The Year of "Anti-Trends?"

2026 is a turning point in fashion culture. This year is represented by a significant departure from radical silhouettes and loud trends, replaced by a collective agreement by consumers to slow consumption. A new phenomenon embracing anti-consumerism has emerged. Influencers on social media platforms have put their own spin on this concept, introducing “de-influencing.” Instead of pushing new clothing pieces onto their followers, they expose the realities behind already popular products. While this may seem counterintuitive, steadily increasing views have proven that authenticity pays. In fact, #deinfluencing has reached over 332 million uses on TikTok, and even more across all platforms.

“I think that the de-influencing trend is good because it helps people be more mindful about overconsumption,” said junior Irene Lee.

Additionally, the steadily rising popularity of “capsule wardrobes” continues to illustrate a shift towards sustainability. This trend encourages a small collection of clothing staples to stand the test of time. Due to the limited scope of these wardrobes, people are pushed to invest in high quality, versatile pieces of clothing that can be styled in numerous ways.

“Quality clothes are timeless and the clothes that don’t last long eventually go out of style,” according to sophomore Hannah Kim.

For this year’s fashion trends that inevitably will emerge, practicality is a priority. Even Vouge predicts that we see a rise in "personality-driven looks rooted in wearability" rather than micro fashion. Some clear examples of this at BHS are the shift away from micro crop tops and ripped jeans to full length tops and classic denim. These pieces can be worn for longer without the fear of rips or injury. Popular mall stores among students like Aritzia, Abercrombie, Levi’s and Pacsun are key factors for this change. Since these stores aren’t supplying these styles as frequently, students purchase what is available.

This recurrence of “anti-trends” paints a hopeful picture for fashion in 2026. Pioneering sustainability into lifestyle signifies a future of less stressed conformity-driven shopping, and greater fulfillment with clothing one already owns. Just like Vouge predicted, fashion can still be an outlet of expression, but let’s hope that this year we wear these articles of clothing for many years to come.