ‘I have measured out my life with coffee spoons’. Insert ‘likes’ here instead of coffee spoons and you get the idea of time frittered away on something all consuming. Putting yourself out there on Instagram in your favourite trousers or showcasing a new brand you’ve spent months creating can be very scary. What if the ‘likes’ don’t come? How does that make you feel? Never forget that behind every perfect social media image, there’s real life, full of cracks and stresses. Two years after the initial announcement, Instagram’s big change arrived silently in the middle of the pandemic. It’s now giving people the option to ‘hide’ their ‘likes’ – a description which to me doesn’t sound positive. Instead it sounds sneaky and shameful. But, despite the negative terminology, from small to large accounts, more and more women are starting to ‘hide’ their like count. And I completely understand why. I’m a grown-up who’s been around the block a few times. With life experience comes self-knowledge. You feel more in tune with your personal style. But, despite this, I can still feel the pressure of ‘likes’. In the past, I’ve decided not to post something I loved because of the fear of boos and hisses and no engagement. Which is terrible because that kills creativity and boldness – and all the things that make life interesting. How on earth much younger girls and women deal with social media’s anxiety-inducing algorithms is beyond me. Will this move by Instagram change things for the better? The jury’s out – but I hope it’s a start… Jumper, £165, navygrey.co A favourite knit inspired by the traditional cut of a man’s jumper. This brand’s attention to detail is supreme. Sunglasses, £220, Givenchy, matchesfashion.com My favourite brand for sophisticated sunnies. Jacket, £255, Ganni, net-a-porter.com Waistcoat blazers are all the rage. Team with summer trousers for a polished look. Hat, £264, Artesano, net-a-porter.com The cherry on top. This will add style to every holiday outfit. Dress, £49.99, zara.com A cobalt blue that grabs attention. Pair with strappy heels for a night out. Trainers, £145, fairfaxandfavor.com Love these chic trainers from homegrown brand Fairfax & Favor. Follow me on Instagram @thestylistandthewardrobe RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR Rochelle Humes has launched a gorgeous new edit with Next Shop the YOU Magazine Instagram YOU picks the best new-in buys from M& S Popular in Fashion Laura Jackson has teamed up with Next for the chicest knitwear January 22, 2020 Holly Willoughby’ s birthday dress is another Zara bargain February 10, 2020 The Instagram-famous & Other Stories wool blazer is back in stock August 31, 2022 Lorraine just wore Emma Willis’ Next collection from head to toe March 17, 2020 The prettiest spring dresses under £100 March 1, 2022 Everyone is buying Holly’ s gorgeous gingham Oasis dress May 14, 2020 13 bargain dresses to buy in ASOS’ s extra 20 per cent June 10, 2020 This £20 H& M dress is set to be the social media June 26, 2020 Stacey Solomon x Primark is back for a third collection with July 20, 2020 Searches for this perfect heatwave summer top style are up 5000% August 10, 2020 Popular CategoriesFood2704Life2496Fashion2240Beauty1738Celebrity1261Interiors684 Sign up for YOUMail Thanks for subscribing Please check your email to confirm (If you don't see the email, check the spam box) Fashion Beauty Celebrity Life Food Privacy & Cookies T&C Copyright 2022 - YOU Magazine. All Rights Reserved