In recent days, I have been consumed by thoughts about a TikTok video I came across over the weekend. Fashion influencer Elysia Berman made a bold claim that the foundations for a second Trump presidency have been laid for a long time, citing the rise of quiet luxury, conformity, and old money trends in the lifestyle industry. She argues that these trends, which have been creeping out from the fringes of the internet since the first Trump administration, have now been legitimized and become more dominant in contemporary culture. Berman points to the return of brands like Ralph Lauren and the aestheticization of Catholicism and the “tradwife” lifestyle as indicators that people, including herself, should have seen a Trump win coming. She predicts that this trend towards conservatism will also extend to fashion choices. Additionally, the success of Trump’s influencer and podcast campaigns has not only appealed to young men but has also created a new aesthetic for Trump 2.0. This is a topic that the WIRED Politics Lab newsletter has been exploring, as we strive to make sense of how the internet is shaping our political reality. Stay tuned for more insights and analysis from our team.
