Microtrends are being shoved down our throats every day on social media. It can be hard to keep track of everything. If you took a short break from social media this summer, you may have even found yourself confused as your friends showed off their new Labubus. Luckily, I am here to break it all down for you.
Hello and welcome to my new column, “Trendsetter.” Here, I will be commenting on current trends and relating them to the past or to what I’ve noticed here at UConn. Today’s issue will cover some of the biggest trends from the summer, including the ever popular and almost equally hated Labubus.
Throughout history, trends have been recycled and come back as something new. We have seen the ‘70s do Renaissance and the 2000s do the ‘70s, and similarly the 2010s bringing back ‘90s grunge. However, since 2020, decade-inspired fashion trends have circled in and out more quickly than in the past, with the most prevalent and lengthy trend being the 2000s.
Over the summer, many Y2K trends could be noticed, such as mix-matched patterns in fashion, most commonly being stripes and polka dots paired together. We saw these patterns frequently on tank tops, skirts and bikinis. For men’s fashion, jorts were popular once again, and women (and others) seemed to catch onto this as well. These are typically worn very low waisted, almost hanging off the body, again which was a trend of the 2000s.
Pop was in style again, with artists like Sabrina Carpenter and PinkPantheress bringing back the pop princess persona. The song “Illegal” by PinkPantheress is one of the first that comes to mind when I think of the summer. It took over social media, creating trends on TikTok and Instagram Reels, and yet again, has a very 2000s feel.
On a similar note, Sabrina Carpenter’s recent performance at the Video Music Awards channeled Y2K icon Brittany Spears, with the dancing in the rain reference to Spears’ classic performance of “…Baby One More Time.” However, the song “Tears,” itself has a more retro vibe, with the music video mirroring the disco era of the ‘70s.
Another honorable mention from this performance was Carpenter’s presentation of “Protect the Dolls.” While trans rights are definitely not a trend, we have seen many celebrities and influencers wearing clothing this summer with the same slogan, promoting justice.
Now, for what we have all waited for: Labubus. If you are not familiar with what these are… where have you been? Just in case, I will give a quick description of what they are if you are lost.
Labubus are plush collectable keychains that were invented by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung and are currently owned by Pop Mart. Their official name is “The Monsters.” They actually look like little monsters from the book “Where the Wild Things Are” and come in mystery blind bags. The set of Labubus you can pull from vary based on series — smaller groups of monsters based around a specific theme, each with their own title, such as the “Big Into Energy” series.
These little monsters took over the internet and were popular across age groups and genders. Even though I feel the fad is starting to pass, I still cannot decide how I feel about them. Early in the summer, I thought I hated them, then started to want one, and finally, I am kind of just over them. Regardless, their influence is still relevant on campus.
I have seen “Missing Labubu” flyers throughout UConn Storrs, hung up in dorm buildings and on street signs. Most recently, Labubus were seen at the “Performative Male Contest.” The contest took place on Sept. 8, as male students stood outside Homer Babbidge Library, trying to out-perform each other (essentially taking on phony traits they think women would like). Many competitors were spotted with Labubus dangling from jorts or tote bags as accessories. I wonder if the upcoming “Performative Masc Lesbian Contest” will showcase a similar amount of the collector’s item as well.
Like many other trends mentioned in this issue, Labubus do have some 2000s undertones. While blind bag toys were popularized in the 2010s, with items such as Shopkins or LOL Suprise Dolls, Labubus oddly remind me of Furbys. Furby, the classic toy from the early 2000s, and Labubus are similar in the sense that they are both objectively ugly, but everyone either wants or has one.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) I do not think that Labubus are here to stay. They may already be on their way out, demonstrating a short-lived obsession, similar to the prior Sonny’s Angels craze. I do think that similar collectors’ items will keep emerging and disappearing as the next year goes on. Regarding fashion and music, I do think Y2K is here to stay for a long time, as both Gen Z and millennials find the decade both fascinating and nostalgic.
Make sure to tune in to my next issue to see which decades and trends from the past are sneaking their way into our lives as autumn rolls around the corner!