In my previous article, I wrote something around the lines of style and preferences taking time and effort to build, curate, and understand.
2025, in my opinion, was an excellent year of trends, marketing, product placement, and consumer involvement. While some companies focused on what seemed like pissing off the entire population, others prioritized quality marketing and production of their items.
To end my fall semester of writing, I wanted to share my 2025 favorites, including products, trends, and media. These are all items or trends that I have purchased or actively participated in. This list also serves as an encouragement to inspire you to create your own favorites list, and maybe even try out some of mine. Let’s get into it!
Home
- Muji’s Matcha candle
I cannot say enough positive things about this candle. It perfectly balances the earthy scents of green tea with luxurious tones of musk, cedarwood, and orange blossom. Useful and comforting in any season, this candle makes an excellent gift: low effort, high result.
- Trend: Framed photos
I loved a cute, framed photo. I think it speaks volumes about the care and craft we put into our rooms or homes, and who doesn’t love seeing pictures displayed around their living space? Pro tip: thrifting picture frames is my favorite!
- Queen-sized comforters for dorm beds
My mother is a smart woman. One of her best tips? Buy a queen or king sized comforter for your bed when you’re in the dorms. Chances are you’ll have a queen or full bed the next year, and won’t have to worry about purchasing new bedding! My comforter is from Sonoma and I adore it.
Beauty
I’m not a fan of body sprays, as they just never seem to last long enough for me. However, I also despise luxury perfume brands with insane markups on their products. Looking for something long-lasting without the long-lasting dent in your bank account? Dossier’s perfumes mimic luxury scents without that luxury price tag. My personal favorite? Woody Sandalwood, inspired by Le Labo’s Santal 33.
A hydrating and addictive replica of Dior’s Lip Oil, however, without the additional cost of branding! Perfect to keep your lips smooth and glossy all year long, I highly recommend this product.
Calling all my curly girls! As someone who loves the look of my hair when it’s straightened, but wants to lose the damage, a blowout brush is the perfect solution. Blow-drying and defrizzing your hair, all while styling it to your liking, it’s easy to use and a dream for healthy hair.
Clothing
I cannot tell a lie, I have this shirt in three different colors. The Old Navy Vintage Tee boasts a boxy fit, can be worn in the summer or peeking out from under a sweater in the winter, and is light, breathable, and obviously, so comfortable. If you need a staple white tee, this is it!
- Apocalypse
2025 was the year of thrifting, at least for me. Apocalypse offers buyers a more curated place to discover vintage finds, all without the vintage price. My favorite find from Apocalypse? A 100% suede jacket!
For those who enjoy hiking, but more in a casual, cute manner, I recommend the Patagonia Sling Pack. It’s incredibly lightweight, sports tons of pockets for all your snacks, and is comfortable for those early autumn hikes in Chautauqua Park.
Miscellaneous
- Trend: Polka dots
Sometimes you don’t know what you’re missing until social media shoves it in your face. For me, this was polka dots. The trend feels approachable, chic, playful, and reminds me of clothing I wore in my childhood, yet still gives me joy in adulthood.
- Biking
Confession time: I learned to ride a bike at the old age of eighteen. Yes, it was my greatest embarrassment and accomplishment, and now, I find myself biking everywhere. It makes me feel free, alive, and is a fantastic way to get in the cardio routine before class!
- Handwritten to-do lists
This has ultimately changed my life for the better. Every night, before going to bed, I write out my plan for the next day and all the tasks I need to complete. Once I’m finished with the list, I crumple it up and toss it away. There is no more satisfying feeling than knowing I have executed everything I sought out to do.
Media
- Buying a magazine
When I travel, which I do a lot nowadays as a college student, I feel lost in the amount of media I consume, both while I’m waiting for and on my flight. Taking myself back to a simpler time by purchasing a magazine is both an amusing way to browse trends and a slower way to keep myself entertained. Slow-paced content is such a value in our rapid-fire world.
- Englishman In New York by Sting
If I had to describe this song in one word, it would be chic. I really can’t go much more into detail about it. You just have to trust me and give Sting a listen.
- Social Media: Because Of Marketing (BoM)
Looking for a way to gain inspiration and motivation through social media? I suggest checking out BoM’s page. Highlighting the newest in marketing trends, I feel that they do an excellent job inciting interest in all consumers, even if you’re not typically stirred by a fantastic campaign.
So there you have it! My 2025 favorites in a nutshell. I feel grateful to have experienced so much, and I’m looking forward to what 2026 brings for us all. I hope you can take what you need from my list or share it with someone you know would enjoy my suggestions!