Currently trending: whatever you want
When’s the last time you tried something because the Internet said it was cool? If nothing else, you can’t deny making Dalgona coffee or banana bread during the pandemic-induced lockdown. We all did it okay, there’s no shame. Today, instead of unpacking trends in a seemingly objective thesis like we do in our day jobs, we talk about getting caught in the whirlwind of it.
Tango with Darshita
Pookie looks absolutely amazing. Mob wife. 3-12-30. Emily Mariko tote. Loud budgeting.
If you know what all of this means, congratulations - just like me your screen time is higher than it should be. For those of you who still remember to touch grass, those are all trends on the internet, *right now*. Check back in a week and we would’ve forgotten all about them. I’m sure you’ve heard Gen Z ditch trends at the speed of light, yada yada.
How do these words become trends and who follows them? Mob wife is arguably the biggest fashion inspo on TikTok atm and yes, I’ve seen the occasional indie girlie wearing leopard print on the tube but does that make it a TREND? The chronically online also tell me eclectic grandpa is in and quiet luxury is out. But London is still full to the brim with people wearing logo less luxury and snap back hats that cost more than my rent.
So are they misinformed? Don’t get me wrong, I love TikTok trends, it’s how I make a living. Lately though, I’ve been wondering how many catchy phrases my mind will have to store and emulate in the next year. Especially because my boyfriend thinks I’m losing my memory and hate to accept it, but it’s true! He asked me what we did for New Year’s Eve 2023 and a brain fog took over.
Now tell me to define coastal grandma circa 2022 and I can explain with examples. Maybe you caught me on the wrong day but my world feels so online that I’m losing touch with what’s happening IRL. Offline community please get interesting enough to bring me back. What’s trending on the streets? Are people still wearing bows? Are Birkenstocks still cool? Do I have to get bangs again? Should I bleach my eyebrows?
Tango with Avani
‘So beautiful, so elegant. Just looking like a wow’. The way this one line, delivered by an unsuspecting Indian lady simply showing off the clothes from her shop on an Instagram live, became a raging success needs to be analysed to the T. Everyone in Bollywood started mouthing it and it played like a broken tape record everytime I refreshed my Reels page. Ladies and gentlemen, a trend was born. And then it died. The lady and her business found immense Instagram fame, but that *moment* which got her the spotlight became irrelevant so quickly. It was like thank you, next, but in action. Every time a new song, food item, aesthetic or way of styling a garment finds its moment in the spotlight, it sounds the death knell for whatever was flooding our feed at that time.
There are times when I’ve welcomed a trend with open arms because it was the WAY to be. And I’m not just talking about what exists on the Internet, but the things that dominate our conversations with our peers and social circles all throughout adolescence and adulthood. ‘How have you not watched Game of Thrones?’ or ‘Wait, you don’t know this band?’ It’s the same question over and over again, just change the context. At some point the questions flip to ‘Why are you still obsessed with Game of Thrones?’ or ‘Literally no one listens to this band anymore, its too old-school.’
Whats in will be shown the exit door eventually, so embrace it while its here if its your cup of tea. Or don’t, everyone will move on anyway.
OOPS we did it again! (Random recommendations to tango with, curated 4U)
In the interest of touching grass, join outdoor community space Athene Club. They host cute walks and have the best WhatsApp group for girlie recos.
A mousse tastes much better if its shaped like a panda or a sleeping teddy bear and cafe Number 79 knows that too!
I love getting outfit inspo from street-style pictures and these ones from the recently concluded Paris Couture Week are my favourite set. I spotted saris at the Chanel show letsgooo!
In case you can’t give up on the screen yet, watch One Day on Netflix. It will make you giggle and sob like a lovesick pre-teen.
Get your hands dirty and order air dry clay. Make your own trinket dish! And if you need inspo, there’s always TikTok <3
I finally found GOOD veggie pho and its at…..PHO