{"id":18130,"date":"2026-05-23T20:42:45","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T00:42:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/?p=18130"},"modified":"2026-05-23T20:42:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T00:42:50","slug":"why-brands-like-aritzia-became-more-aspirational-than-ann-taylor-and-what-that-says-about-modern-fashion-according-to-michelle-t-sterling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/why-brands-like-aritzia-became-more-aspirational-than-ann-taylor-and-what-that-says-about-modern-fashion-according-to-michelle-t-sterling\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Brands Like Aritzia Became More Aspirational Than Ann Taylor \u2014 And What That Says About Modern Fashion, According to Michelle T. Sterling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Years ago, I never understood the obsession with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aritzia.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Aritzia<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the time, many of the clothes felt:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>overly casual,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>soft,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>oversized,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>minimal to the point of looking unfinished,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and disconnected from the kind of polished dressing many women actually needed in real life.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As an image consultant and personal stylist, I remember students coming into class saying:<br>\u201cI love Aritzia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And honestly?<br>I didn\u2019t fully understand the appeal at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But over time, I realized something important:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aritzia was no longer simply selling clothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was selling aesthetic identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that shift says a lot about the direction modern fashion has taken over the last decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the founder of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Sterling Style Academy<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Sterling Personal Styling<\/a>, I spend a great deal of time analyzing not only clothing itself, but the psychology behind why people respond to certain brands, aesthetics, and style identities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And what\u2019s fascinating is that modern consumers are often shopping less for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>personal style,<br>and more for:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>visual belonging,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>social media aesthetics,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and curated identity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Aritzia Didn\u2019t Start Out as the Brand It Is Today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier versions of Aritzia leaned much more into:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tumblr-era fashion,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>athleisure crossover,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>draped basics,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>soft layering,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>casual \u201coff-duty\u201d dressing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To many women outside of influencer or fashion-adjacent culture, the clothes often felt:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>sloppy,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>too relaxed,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>visually disconnected,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>or difficult to wear in real life.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But over the last several years, Aritzia evolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The brand refined itself around:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>clean girl aesthetics,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>quiet luxury-inspired styling,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>oversized tailoring,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>monochromatic dressing,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>neutral palettes,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>minimalist social media culture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And suddenly, the brand became highly aspirational for Millennials and Gen Z consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not necessarily because the garments themselves became revolutionary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But because the branding became emotionally cohesive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Aritzia Sells a Lifestyle \u2014 Not Just Clothing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One thing Aritzia does exceptionally well is creating a visual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The stores.<br>The lighting.<br>The oversized tailoring.<br>The neutral palettes.<br>The styling.<br>The campaign imagery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everything communicates:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>effortless cool,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>understated trend awareness,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>relaxed modern femininity,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>curated minimalism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And this is where fashion changed dramatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many consumers today are no longer dressing according to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>proportion,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>body balance,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>refinement,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>elegance,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>or even practicality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They are dressing according to aesthetics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>clean girl,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>quiet luxury,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>office siren,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>old money,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>mob wife,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>minimalist chic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fashion became highly algorithmic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And brands like Aritzia learned how to dominate that space extremely well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Ann Taylor Lost Cultural Fashion Relevance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.anntaylor.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Ann Taylor<\/a>\u00a0became associated with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>corporate dressing,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>classic professionalism,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>office wear,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>polished adult femininity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For years, fashion culture started viewing that aesthetic as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>too safe,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>too structured,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>too \u201cmall brand,\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>too traditional,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>not aspirational enough online.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But here\u2019s what\u2019s interesting:<br>many women still actually dress closer to Ann Taylor logic in real life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meaning:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>polished,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>coordinated,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>intentional,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>wearable,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>structured enough to feel put together.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And Ann Taylor quietly adapted over the years because they understood they could not survive looking overly corporate or frumpy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The brand became:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>softer,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>slightly trend-aware,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>more modernized,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>less rigid,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>more fashion-conscious.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it still fundamentally operates from the perspective of:<br>\u201cwomen need clothing that functions in actual adult life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s very different from aesthetic-driven social media dressing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ARKET and COS Appeal to a Different Consumer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brands like\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arket.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">ARKET<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cos.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">COS<\/a>\u00a0sit in an interesting middle ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They appeal heavily to consumers who want:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>minimalist sophistication,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>architectural silhouettes,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>understated dressing,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scandinavian-inspired refinement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But personally, I think many consumers confuse minimalism with sophistication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some minimalist fashion today feels emotionally flat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, it may look:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>clean,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>restrained,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>modern,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>visually calm.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But that doesn\u2019t automatically make it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>elegant,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>flattering,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>luxurious,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>or emotionally compelling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes it simply looks basic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is where fashion becomes highly personal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some women feel empowered in minimalist dressing.<br>Others feel completely erased by it.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Why-Brands-Like-Aritzia-Became-More-Aspirational-Than-Ann-Taylor.