2024 was a year to remember. To wrap it all up, I’ve compiled the biggest trends of the year in three categories. I’ve never heard the word “microtrend” more times than I did in 2024. I don’t know who we were lying to, because these trends lasted a lot longer than many of us anticipated. Of these, my favorite was undeniably the cheetah print epidemic. All of a sudden, the party girls of the 2010s were back on the scene, this time seen in Generation Z. Pairing cheetah print with black mini skirts or faux-leather micro shorts made the perfect outfit combination, and I await its re-return in ten years.
The idea that a color could become a trend seemed foreign to many until the release of Charli XCX’s electropop album brat. What made this album special wasn’t just the music (how many of you even know more than three songs?), but the movement it created. While I can’t say that I personally participated in “Brat Summer,” I was unable to escape that unmistakable shade of neon green. Although Charli XCX really does deserve the crown for most memorable music in 2024, there are definitely some runner-ups. I’ll be the first to admit that the one thing I never saw coming was Beyoncé going country. Although “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” had a chokehold on TikTok for a while, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet” eventually dethroned the Single Ladies artist for the top spots, creating a whole new set of social media trends.
While Nara Smith is easily one of the most famous food influencers, Logan Moffitt gave her a run for her money with his viral cucumber salad recipes. With salads consisting of Din Tai Fung copycat recipes, bagel cucumbers, spicy Thai flavors, and more, I think it’s safe to say that many of us didn’t touch cucumbers for at least a couple weeks after trying the multitude of recipes that dominated FoodTok.
Of course, the food trends of 2024 wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Dubai chocolate, a pistachio-chocolate candy bar that costs over $25. I love chocolate just as much as anybody else, and I may not always be wise in my financial decisions, but even I can’t justify that hefty price tag.
