Most days after school, I give myself time to unwind before I start homework.

I scroll on TikTok or look at Pinterest for a bit. Usually, I enjoy having a few minutes of quiet before starting my ever-growing to-do list.

However, it’s become increasingly repetitive to see the same monotonous outfits and products. I’ve found myself watching seemingly identical influencers, who not only create the same content, but also promote the same brands.

Microtrends are trends that become popular very quickly, yet disappear at the same speed. Most often, they are first introduced and gain traction on social media, and many stores quickly follow, producing the same products.

Here are some examples of popular microtrends.

Bows:
Sitting atop carefully styled hair, completing a curated outfit, the recent widespread usage of bows is a homage to girlhood. Its use has been extended to being plastered on any surface and can be seen decorating phone cases, water bottles and even homes. This usage of bows can be linked to the rise in popularity of the coquette aesthetic – a hyper-feminine style that often pulls from nostalgic childhood styles and fashion statements. While this trend can be impractical, I have still participated in it.

Hair bows can be a cute way to tie an outfit together, but the widespread usage of bows is an example of how quickly online trends can become another marker of overconsumption. Since the usage of bows is so wide, it will age quickly and become just another passing trend.

But the usage of hair bows don’t always need to look tacky or uncreative. A great example of integrating a more coquette style without screaming fast fashion is the LoveShackFancy and Pottery Barn collaboration. I love the bedding and room decor here, and while it is definitely a product of current trends, it feels more classy and less likely to age so soon. Just like the classic bow will never truly go out of style, I think to an extent this trend is more timeless than others, and can be a cute decorative choice.

Nails:
The glazed donut nails, also called the “Hailey Bieber’s” nails, feature almond-shaped acrylic nails with chrome, creating a natural, glossy look. I love getting my nails done, and I love a good chrome, but I felt like many people copied this look simply because of Bieber, not because they particularly liked the nails on their own.

Two years later, however, this nail style is still popular. I am literally writing this while having almond-shaped chrome nails. Thankfully, I feel like the style has lived on independent of if celebrities wear them or not.

A similar effect happened with the blueberry milk nails. These nails were popularized on TikTok, but they reflected a larger phenomenon of simple styles being named in an overly complex way. While they were cute and popularized for a reason, the nails were just blue. I think such a simple look didn’t have to be trending so heavily just because it was rebranded.

Jaguar Print:
Most recently, jaguar print became popular. I think its rise to popularity has been greatly helped along by the fact that we are heading into autumn, and jaguar print easily falls alongside other colors and styles that often come with this season. Browns, deep reds and dark greens can be expected alongside basic neutrals as part of this year’s fall palette. While there is little variation between years regarding the color palettes, this year’s jaguar print stands out.

While I couldn’t see myself going around wearing articles of clothing flaunting this print, I do think this is a fun trend. It feels nostalgic and is a unique pattern that has personality.

Water Bottles:
Over the past years, there have been many different water bottle fads. I have even bought into some of them. My family owns multiple Hydro Flasks, Stanleys and Owalas. Sure, they were all marked advertising their specific features, like fitting into a car cup holder or having a straw that is built in. However, all of these products have the same basic purpose: they are insulated and keep liquids cool.

I acknowledge that I am part of the problem by purchasing so many water bottles, and while none of them are the exact same, it is definitely unnecessary. The way that all of these bottles had a short-lived but widespread period of popularity shows how quickly we cycle through and move on from products that didn’t even have anything wrong with them.

These microtrends are just examples of the wider effect on society that social media has had. The constant push to buy the newest item or adopt the most recent style just adds to consumer culture.

I’m tired of being pushed to consume. I’m tired of the way that our culture has become fixated on appearances and buying more products to produce a curated image. How much more powerful would it be for us to promote a life of authenticity?

I’d much rather it be encouraged to buy a few good quality, long-lasting products. Instead of becoming fixated on appearances and buying more products to produce a curated image, we need to switch our focus to living life simply and being more intentional about our daily purchases.