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Why-Brands-Like-Aritzia-Became-More-Aspirational-Than-Ann-Taylor-683x1024.png\" alt=\"Why Brands Like Aritzia Became More Aspirational Than Ann Taylor\" class=\"wp-image-18140\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Why-Brands-Like-Aritzia-Became-More-Aspirational-Than-Ann-Taylor-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Why-Brands-Like-Aritzia-Became-More-Aspirational-Than-Ann-Taylor-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Why-Brands-Like-Aritzia-Became-More-Aspirational-Than-Ann-Taylor-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Why-Brands-Like-Aritzia-Became-More-Aspirational-Than-Ann-Taylor-800x1200.png 800w, https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Why-Brands-Like-Aritzia-Became-More-Aspirational-Than-Ann-Taylor.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Oversized Fashion Is Not Automatically Chic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the biggest mistakes modern fashion makes is assuming oversized dressing automatically looks elevated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An oversized blazer with oversized denim and chunky loafers may photograph beautifully on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pinterest,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>TikTok,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>influencers,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>editorial bodies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But in real life, many women quietly feel:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>heavier,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>shapeless,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>overwhelmed,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>disconnected from themselves.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And honestly, I understand why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Proportion still matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is why I often tell clients:<br>modern fashion should evolve with you \u2014 not erase you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A softly curved jean can work beautifully.<br>A barrel jean can absolutely look modern and polished when styled intentionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But there\u2019s a difference between:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>controlled proportion,<br>and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>drowning the body in oversized trend pieces.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Most Women Don\u2019t Actually Want to Look \u201cElegant\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is another interesting thing I\u2019ve observed over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most modern consumers misuse the word elegant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When people say:<br>\u201cI want to look elegant,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">what they often actually mean is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>polished,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>intentional,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>coordinated,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>put together,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>visually refined relative to their environment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s different from true elegance in the traditional fashion sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A blazer, loafers, coordinated colors, and structured trousers create a classic polished look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is not necessarily elegance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But because modern dress standards became so casual, simple polish now reads as highly elevated in many environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Especially in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>tech culture,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>startup environments,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>casual corporate spaces,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and post-pandemic fashion culture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fashion Is More Than Social Media Aesthetics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the biggest problems with algorithm-driven fashion is that many people start dressing for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>aesthetics,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>trends,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>online validation,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and social media identity,<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">instead of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>their own proportions,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>personality,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>lifestyle,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>presence,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and visual harmony.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s where personal styling becomes important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">True style is not simply copying a Pinterest board or buying whatever TikTok says is fashionable that month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s understanding:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>who you are,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>how you want to present yourself,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>what flatters you,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>what aligns with your lifestyle,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and what actually makes you feel like yourself.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That takes far more sophistication than trend participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts From Michelle T. Sterling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I think modern fashion became less about clothing itself and more about aesthetic identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s why brands like Aritzia became culturally aspirational while more traditional brands lost fashion relevance online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But in real life, many women are still trying to find balance between:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>modernity,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>polish,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>refinement,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>wearability,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>femininity,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and personal identity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And honestly?<br>That balance is where real style actually exists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why did Aritzia become so popular with Millennials and Gen Z?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aritzia successfully evolved from casual basics into an aspirational aesthetic lifestyle brand centered around minimalist styling, oversized tailoring, neutral palettes, and social media-friendly fashion identities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why do some women dislike oversized fashion trends?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oversized fashion depends heavily on proportion, styling balance, and body harmony. Many women feel visually overwhelmed or disconnected from their own shape when wearing exaggerated oversized silhouettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the difference between classic style and elegant style?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Classic style refers to polished, timeless, coordinated dressing. Elegant style traditionally involves a higher level of refinement, sophistication, restraint, and elevated presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why do minimalist brands like COS and ARKET appeal to some consumers?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These brands appeal to consumers who prefer understated, architectural, minimalist dressing. However, some women may find extreme minimalism emotionally flat or lacking personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Has social media changed the way people dress?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Absolutely. Social media accelerated aesthetic-based dressing, identity fashion, and trend-driven styling, often prioritizing visual \u201cvibes\u201d over personal proportions, lifestyle needs, or long-term wardrobe functionality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Work With Michelle T. Sterling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re looking to create a wardrobe that feels modern, refined, yet comfortable and authentic to your lifestyle and personal style identity, explore:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/virtual-personal-styling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Virtual Personal Styling Services<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/virtual-image-consulting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Virtual Image Consulting<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/capsule-wardrobe-service\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Capsule Wardrobe Services<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Years ago, I never understood the obsession with\u00a0Aritzia. At the time, many of the clothes felt: As an image consultant and personal stylist, I remember students coming into class saying:\u201cI love Aritzia.\u201d And honestly?I didn\u2019t fully understand the appeal at first. But over time, I realized something important: Aritzia was no longer simply selling clothing&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":18139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2842],"tags":[5882,5881,5885,5893,2947,5422,5884,5898,5878,5896,5887,5902,5883,5895,5879,5326,5892,5302,593,824,5891,5418,5880,5899,5888,5886,984,5901,5889,5541,5556,5552,5900,5890,1327,5894,5660,5897,5903],"class_list":["post-18130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-style","tag-ann-taylor","tag-aritzia","tag-arket","tag-aspirational-fashion-brands","tag-capsule-wardrobe","tag-classic-style","tag-clean-girl-aesthetic","tag-contemporary-fashion-culture","tag-cos-fashion","tag-effortless-style","tag-elegant-style","tag-fashion-aesthetics","tag-fashion-branding","tag-fashion-commentary","tag-fashion-identity","tag-fashion-psychology","tag-fashion-trends-2026","tag-gen-z-fashion","tag-image-consultant","tag-michelle-t-sterling","tag-millennial-fashion","tag-minimalist-fashion","tag-modern-fashion-trends","tag-modern-wardrobe","tag-oversized-fashion","tag-personal-style","tag-personal-styling","tag-polished-dressing","tag-polished-style","tag-professional-style","tag-quiet-luxury","tag-refined-style","tag-scandinavian-fashion","tag-social-media-fashion","tag-sterling-personal-styling","tag-style-identity","tag-wardrobe-strategy","tag-womens-fashion-trends","tag-womens-style"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Why-Brands-Like-Aritzia-Became-More-Aspirational-Than-Ann-Taylor-\u2014-And-What-That-Says-About-Modern-Fashion-According-to-Michelle-T.-Sterling.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18130"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18130\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18141,"href":"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18130\/revisions\/18141"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sterlingstyleacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}