We analyse whether last year’s trends – some big, some small, others simply strange! – are in or out this year …
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In: Pretty phone straps
Freeing the palms of everyone from parents and teenagers to Hollywood starlets, this trend was rooted in practicality, which we appreciate. Popular brands String Ting sells colourful beaded straps akin to candy sweet necklaces, counting Gigi Hadid and Dua Lipa as fans, while Dutch brand Ateljé‘s chains (made from recycled pearls) graced Emily in Paris. Etsy features handmade versions spanning everything from giant resin chains to woollen crochet options. Hands up for hands-free favourites!
Out: Doomscrolling
Far from a new trend, many of our New Year’s resolutions will be to stop this time-consuming habit. Instead, spend your time on apps like StayFocusd, Space, ScreenZen, Freedom or Forest (where you can grow your own virtual trees) or the Headway book summary app to help break any bad digital routines.
In: Reset mode
Every new year is always about embracing change and evolving a new ‘you’. Book a consultation with an accredited life coach like Aoife Leggett from Three Sixty Coaching, who’s also a certified breathwork teacher, performance nutritionist and personal trainer, to help take the first step.
Out: Driving
Every new year, we also plan to walk as much as possible, shifting festive kilos and covering new ground. Make familiar streets your walking track, discovering regenerated places and spaces. Good for the environment, and your physical and mental health. Or, get on your bike!
In: The “Copenhagen” blouse
These boxy cut, tie-front blouses debuted in the summer and were popularised by influencers including Pernille Rosenkilde, Mathilde Groholer and Matilda Djerf in just about every conceivable colour, pattern, fabric and sleeve. While tie-front tops are nothing new and hark back to the “rich peasant” look endorsed by Yves Saint Laurent in the 1970s, its appeal is in the way you wear it – with jeans, midi skirts or baggy shorts. The Copenhagen blouse gave an easy breezy vibe to any ensemble and was a good investment. I’m still lusting after this puff-sleeve Ganni Copenhagen blouse, €265, one of several online.
Out: Fridgescaping
Last year’s wet summer saw some very odd new trends, one of which was #fridgescaping, the hashtag that racked up close to 35 million posts on TikTok alone! This involved decorating the fridge with charming storage containers, pretty jugs and antique butter dishes “to beautify” food items. Many early adopters (who are these people?) also themed their decor, Bridgerton (or Fridgerton), swapping prosaic cartons for frames and figurines. Some even added string lights and fresh flowers alongside colour-coordinated items. Advocates say it creates less food waste and brings joy. I remain sceptical on both counts.
In: Pelargoniums
Call it an extension of #cottagecore maximalism, pelargoniums definitely had a moment I can get on board with. I blame Sean Anthony Pritchard, whose Instagram account and book Outside In: A Year of Growing & Displaying are an ode to the beauty of pelargoniums and geraniums, featuring overflowing, colourful arrangements. The It-plant also begot a range of perfumes – our favourite indulgence was C.Atherley’s Bath Oil.
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If you’re looking for tips on how to grow pelargoniums, garden designer Leonie Cornelius says, “Many people treat pelargoniums as annuals but, if cared for correctly, they are actually a long-lasting and beautifully scented perennial. My favourite ways to add pelargoniums to the garden is in a variety of terracotta pots, which means you can keep them safe in the winter months by simply moving them indoors as these plants don’t do frost!”
“A good time to cut them back by about two thirds is just before you bring them inside. Once you’ve found them a sunny window sill, reduce watering and feeding. You can also store them bare root, so if they’re planted in the garden, simply put the bare roots in paper bags in a dry, cool spot, so you can add them to next year’s garden.”
Out: Brat
The archetypal brat, British singer Charli XCX’s album Brat gave many (under 30) a license to be “a bit messy” as she explained on TikTok, “that girl who likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes, who feels herself, but then also maybe has a breakdown, but kind of parties through it”. It became an aesthetic of sorts: smudged eyeliner, shorts worn with leather jackets and lime green were some of the core elements. Charli later went to on to endorse US presidential candidate Kamala Harris, whose campaign even changed its social media backdrop to brat green. That didn’t end so well …
The green we prefer is from Wicked, which continues to grace our newsfeeds.
In: Bobs
When actress Lily Collins cut her long hair into a jaw-length bob, she wrote on Instagram: “New hair era unlocked.” Again, Gigi Hadid sent ripples across the internet when she chopped her famously long hair in the same style, with many others hooked immediately, including Zendaya in hit movie Challengers, and singer Gracie Abrams, who supported Taylor Swift on her Eras tour, and puts her bob front and centre on her album, The Secret of Us. Other variations include the “Bixie” – a trend combining the pixie, mullet and bob, we’re not sure we can get behind! Expert predictions from @batikbeautyandhair for this year suggest that micro bobs are now in: shorter, sleeker and delivering a sharp edge. For inspiration, think America Ferrara and Ayoe Debir.
In & Out: Fashion collaborations
Designer collaborations with high-street brands are nothing new – Karl Lagerfeld first collaborated with H&M back in 2004 – and last year saw so many tempting “limited edition” drops. I admit I indulged in Victoria Beckham X Mango and Bella Freud X Marks & Spencer. Other collaborations included Uniqlo X Anya Hindmarch and two late additions, that of Sienna Miller X Marks & Spencer and Kate Moss X Zara. If these last two collabs pitted both British style icons (and A-list mums) and their boho glam against each other, Miller’s came up trumps as Moss’s was pricey and too near Christmas, alas …
HONOURABLE MENTION
Always In: Greece
Fed up of the weather, last year more people booked last minute getaways to Fira, Oia, Megalochori and Akrotiri, while those in the know visited lesser known islands such as Milos and Paxos. Look out for the new “shoulder season” trend this year, when travellers prefer to visit destinations such as Greece and Portugal off-season.
READ MORE: We’re Dreaming Of A Visit To These Islands In The Sun