Coquette, lulu-lesbian, eclectic grandpa, office siren and mob wife are the latest trending terms in the vocabulary of the chronically online. As fashion week approaches and we settle into the new year, talk of the “ins and outs” of 2024 is in full force.
The trend cycle is nothing new, and many wince when finding pieces that were once hot commodities in years previous—observe the cow print takeover of the pandemic years. However, the goal of the trend cycle seems to have changed. Previously it felt like you needed the same items as everyone else to fit in, but now it’s rather the opposite. Currently, the most trendy thing you can do is avoid mainstream fashion completely by attempting to put together an outfit so niche no one else would have even thought of it.
The dominant opinion seems to be gearing toward slow and sustainable fashion with personal twists. As thrift stores are filling up with low-quality Shein pieces, we seem more conscious than ever about our moral standings in fashion and beyond. Quality sustainable pieces are also typically more expensive, making purchases feel more intentional with additional thought put into them.
Personalization allows for individuality to be incorporated into staple wardrobe pieces. The current customization craze is the coquette bow: a simple ribbon bow tied onto any item you can think of, including (but not limited to): purses, backpacks, cowboy boots, UGGs, braids and headphones, just to name a few. This style of customization is so popular partially because it is not permanent. It makes pieces feel more personalized but doesn’t permanently alter the piece, meaning it can be retired if you grow sick of it.
The unfortunate side effect of growing individuality is that in some ways it seems to have pushed aside the fact that sometimes clothing is just meant to be comfortable or practical rather than aesthetic. While in the past, there was a pressure to conform, now there is pressure to constantly innovate the fashion sphere. It is often not practical to spend time curating the perfect outfit, but rather throw on something you feel comfortable in for that day.
What I hope grows with the dissolvement of trend cycles is for body types to not be seen as trendy anymore. It seems every few years the ideal body changes in extremes. People go from saying they want to be “Victoria’s Secret model thin/fit” to sharing tips on how to be “curvier.”
Recently, there was online discourse surrounding someone sharing they wished they had “legging legs.” There is no such thing. To get “legging legs,” you just have to put on a pair of leggings. The pressure makes it feel as if the size and section of the clothes matters just as much as the clothes themselves.
While overconsumption will likely never completely disintegrate, we seem to be moving towards more sustainable and individual approaches to our appearances. Trends focus less on groups running to purchase a specific item, but rather creating their own uniquely curated form of expression.
