What Pinterest got wrong in its trend report
And what is actually coming: zebra kicks leopard to the curb, Bella Hadid sparks a movement, and everybody wants to be somebody.
The giant fashion machine never stops turning. We are suitcases on a conveyor belt, forever going round and round, never grounded for long enough to put down roots. We might make pit stops at cherry red and baby blue, have a layover at silver, we might even spend a few weeks at cottage core and stop for gas at boho, but there will forever be a light at the end of the tunnel, promising that each purchase will bring us closer, only for it to inch out of reach each and every time. It’s very revolving stage from Hadestown. A futile journey in a circle.
Pinterest released its predictions for 2025, and maybe I’m too online, but these feel dated. Cherry Coded peaked in winter 2023. Red tights took over our feeds and were quickly worn to fatigue.
Rococo Revival. This peaked with seasons 1 & 2 of Bridgerton. They included this photo of cake as an example, and I am 100% sure these cakes have already seen their heyday.
I know because I tried to get one for my birthday last spring (I still think they are great. Check out Miss Macs and Velvet Valley Cakes if this is your vibe). Cakes have quickly moved on to a more natural, much less structured silhouette. There is a reason From Lucie blew up so quickly.
Dolled Up. Again, no problem with it, but again, this aesthetic peaked with Barbie, Nodaleto mary jane heels, and the colorful resin rings of a few seasons ago. I do love the Marc Jacobs Kiki boots, though. This makes sense in the context of the potential Polly Pocket movie, but that seems to have been widely forgotten about.
Moto-boho has been around. We had the Miu Miu boots (duped by any and all brands - Steve Madden, Free People, Jeffrey Campbell) paired with bows and lace skirts.
If anything, hippie is coming back. Think Coachella 2015 meets Isabel Marant meets current Chloé meets Woodstock. The girls just want to feel grounded and free. (This Isabel Marant jacket is stunning) I predict more chiffon and suede over this leather-heavy combination. Watch out as Hunter boots reenter the conversation a-la Kate Moss in the 90s.
They did not completely miss the mark, however. A few good points were made. Castlecore is absolutely going to have a moment. As is Pickle Fix. Is it because of the Pickle Priest? I cannot say for sure. I do know the girls are coming from near and far to be taunted by a man with tongs and a barrel of pickles. (He now has 112K TikTok followers). Has Dan the Pickle Priest become such a pop culture icon and revered figure as to entice an entire generation of girls to the Ren Faire, inadvertently sparking a desire for chainmail and antique silver jewelry?
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Pickle Fix - pickles will also see an uptick as we require foods to fashion-ify. I wrote about the hot-girlification of the objectively unsexy, and it seems that pickles will be replacing sardines as the next bizarre fashion girl favorite. (Also note: I was already mentioning cherry red six months ago.)
The Hot Girl-ification of the Objectively NOT Hot
Fisherman Aesthetic goes hand-in-hand with the prep craze that is happening, which is another deep dive in itself. I have thoughts on this one. Will let you know what they are soon. Primary Play and Seeing Double make sense as everyone is feeling the minimal, neutral fatigue. Primary play is just primary colors. They are coming back. Coordinating outfits are already starting to trend with everyone wanting to be the Olsen twins.
Rebel Floats. This concept confuses me but also seems like an ominous promise. The floats themselves look concerning, but the revival of the 50s pharmacy soda fountain makes a lot of sense in the context of the political climate. We are reverting to the white picket fence, varsity jacket wearing, suburban Christian, Sears catalog covers of our grandparent’s youth. Might as well throw old fashioned diners and drive in movie theaters into the mix to sugar coat an otherwise disgusting pill to swallow. A spoon-full of sugar helps the medicine go down. (This connects back to the Fisherman Aesthetic.)
The list goes on, but some of the list seems unnecessary to elaborate on. Peak Travel literally just says we will be traveling to mountains, and will in turn need to pack for said trips. Ski trips have always and will forever continue to happen. Maximalist - an alternative to quiet luxury. The pendulum swings the other way. Terra Furtura is their fancy way of saying that younger generations are leaning into sustainable clothes. The world needs to be saved and someone’s gotta do it. Apparently “solar punk fashion” as a term rose 115% in searches, but this is too niche even for me. I think it’s just gorp-core meets fisherman meets Scandi. And there are even more, but I am sticking mainly to fashion. There are other themes for beauty and home and party planning, but that is not my area of expertise.
But I would not just tell you the incorrect predictions and then vanish. I have also included what will be happening instead based on where we are now and how I believe these concepts will evolve.
The Updated Animal Print
Leopard has been having its moment. I wrote about leopard for my very first Substack post, almost exactly one year ago.
I believe that leopard, when done correctly, is a neutral. (Harder to argue this regarding a printed jean, but makes sense as a shoe or layered turtleneck.) But, since leopard ventured from its place among the fur coats and bags and instead covered everything, from pants to tights to brushed wool jacquard cardigans to workout gear, it’s reaching a point of over saturation and visual fatigue. So, while leopard will remain timeless to the rest of us, the online fashion girls will be looking for a new print to stand out. In a timely and expected response, I’ve been seeing whispers of two new contenders: zebra and deer.
Alaïa did not shy away from zebra. In fact, their current stock on Net-a-porter include very graphic offerings.
