coming soon: cuffing szn
so we've got some salt on dating trends and voluntary celibacy
Bumble dropped its dating trends 2025 report and it’s all talk and no substance and like everything, we’re taking it with a huuuge pinch of salt:
Firstly, it weirdly focuses on women respondents:
“expectations are changing, with nearly 2 in 3 (64%) women respondents getting clear about what they want and need, and refusing to settle for less”
Again, zooming in on women:
“over half, (52%) of women surveyed globally are self-proclaimed romantics who LOVE love”Groundbreaking. That's like pointing out we use email instead of handwritten letters today:
“the majority (86%) of singles surveyed agree that how we show affection has changed to include behaviors like sending memes, a playlist, or sharing inside jokes”Where’s the rest of the 47% here?:
“half of women (53%) surveyed agree that the conversations around masculinity need to evolve to allow men to define what positive masculinity looks like.”Finally, something interesting –
“relatable dating stories [on social media] resonate with singles, with 1 in 3 (35%) respondents saying that realistic, positive dating content makes them feel hopeful about their own love lives—proving that what matters most is authenticity”Indeed honest dating content registers with the singles. As my friend said:
Another interesting aspect – women are getting closer to their male friends, seeking their perspective on dating.
Among women, 1 in 5 (22%) respondents now ask their male friends to vet potential dates, and a majority (54%) rely on the men in their lives to offer honest insights into men’s dating behavior.How about vice versa – girls consulting guys on dating? Again, so much emphasis on women.
But above all, what’s missing is the convo around the rise of situationships (the most unwanted form of relationship) and ghosting. Dating apps definitely play a role in this. The elephant in the room here is that fewer people are using them.
🧂 trends of the week:
Celibacy
Abstaining from romance has been a hot topic all through 2024. Comedian Hope Woodard kicked it off with her viral #boysober trend, Bumble caught heat for its ad shaming women for not having sex, and after Trump defeated Harris, interest in South Korea’s 4B movement skyrocketed. 4B stands for no dating, no sex—feminist resistance to misogyny, gender discrimination, and violence against women.
Julia Fox is an advocate and Gen Z is the least sexually active generation. If you’re dipping into your boysober era, Hypebae’s got tips—like treating yourself to some quality solo gear.
Hobonichi Journals
As 2025 threatens to arrive any moment, the journalling girlies are showing off their new agendas from the Japanese brand 'Hobonichi’.
There’s a community of people sharing them personalizing covers, prepping the inside, and showcasing their art.
People are also showing their ‘off brand’ journals too - plus remember the Louise Carmen we talked of a while ago? Someone DIY’d one themselves with scrap leather. All in all, the 2025 journals prepping is alive online.
White T-shirt Theory
As we bundle up, here’s the hack fashion girlies and guys are swearing by to elevate the look: that fresh, crisp line of a white tee peeking out from under your layers. Simple, but it works wonders.
Glitz, Glam - nope, just glitter
Glitter is so in y’all - from Lush’s Fairy Dust and Fenty’s Diamond Bomb to Maybelline’s glitter mascara, the girlies want to be adorned in glitter again.
Whatever propaganda the mica and microplastic industry has injected into the market this season, brushing shoulders with someone these days could mean a glitter infused wardrobe for the week. Maybe everyone is getting into the holiday spirits?
+ an F1 team even released a special one-off livery for the Las Vegas Grand Prix that’s glitter themed
We may not be crows, but we definitely love shiny things.
Not letting go Lego
Curated gift guides are everywhere, and—surprise or not—most of them include Lego. The numbers agree: while the toy market overall is shrinking (Mattel and Hasbro reported declines of 1% and 21%), Lego is smashing record sales this year. Collabs with Nike, Levi’s, and Ikea might have something to do with staying relevant. Just don’t leave a brick on the floor for someone to step on.
Btw has anyone seen Piece by Piece Pharrell’s biopic animated with LEGO biopic? It’s supposedly decent.
Here’s a gift guide specifically for LEGO lovers.
Labubu and Monchhichi
Exported from East (and Southeast) Asia, Labubu and Monchhichi are two trendy collectible collections with a market emerging in Europe.
Labubu is one of Popmart’s many figurine collections - but one that’s oddly blown up due to Lisa from Blackpink allegedly sharing her affinity for them.
Alongside Labubus, there are Monchhichis - little dolls from the mid 70’s from Japan. Vintage Monchhichi now can even be resold for up to €150!
With collectables (and toys) continuing to trend… is this the new lipstick effect? More on this soon.
Silver + Gold
Team silver or team gold? How about team jewel-maxxing cuz we’re finally throwing out the rule of not mixing metals. Even brands like Saint Laurent, Cartier, Tiffany & Co., and Swarovski are weaving this trend into their designs.
we’ll see you next week
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