4 micro-trends that didn’t last

1- Cow print

We all remember waking up in lockdown and styling our favourite funky animal print top. Cow print being one of them. Rising in popularity in 2020 and going viral on TikTok, it was a hit. Tops, jeans, hats, jackets, nails all covered in shapes of black and white, and even some a wild colourful take on cow print. With nothing to do and endless time to scroll, cow print blew up on social media and became a way for people to have fun and experiment, sharing their trendy outfits online. I remember my jazzy purple cow print top that made many appearances, but now we don't see it. Like most micro-trends it had its moment in the spotlight, but just after around a year it disappeared. Maybe it was too hard to style, maybe we became allergic to a bold pattern, or maybe we just followed the crowd and it was decided that cow print wasn't 'cool' anymore.

2- Bag charms

Rising in popularity in 2025, bag charms were seen daggling from thousands of bags. Whether it be a £95 Coach charm or a £2 Shein charm, there was a real craze. Yet again, TikTok grew the sensation with influencers sharing and linking their favourite charms. This trend was all about personalisation. Each charm could show off a part of your interests, favourite singers, colours, characters and more. Bag charms were an easy and low effort way to feel on trend with a simple accessory. But we don't often see them now. With the 'clean girl' aesthetic dominating, more neutral and basic bags are trending, leaving bag charms in the past.

3- JoJo bows

Taking it back a decade to 2016, when large, colourful, sparkly bows were practically seen from from space. Whilst it was a long time ago, it's an honourable mention that we likely all remember. Pop culture icon Jojo Siwa influenced millions of young girls to accessorise their hair with her staple merchandise. They were adored and worshiped in an instant, with almost 200 designs taking over schools across the world. In my primary school days, the bows became a trend so chaotic that they broke the dress code, with teachers stopping children wearing them altogether. Now these giant statement bows are out, and dainty ribbon bows are in. It's clear to say that after 2016, Jojo bows did not come back like a boomerang.

4- Fruit print baby tee's

Fruit print baby tee's were a playful microtrend that rose to popularity in 2024. A take on a 'y2k' throwback that was loved by so many. Kiwis, Strawberries, grapes, you name it, it was printed on a plain white t-shirt. Previously if you were to say to me that fruit print shirts were in, I would of thought of a not so fashionable and tacky item. But they are pretty simple. Popular in pairing with denim skirts, jeans and linen trousers, they gave gen z's a way to experiment with a fun pattern, yet not too bold or scary. But like so many recent micro-trends, the immense popularity on social media led everyone to be wearing the same thing. And when it's overused and not so niche anymore, it dies out.