Issue #29: I asked my Gen Z sister about trends and back-to-school shopping

And here’s what’s hot

Hello from Idaho, where I’ve been visiting my family for the last two weeks! Sorry for the late newsletter – I’ve been prioritizing time outside and with family. Last week, we went on a white water rafting trip down the Salmon River, which was the most cleansing experience I think I’ve ever had. We didn’t have service, and my phone died on day two, so I spent the majority of the trip completely off-the-grid. I’m not going to lie, it kind of scared me at first, but I eventually got used to it and enjoyed not feeling the need to check on things and constantly consume an endless amount of content. 

A snapshot of the river (before my phone died).

Of course, I work in marketing and write content, so I do need to be informed to a certain extent. And I realize the irony in writing all of this when you, dear reader, so kindly subscribe to my newsletter on top of a billion other pieces of content in your inbox, on your social media accounts, etc. (Pls stick around!!) But this is all to say that I wasn’t really staying up-to-date with brand news or trends last week, and it felt really good.

So instead of writing about news or trends this week, and in honor of being with my family this week, I’m talking to my younger sister about trends and back-to-school shopping this season. What trends is she leaning into? What are the big purchases this season? Where is she getting inspiration?

I dragged my sister, Gemma, out for an ice cream date to ask her some questions, and we ended up making a fun little recording that I’m sharing here. I highly recommend listening to the audio version to hear all of the fun little tidbits in there (including a surprise DJ appearance??), but I also transcribed and condensed the interview below for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

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CA: What are some of the items on your back-to-school wish list this year?

G: I just got a new Patagonia backpack, but also, the flip-side to the Patagonia backpack is the Longchamp tote.

The [Longchamp] that I have is a duffle, but I want the longer strap one. My strap is short.

Get you a girl who wants both.

I got a Patagonia backpack, it’s black, it’s the 32 liter one. It’s really big but I think it will be good if I want to go visit friends. I don’t have to bring a suitcase or anything. 

Besides that, I got a new pair of Pumas. I like Sambas but I kind of wanted to be alternative, you know?

Another thing – I’m not really sure how to say it – the Ogee makeup. Have you seen this? I always get their ads on Instagram. You know who sponsors it? Ballerina Farm. It’s like super simple makeup. The videos that they post make it look so easy to put on and simple and they only sell like five things. It’s so satisfying, the way that they put it on. 

@ballerinafarmI have been getting alot of questions asking what I do for makeup and I absolutely love using Ogee!!💛

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I feel like I have a really good makeup routine. I have my going out makeup routine, then every day, I usually don’t wear makeup or I put on like a little bit of mascara. I use Flawless Filter [from Charlotte Tilbury] paired with the HUDA [Beauty] powder. It’s like a foundation but it feels a lot lighter, paired with the powder. Because sometimes the Flawless Filter can be a little greasy. Then I use a little of the Makeup by Mario bronzer. It’s so good. I use Rare Beauty blush, I use the Ilia mascara. What else? I have this Milk Makeup highlighter that I got in the 5th grade and it’s lasted me ten years. I use it literally every single day. You know what I also got? The REFY primer. It’s a weird stick, it was totally an impulse purchase.

I have some different lip things. Right now, my basic, every day [lip product] is Summer Fridays. But then, sometimes I’ll use the Charlotte Tilbury balm that mom also got you for Christmas. There’s another Makeup by Mario gloss lipstick…

CA: What are some brands that you really like right now?

G: Ogee. That’s one of them. Literally these ads have lured me in! It’s like I can’t forget about it. 

Oh, this has always been popular – Levi’s, though. Some good Levi’s jeans, specifically the Low Loose jeans – sooo good. They’re so comfy, they’re going to last me forever, too. You know what I mean? I really really like those…

I would say, Aritzia. I don’t even know that it’s specifically me. I like Aritzia, but it’s become so popular recently. Specifically the TNA [line]. This is Aritzia, what I’m wearing right now. 

Ooh! SKIMS. I have the Lana Del Ray x SKIMS bra. It’s sooo cute. You have to try it on when we get home, it’s so cute and iconic. I don’t really have anything else. Oh, I have a bodysuit from SKIMS but it’s more of a top to go out in.