Their current bags scream zebra-deer-calf-hair beauty.
It seems like skirts are entry level styling pieces - we will get to coats eventually.
As for the deer? It hasn’t made it mainstream yet. You can say you knew deer before it was cool, kind of like that one band that started sort of near your hometown that your best friend may or may not have had a drunken night with once, before they made it big.
The cool girls love Bambi.
Cowgirl
If I say “Bella Hadid is a cowgirl now” do I really need to elaborate? Bella possesses the ability to chameleon her way into many niche “cores”. Her Orebella press tour looks are very 90s fairy ethereal archival designer. But in her second life? She won Rookie of the Year for cutting (it has to do with horses and cows and separating the two? I’m sorry I do not know more). She appeared in Yellowstone as Taylor Sheridan’s girlfriend. (Kind of weird, but also, I get it. I’d cast her too if I could.) She lived (or lives, unclear) in a trailer with her cowboy boyfriend. (This also circles back to the matching couple outfits.) And so, with the current it girl taking the western route, it is only a matter of time before the fashion world follows suit. And it would be remiss of me if I did not mention Cowboy Carter from music’s biggest star (it’s Beyonce. I’m referring to Beyonce). With two of the biggest names in pop culture pivoting towards chaps and Stetson hats, it’s no wonder Brooklyn country bars are the most sought after destinations. The Hot Bouncer left his post at 82 Stanton to move to Common Country. All the hot people are donning cowboy boots.
Suiting
The internet simultaneously lost its mind over Ayo’s Julia Roberts suit reference, myself included.
YSL sent oversized tailoring down the runway, and so did pretty much every other designer. Saint Laurent got the love because Bella closed out the suit portion of the show with wayfarer style glasses and her signature sashay.
Oversized 90s suiting is so back - my moodboard from last winter is even more relevant now. The whole post is here.
The pivot to dramatic accessorizing.
It started with Jane Birkin bag charms. It continued with Schiaparelli brooches and the Khaite hand cuff (yours for only $2,200). Bottega is singlehandedly awakening the next generation’s love of ties. Accessories are so back. Quiet luxury had its moment, but as we enter 2025 and personal style is encouraged over trends and more and more girls start to snub the Amazon wishlist, it only makes sense that ties, bracelets, the return of stacking jewelry (so long, dainty gold), your grandmas brooches, and belts take the place of Amazon basics in all shades of taupe (I don’t want to talk about Pantone). We are leaning into self discovery and fashion as a tool of expression rather than a status symbolizer and an unrealistic, staged experience. Everyone wants to be someone. And how are you going to be someone if you look like everyone?
More handmade accessories! More textures! More pieces with a story!
Getting Waisted
We don’t do bodycon anymore (RIP American Apparel, I literally wore this to my cousin’s bar mitzvah), but that doesn’t mean you can’t be cinched. Designers leaned towards draping and very fluid fabrics - chiffon and jersey are top of the charts. I first saw the Saint Laurent dress on Iris Law and gasped. The dress itself is simple - and yet, the delicate shaping at the waist all thanks to a few tucks and stitches makes it the most ethereal of them all. Stella McCartney did not discriminate regarding drape placement - see: red top, white bottom. The best part? You can look hot and also be comfortable. Win-win, goodbye Spanx. Can definitely see an 80s shoulder inspiration entering the waist accented dress silhouette in coming collections.
Prep
Prep is back and won’t be going anywhere. It might shift towards the fisherman aesthetic (which isn’t real! I fish in leggings and a tshirt!) but the underlying nautical & collegiate inspirations will remain. This fits in with the aforementioned soda counter/Rebel Float/conservative timeline.
It’s not your parent’s prep of pressed chinos and monogrammed cableknit - it is prep done for fashion, rather than prep born of privilege. No prep nepo baby here, no fashion family tree.
Lisa Birnbach, the author of The Official Preppy Handbook, spoke of prep as a sort of grounding practice in an increasingly uncertain world, saying, “I'm speaking of Americans, but the whole world is in flux. And I do think throwing on a cardigan or the oldest pair of corduroys that you own is the sartorial equivalent of putting down an anchor. It's about finding something solid and familiar.” The entire concept behind prep is that it endures, and in our constant conveyor belt of fashion, more people are grabbing on to a more accessible version of quiet luxury. Prep is still considered luxury, but in a way that is adaptable on a broader scale. It also helps that Ralph Lauren just received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. God bless our flag (sweaters). Take Ivy has been making the rounds online, which seems like an omen of things to come. If the men start wearing rib trimmed crew-neck sweatshirts and nylon bomber jackets (think this silhouette) paired with slim, ankle skimming slacks, I will know we have succeeded. Especially exciting if they start casually layering tees.
With that, it is 2:18 AM and I have to go to sleep. As always, I hope you enjoyed and would love to hear any and all concurrent or dissenting thoughts. Happy 2025! It’ll be interesting to see what comes of this.
Ok ok I’m laughing at you calling out Pinterest on being a little behind the times. Do we think it’s because there are swaths of the country that realistically pick up on trends much later than peak? Like my friend who said “I think I want a pair of red sneakers.” 😂
I LOVE your predictions, especially deer!! Do I need that deer fur coat? No, but do I love it? Yes.
I will never read a Pinterest trend report again.