Fashion & Beauty Trends To Watch Out For In 2024, According To Instagram Trend Talk
Each new year brings a wave of changes to the fashion and beauty scenes, from trending aesthetics to popular hacks and techniques. Sometimes, these shifts are variations on existing themes, like the continued popularity of increasingly oversized silhouettes, while, other times, fads seem to strike like a bolt from the blue. But you don't have to wait and see what's coming for 2024: Cultural hub and social media giant Instagram has already revealed its predictions for the new year, based on a massive international survey of Gen Z users.
The 2024 Instagram Trend Talk questioned respondents across the globe, gathering intel on the latest trends from the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, India, and South Korea. This multinational vibe check has uncovered which fads are rising and which ones are fading into obscurity after 2023. According to the survey's results, we're looking forward to burgeoning trends like highly personal "core" aesthetics, a shop-local mindset, and unforgettable fragrances.
The new year's serving individualized style and sustainable fashion
So, where is Gen Z driving the next big movement in fashion? Instagram's Trend Talk reports that 2024 will be all about sustainability and individuality. Out of the survey's top five global fashion trends, "modest dressing" landed in first place, while "thrifting, vintage, heirloom" styles came in at number two. This aligns with respondents' desires to buy fewer new clothes, repeat more outfits, and do more secondhand shopping — both online and in local thrift stores. Thankfully, upcycling your thrifting finds isn't too challenging, and it helps match them better to shoppers' unique points of view.
Even setting aside secondhand shops, shopping locally was a standout goal for Gen Z's shift to sustainable fashion, suggesting that 2024 fashion trends will be tied to an overall sense of community and eco-consciousness. This goes hand in hand with a growing interest in super-personal fashion. Instagram reports that nearly ⅓ of Gen Z respondents wanted to be "more creative" in their clothing choices, while many also want to define "their own 'core' aesthetic." Users also agreed that they wanted outfits that felt authentic and "comfortable," heralding a fashion landscape that's less about fitting in and more about each person living their truth through individual style.
With this holistic new take on fashion, it's unsurprising that beauty trends are moving in a similar direction. According to Instagram, Gen Z's beauty interests are less about keeping up with makeup trends and more about the innate beauty of self-expression.
Beauty in 2024: Signature scents are in and shaved eyebrows are out
Heads up, beauty lovers: It looks like makeup fads are taking a backseat for 2024. According to Instagram Trend Talk, this is the year of the signature scent. More than ¼ of Gen Z survey respondents intend to find a go-to fragrance in 2024. So, whether you're looking for the best gourmand scents or deciding which fragrance to wear based on your zodiac sign, now's the time to commit to a perfume that truly captures your spirit and energy.
Of course, this doesn't mean that we can't embrace new styles in the new year. When it comes to broadening their beauty horizons, users reported that their favorite social media beauty tips had to do with discovering new hairstyles, allowing room for experimentation and evolution in the quest for honest self-expression.
And while 2024 seems to be about a "you do you" mentality, there are a few things that Gen Z would generally like to wave goodbye to. In particular, survey respondents picked shaved eyebrows as the beauty fad they'd most like to leave behind. This tracks with other predictions, which suggest that believable, natural eyebrows are a trend to watch — once again leaning into the overarching theme of authenticity that's brewing for the year to come.