This is another thing I wanted to talk about: the decline of workout wear right now. Leggings used to be normal to wear out. Now, I look at them, and I’m like why would I wear those out? I don’t know if that’s my frontal lobe developing or something… Do you know what I mean? None of my friends ever wear leggings anymore. Sweatpants are the new [leggings]. Bike shorts have kind of gone out of style. 

CA: What have you purchased recently that you really liked? (Fashion, experiences, technology, etc.)

G: Another thing that I’ve been on is headphones instead of AirPods. If you give me an AirPod, I’m going to look at it and be like… they just don’t even fit in my ears. Why was I even pretending like they would? They literally don’t work at all on me. Headphones are just a lot comfier for me.

I don’t even know if this is an experience, but the rise of pickleball. Totally in right now. Like I’ll just go with my friends and play. It’s really fun actually. When we don’t have anything else to do, we’re like, let’s just go and play some pickleball. 

I don’t know if I can talk about this on here. The rise of cigarettes again. Not me personally, I’m okay, you don’t need to be worried about me. Cigarettes instead of vaping! People aren’t pulling out their razz-a-tazz vape anymore, they’re pulling out a pack of American Spirits or whatever. 

I don’t know why, but I don’t know a single girl who does Zyns. It’s only guys, and it’s like every guy. For some reason, no girls. I don’t know why… They’re so popular right now. Also nicotine [in general]. 

CA: Where do you find style inspiration?

G: TikTok is pretty big. And you know what TikTok started? Their own shop, in the app. It’s horrible, it’s the worst fast fashion ever, but they make it so much easier. It kind of scares me, it feels like I’m getting scammed or something. But I have friends who have [ordered things from TikTok Shop]. And they get big discounts on stuff.

I don’t really follow [fashion creators] on Instagram. More on TikTok. Even just like my friends here, I feel like I get a lot of inspo from them. I don’t really use Pinterest anymore. TikTok is probably the biggest one. 

CA: What are some trends that you think are going to be big for the rest of the year?

G: I think baggy jeans are going to be big for a long time. Apart from that… Can I say something that I think is going out of style? Slickback [buns].

I think simple makeup will stay in for a bit. I cannot imagine a winged eyeliner and a matte lipstick coming back. 

Oh, the other thing is the bow trend that was in. That is so out. Do you think Roller Rabbit will stay in? You don’t know what Roller Rabbit pajamas are? [CA: No, what’s that?] The monkeys… I got my sheets from Roller Rabbits, it’s like a print. Have you ever seen these before? Oh, they’re so popular right now. They’re like on the same Love Shack Fancy beat. I bet those will go out of trend soon. But I don’t think Love Shack Fancy will [go out of style], for a while.

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CA: Who are your favorite influencers right now?

G: I really don’t even know any influencers. There are definitely some that I like, but I literally cannot remember any of them. I feel like the fashion that I look at on TikTok is actually from random people who aren’t even influencers. I feel like influencers have gotten to the point where they’re just talking at the camera for five minutes doing a Get Ready With Me [video] every single day. And I’m like, this isn’t even interesting or new anymore. You know what I mean? 

So I’ll find on my For You Page some random girl who’s literally just in their room, dancing with a cute outfit on, and that’s where I’ll find my inspo. Is it weird to say that I get bored of influencers?

CA: There’s so much of the same content out there. And it’s refreshing to see someone who you can relate to. If it’s someone your age, just in their room, posting a cute outfit that they didn’t get paid for, that’s relatable, you know?

G: It also shows some creativity. The other thing with influencers is that they’re all sponsored by the same [brands]. Like Addicted, or whatever. Or like, Whitefox. These same brands, that I’m just like, okay, I’m over this.

Another brand that’s super in right now is MadHappy. 

CA: Yes, they just did a collab with GAP. 

@hauskrisI simply could not resist #madhappy #gapxmadhappy #madhappyxgap #gap #madhappyhaul

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G: Yes! [My friend] just got the sweatpants. They’re really cute actually. They’re so comfy too. 

I actually really liked their sweatshirt, but then I couldn’t justify the price of a thing that was trendy. Aritzia hoodies are expensive, but at least they’re basics that I could use for a while. MadHappy has its logo on everything and it just becomes cringy and then I’m stuck with this $200 sweatshirt.

I kind of went off in this podcast! 

Thank you to Gem for joining me this week, and thank you for reading this week’s issue.