By Sheanneen Shelby

a girlfriend cowering as she is being screamed at by her partner.

Let’s be real—everything in the news lately has been a total buzzkill. From global chaos to the never-ending cycle of bad vibes, it's enough to make you want to throw your phone across the room. No one needs another dose of negativity in their life. What we do need is less stress, more peace, and honestly, some clarity around the things we’ve accepted as "normal"—even when they’re actually doing us harm.

Here’s the thing: sometimes the stuff that causes us stress doesn’t look harmful at first. It might even feel empowering, luxurious, or like it’s giving you a shot at being seen. That’s why we keep it around—even when it drains our bank accounts, chips away at our self-worth, and keeps us second-guessing our reflection. You know what I'm talking about, right?

Fashion.

Yes, the fashion industry—glamorized for its creativity and cultural influence—can be as emotionally manipulative as an emotionally abusive partner. The parallels are shocking. And once you see them, you will not be able unsee them, because a light in your head will turn on that you never be able to shut off again.

Let’s break it down:

Abusive Relationship Behavior	Fashion Industry Parallel
Gaslighting	"The clothes are fine—your body is the issue."
Emotional Manipulation	Sells insecurity and the promise of confidence through constant consumption.
9. Love Bombing & Withdrawal	Trend cycles bombard you with excitement, then fade fast, leaving you wanting.
Isolation & Control	Promotes a narrow body standard; excludes others from style and representation.
7. Financial Exploitation	Creates status anxiety; encourages overspending on short-lived validation.
6. False Promises	"This dress will change your life." Rarely delivers on its emotional promises.
5. Inconsistency to Keep You Off Balance	Sizes shift constantly; brands lack standardization, making you doubt yourself.
4. Undermining Self-Worth	Keeps you in a loop of never feeling good enough—unless you buy more.
3. Creating Dependency	Ties your self-image to your wardrobe. Feeds a cycle of identity via branding.
2. Breadcrumbing (Toxic Gratitude Conditioning)	Constantly reminds you to be "grateful" for inclusion—like extended sizing, token diversity, or influencer access.
1. You Can’t Be Told, Only Shown	Realization must come from within. Consumers have to see the manipulation themselves.

Why This Matters

Calling this out isn’t about being dramatic or cynical—it’s about protecting your peace and reclaiming your power. When you recognize these patterns, you can stop blaming yourself for not fitting in, for hating the dressing room, or for buying things you don’t even like. You can start shopping from a place of self-worth, not self-doubt.

Fashion can be fun. It should be expressive. It must be empowering. But that only happens when you’re in control—not the industry.

So if this blog feels like a little too much truth… good. Let it be your mirror, your moment of clarity, or your cue to cut ties with the narratives that don’t serve you anymore.

Because fashion isn’t supposed to break you down. It’s supposed to lift you up.

And you deserve to wear what feels like you—not what the industry tells you will make you enough.

You feel so much more confident and less stressed when you remove yourself from this toxic relationship. If you're ready, let's chat.

Written by Sheanneen Shelby