Yes, each generation has its own unique quirks when it comes to habits or fashion. But Gen Z has gained a reputation for trends that are truly baffling, to say the least. Today, we share 20 of these that leave everyone scratching their heads.
E-Boy and E-Girl Fashion
We start with the distinct e-boy and e-girl fashion styles many Gen Zs have found comfort in. As Vox shares, this has them wearing heavy makeup and edgy clothing borrowed from different aesthetic sources, such as anime characters or characters in ‘90s sitcoms. There’s also an emphasis on having an online presence, as appreciation typically only comes from social media.
Cottagecore Aesthetic
The cottagecore aesthetic involves romanticizing a hard pastoral lifestyle through rustic clothing, baking, and gardening. It rose in popularity in recent years, particularly during the pandemic, and we now see it adopted in fashion and home décor styles. Forbes tells us that Gen Z is at the forefront of this aesthetic adoption, which is a fascination far from urban reality.
Gender Reveal Parties for Pets
Gender reveal parties are already seen as unnecessary by many. And despite this, Gen Zs are now throwing full-blown parties involving cakes, decorations, and even outfits for their pets to make them seem like human baby showers. The more extravagant parties are thrown with elaborate themes and even have hired entertainers.
Over-the-Top Skincare Routines
Gen Z’s obsession with elaborate skincare routines is another head-scratcher. These routines can include 10 or more steps, featuring a range of exotic ingredients. Such extensive skincare regimens, which often incorporate expensive and hard-to-find products, demand a lot of time and money, raising questions about their necessity and effectiveness.
Excessive Phone Customization
Customizing phone screens with unique themes, icons, and widgets has reached new heights with Gen Z, too. They spend considerable time and effort to personalize their digital spaces, often creating intricate designs that reflect their personalities. While creativity is admirable, the extent of this customization, sometimes involving paid apps and designer themes, can seem excessive to outsiders.
TikTok Dance Challenges
The proliferation of dance challenges on TikTok is another baffling trend. These choreographed routines often go viral, with millions attempting to replicate them in hopes of gaining followers. The sheer popularity of these often simple and repetitive dances, which sometimes lead to global trends, can be hard to understand for those not engaged with the platform.
Fake Freckles
Drawing fake freckles on the face has become a beauty trend, with many young people using makeup to create them, aiming for a natural, sun-kissed look. This trend raises eyebrows because it celebrates a feature that some naturally freckled individuals might have felt insecure about, turning a natural trait into a sought-after fashion statement.
Wearing Socks Over Pants
Wearing socks over pants, especially over leggings or skinny jeans, is another trend that stands out. This style choice is often seen in streetwear fashion, where it is paired with oversized hoodies and sneakers. However, its practicality and aesthetic appeal, especially when seen as an attempt to revive retro styles, can be questioned.
Mismatched Earrings
Sporting mismatched earrings is a quirky trend embraced by Gen Z. This fashion statement involves wearing different earrings in each ear, creating an asymmetrical look that challenges traditional fashion norms. The boldness of this choice, which often includes combining completely different styles and colors, adds to its perplexing nature.
Bizarre Food Combinations
Gen Z has a penchant for experimenting with unusual food pairings, combining sweet and savory items in unexpected ways. For instance, you see some take hot Cheetos with milk or sushi pizza—an experiment that can be off-putting to traditional palates. The appeal of such odd combinations, often driven by viral trends and social media challenges, remains a mystery to many.
The Return of Y2K Fashion
The return of Y2K fashion saw the “death of skinny jeans…then the resurgence of cargo pants, halter tops, and baby tees,” and Gen Z is loving it, according to AP. Gen Z’s fascination with this early 2000s style brings back trends many hoped to leave in the past, driven by a desire to relive an era they barely experienced.
Extreme Hair Dye
Bold hair colors, ranging from neon shades to rainbow hues, are increasingly popular as well. The commitment to such vibrant and often high-maintenance hair dye choices can be puzzling. This trend signifies a broader move towards self-expression through appearance, with many spending hours and significant amounts of money to achieve these striking looks.
Tiny Sunglasses
Tiny sunglasses, offering minimal sun protection, have become a fashion staple. These small frames, often more about style than function, can be seen as impractical. Their widespread popularity, seen in influencer and celebrity outfits, continues to be a head-scratcher for many who prioritize practicality over trendiness.
Designer Streetwear
The high demand for expensive streetwear brands highlights Gen Z’s focus on fashion status symbols. Designer hoodies, sneakers, and accessories come with hefty price tags, often costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The willingness to invest heavily in casual wear, driven by brand loyalty and the desire to stand out, often surprises older generations, who view these items as simply overpriced.
Nail Art Obsession
Intricate nail art, featuring elaborate designs and even 3D elements, has taken the beauty world by storm. The effort and skill required to achieve these looks are impressive, yet the practicality of such detailed nail work remains questionable. Many spend hours and substantial amounts of money at salons to keep up with this trend.
Virtual Influencers
Influencers who don’t exist in real life but were rather created through CGI have gained a following. These virtual personalities endorse products and engage with fans, blurring the line between reality and digital entities. The concept of following and idolizing a digital creation, which can be meticulously controlled and crafted, adds a surreal twist to influencer culture.
Throwback Technology
Retro gadgets like Polaroid cameras and vinyl records are being revived by Gen Z, and CNN says that one of the latest to be obsessed about now is flip phones. This trend emphasizes a nostalgia for technology that predates their childhoods, often seen as a reaction against the all-digital age.
Micro-Bag Mania
Tiny handbags that can barely hold anything have become a fashion trend, too. These micro-bags are often more decorative than functional, sometimes holding little more than lipstick or a few coins. The decision to prioritize style over practicality with these minuscule accessories, seen on high-fashion runways and celebrity outfits, is certainly puzzling.
Plant Parenting
Caring for numerous houseplants has become a popular hobby. Known as plant parenting, this trend involves the meticulous care and collection of various plant species, which are then, of course, showcased on social media. The level of dedication to maintaining these indoor jungles, with some even naming their plants and tracking their growth in apps, can be surprising.
ASMR Content
Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) videos, featuring sounds like whispering and tapping, have a huge following. These videos are intended to relax or tingle viewers, often claiming to help with anxiety and insomnia. The fascination with these sensory experiences, however, can be quite baffling, especially to those who do not experience the same effects.
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