Subway Fits Are The New Street Style On TikTok

With every new wave of fashionable social media stars, there’s been a common theme: democratization. Back when bloggers first emerged in the ’00s, it was all about showing everyday style from everyday people outside of the mainstream fashion industry. With Instagram, it took an aspirational twist, as photos became posed and feeds curated with immaculate detail. The idea was to showcase a lifestyle others would desire. That rarely included public transportation. But for many TikTok users, style creators in impractical, luxury outfits — the kind that would require a car — have become as cringe as side parts and skinny jeans. “For me, it’s not very authentic,” says Zhang. “I think [the subway videos] are resonating with people because people feel empowered by it.”