Toby’s Trends of 2024: Dry January, Ankle Socks, Solo Dining and More
Dec 30, 2024
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In 2024, 'Dry January' took off as more people embraced mindful drinking and explored weed-infused beverages. The surge of 'romantasy' novels thanks to #booktok captured readers’ hearts, while emotional spending drove nostalgia-driven purchases. Fashion saw a comeback of vintage styles and a playful debate over ankle socks. With rising loneliness, many turned to AI for companionship or found joy in simple pleasures like solo dining and watching favorite shows. A unique blend of cultural shifts defined this year.
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Quick takeaways
The rise of Dry January signifies a cultural shift towards wellness and reduced alcohol consumption, coinciding with increased marijuana sales.
Romantic novels have surged in popularity due to platforms like BookTok, significantly driving sales and changing reader preferences in 2024.
Deep dives
The Shift to Wellness: Dry January and Alcohol Trends
The rise of Dry January highlights a significant shift towards wellness and reduced alcohol consumption among individuals. Early in the year, sales at major liquor stores dipped to post-pandemic lows, while searches for Dry January surged, indicating a cultural shift. Interestingly, as alcohol consumption declined, marijuana sales spiked, showing a potential substitution effect where individuals opted for cannabis instead of drinks. This trend reflects broader societal changes as the demand for non-alcoholic beverages also increased, suggesting lasting impacts on lifestyle choices.
The Boom of Romantic Novels and BookTok's Influence
Romantic literature experienced a meteoric rise in sales, with a notable increase driven by popular book trends on platforms like TikTok. Over the past year, sales in the romance category soared by 45%, as titles such as 'The Fourth Wing' and 'A Court of Rose and Thorns' topped charts. This success is largely attributed to the phenomenon known as BookTok, where readers engage through clubs and reviews, generating buzz around these genres. Independent bookstores reported that romantic novels account for a substantial portion of their sales, showcasing a shift in reader preferences.
Nostalgia in Fashion: Trends and Cultural Reflections
Nostalgia significantly influenced the fashion landscape in 2024, as brands like Asics successfully capitalized on retro styles and the resurgence of 'ugly dad sneakers.' Popularity soared for these nostalgic silhouettes amidst increased interest in vintage shopping, with over 25,000 resale stores now in the U.S. Furthermore, fashion trends like the mob wife aesthetic on TikTok, inspired by shows like 'The Sopranos,' exemplified how quickly cultural references can become mainstream. Overall, this embrace of the past indicates a cyclical nature in fashion, countering contemporary minimalist trends.
Episode 485: Neal and Toby recap the most memorable trends of the year including the rise of dry January, along with the rise of weed drinks. Then, ‘romantasy’ novels were all the rage as book sales skyrocketed thanks to #booktok. Also, nostalgia was a major contributor to sales as consumers make purchases with their emotions. In fashion, it was all about vintage clothing and the mob-wife aesthetic, while a generational war arose over which socks were ‘in.’ Lastly, loneliness increased in 2024, causing people to turn to AI, decorate their fridges, or simply sit on the couch and watch their favorite TV shows.
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