Go-See Outfits Are Trending, And There’s One Key to Nailing Them

Of all the aughts trends to make their loud and viral return on TikTok, the go-see outfit might be the one that shocked me the most. For those who haven't heard of the term before, a go-see is when fashion models meet with casting agents, designers, and clients for a quick in-person meeting. The once-insider concept was thrust into popular culture in the late 2000s, when Tyra Banks, host of America's Next Top Model, sent the contestants on an exaggerated version of the practice as a challenge. The most important part? The outfit.

Traditionally (a.k.a. in the ANTM world), the go-see outfit is simple, form-fitting, and chic. Think: black tank top, jeans, and a pair of heels. Models also usually don little to no makeup when doing go-sees. The idea is that the clients who meet with a model will see them outside of a particular aesthetic or style. They're a blank slate.

On TikTok, the go-see outfit trend of ANTP has now resurged as an outfit formula for those days when you're overwhelmed by all the pieces in your closet and all the trends the algorithm is pushing your way.

The idea of a neutralized style making a comeback right now isn't all that surprising. It's easy, and in many ways, a step outside of trend fatigue. It's also most likely something you already have in your closet.

However, I do want to add some caution. When it first emerged, much of the model off/on duty trends of the 2000s were centered around idealizing a specific thin body type, with form-fitting clothes meant to show off a small frame. As the rise in diet culture continues to grow on every corner of social media, a trend that centers standard model aesthetics might quickly become sinister.

Outfit formulas are great, but you don't have to neutralize down to something that doesn't work for you just because a show from 20 years ago says so. A go-see look (if you're not actually going on a go-see) is an essence, not a science. For one person, it can be a t-shirt and jeans, for someone else, it might be a leather jacket and slacks. The key is paring things down and being comfortable, whatever that might look like is only up to you.