Barbiecore. Quiet Luxury. Coastal Grandmother. Cottagecore. Dark Academia. No, these aren’t the names of quirky paint colors, but examples of microtrends. Though they appear to simply contain random combinations of words ending in “core,” microtrends are more complex than they seem. The definition of a microtrend according to the Harvard Crimson is as follows: “Microtrends are cycles of short-lived trends that gain a high amount of attention in a fairly short period outside of traditional trend cycles, and then fall off the grid and lose public relevance almost just as quickly.”

Microtrends are a popular concept in fashion, as certain styles are often portrayed briefly on social media platforms. Students such as Kara Leonard (‘24) participate in microtrends because of the fun fashion pieces that they provide.

“Right now I’ve been emulating the Coquette microtrend. I love putting little bows on my hair and being girly. I think it’s just fun to do, and I don’t understand people who hate on that stuff,” said Leonard.

While many students at Chamblee enjoy participating in various microtrends due to their fun variations and accessories, others don’t support following microtrends because they don’t believe things look better just because they are trendy. 

“I think people like to fit in and think that they’re in style and look nice. If someone sees something repeatedly worn, they might think that it looks good even if it doesn’t,” said Charlotte Freymann (‘25).

Students such as Alessia Escobar (‘26) appreciate microtrends because they allow students a chance to elevate their fashion and put a clear effort into their daily outfits, as opposed to the usual sweatpants and leggings.

“I don’t love microtrends, but appreciate that fewer people are coming to school in their pajamas,” said Escobar.

While it is bordering on being a major trend, Stanley water bottles are becoming increasingly popular at Chamblee and can still be categorized as a microtrend. Throughout the halls of Chamblee, a rainbow of Stanley water bottles can be observed.

“I have been participating in many trends. I especially like Stanley cups because they look nice and even help me drink more water,” said Madison Sullivan (‘27).

Even though many students appreciate microtrends and enjoy participating in them at the moment, they might regret them later on as they go out of style. This can be seen in the past microtrends that people regret participating in now.

“I went through an emo phase a while ago. When I look back on it, I realize how cringy it was,” said Leonard.

Another student, Sloane Drummond (‘26), regretted the microtrends that she had participated in in the past because of her dedication to wearing it daily.

“I used to wear Simply Southern shirts religiously. I regret it because it was the only thing that I wore for a long time,” said Drummond.

Many wonder what the next fashion trends might be. With spring coming, students predict that the next microtrend will be flower-inspired.

“I think Flowercore is coming because flowers are going to start blooming soon. People are going to start wearing bright colors like pinks and greens,” said Drummond.

Though sometimes it’s better to dress in a way that pleases you, following trends can provide a sense of community and excitement. No matter what your opinions on microtrends may be, it is important to keep an open mind towards the fashion choices of others, as you never know what the next trend will be.