step up: olympics (2024)
step up: olympics (2024)
+ a chilling trend, relative aesthetics, irl dating, & the tote bag
Hey, it’s Ilze, reporting from Latvia. Like many of you, I’m using the summertime freedom to do the annual "show your face to the fam" visit. Living my tomato girl summer to the fullest here.
To be honest, visiting the motherland ain’t easy. Mixed feelings of belonging in theory, but not actually fitting in anymore. The things that don’t work here annoy you ten times more because this frustration is personal, as it's part of who you are. Sort of.
Many people ask how’s Latvia, how are the Latvians. So let’s talk about national habitus. ⚠️Brace yourself for a bit of sociology ⚠️ National habitus is like the collective personality, habits, way of being that people from a specific country share. Example: for the Dutch, it’s tacit knowledge that your main means of moving around is by cycling.
I always say - Latvians are introverted, to which I often receive disbelief in response - 'You? An introvert?' The thing is, being silent is lauded.
But even more apparent is the Latvian inclination to be in nature, preferably in complete solitude. Crowds are vilified (what crowds, as we’re only 1.8 million, but ok). The ultimate Latvian dream is to own a big house with a garden away from the public eye. To be left alone. We have this saying, 'Liec man mieru!' which directly translates to 'leave me in peace,' but really means 'leave me alone.' Nobody likes to be asked questions, bugged, or have someone snooping into their business.
Again, I’m not a good example. Two days in the countryside and I’m ready to get back to my coffee dates and swap the meadows for a treadmill at the gym. But one thing is for sure, I’m taking mom’s tomatoes with me.
B-boys be breakin’
How’s your worm and headspins? Tomorrow the Olympics kick off in Paris, and it’s not surfing or skateboarding that’s stealing the spotlight—it’s breakdance. Just a minute ago, Nike unveiled its first-ever breakdancing shoe, the Nike Jam, and last week, Nike rolled out the Nike x Futura Breakdance Collection. These uniforms will be sported by breakers from Team USA, Team Japan, and Team Korea at the Olympics.
Freezing & Grating
Grating frozen things is so back! It all kicked off with the ol’ viral frozen peaches trend, and now people are getting creative with everything from frozen tomatoes and goat’s cheese to even pickles!
People are loving the novelty and convenience of this trend. It’s perfect for those hot summer days when you want something refreshing and easy. Plus, it’s a great way to reduce food waste and make the most of your seasonal produce. Give it a try and add a frosty twist to your favorite dishes!
Dupes still thriving
The macrotrend of copycat culture is still very much alive and kicking. Reddit has seen a 50% increase in traffic on threads such as r/fashionreps and r/designerreps. And it’s been spreading its tentacles into other fields too, from interior to beauty and even our fridges aren’t safe anymore.
When it comes to beauty, perfume section is particularly booming.
This site lets you find dupes for famous interior items.
Nss mag suggests that the name of the term itself has played a part in normalising this imitation. Dupe sounds WAY nicer than counterfeit/ fake/imitation.
A quick little insight by
into dupe culture in grocery store isles:
IRL dating events
As dating apps take a backseat, real-life dating events are popping up all over Europe.
The Nudge is setting up a singles’ night in August, perfect for those who love good food and better company. Over in Amsterdam, The Queer Agenda is putting a twist on classic movie dates by integrating them into their dating scene. And in Berlin, cheeky named Sore Thumbs host a slew of speed dating events.
Airport Drip
People are embracing a new trend: buying silly and ironic shirts for their friends. The more embarrassing or scandalous, the better! It’s all in good fun, with friends picking designs their pals will either love or laugh at.
After all, you’re not likely to bump into someone important at the airport… right? It’s a playful way to make travel memories even more unforgettable.
Chic desert aunt & surfer nephew
After eclectic grandpa and coastal grandma, we're exploring other relatives-turned-aesthetics.
Chic desert aunt is your cool, globetrotting nana who sports flowy garments, silk scarves, earthy tones, and statement jewelry. Of course, this aunt has a nephew, and he gives off a surfer vibe with beaded jewelry, slouchy silhouettes, jorts, sneakers, and graphic tees.
Here the breakdown of both styles by originator, stylist Allison Bornstein [TikTok link. Stop being afraid of TikTok.]
Primal Movement
People have really gotten into primal movement recently - a fitness category focused on ‘natural movements’. This includes things like lifting, carrying, squatting, practiced often through calisthenics or mobility training inspired by animalistic movements (ever heard of a gorilla walk?).
While these exercises have long been part of martial arts training, they're now making their way into your local gym. So, if you’ve been wondering what those folks at the gym are training for, it’s all about tapping into their primal instincts! 🦍
Word on the streets of Paris…
Marc Jacobs The Tote Bag is all over the city, particularly on the shoulders of nouveaux riches who don’t know what to do with their cash.
Tom Wambsgans said it best:
+ the ‘emergency’ audio that’s viral all over TikTok as a ‘dance trend’ where people walk in place, transitioning through different outfits is of the Filipino EDM genre ‘budots’ - the dance isn’t though. click here to find out more!
