Where’s Your Labubu Now?

2026 is no different from any other year in the way of trends. Every month, or every week it seems, something new is trending on social media. It could be anything from a plain tank top to putting gems on your face mask. 

Just last year, the Labubu craze was taking over social media. Everyone who was anyone had a Labubu on their bag. Most people didn’t stop at just one, though. The appeal of the Labubu was the blind box aspect. You didn’t know which one you would get, which encouraged consumers to keep buying until they finally got the Labubu they were after. 

The way that Labubus came and went so quickly made me think: what else has happened in the trend cycle lately that we have just forgotten about? What makes something worth participating in? 

Another blind box trend similar to Labubus from this year was the…dumplings? Between you and me, I have never understood the appeal of the dumplings. Are real people buying them, or is it just an influencer thing? What is everyone doing with them after you unbox them, and why is there such a desire to get the glitter dumpling? 

As for clothes, I’ve seen everything from linen pants to polka dots come into style. 

Loose, baggy linen pants were a huge trend on my feed this summer. I honestly saw them more than I saw shorts, even throughout the major heatwave most of the U.S. was experiencing. While linen was trending, the textile is more of a timeless piece that always comes back into circulation. It’s light, breathable, and protects your skin from the relentless sunshine. What’s not to love? 

Do you remember when fun hair clips were in style this spring? The star hair clips and other barrette styles were taking Pinterest and Instagram by storm. The star hair clips specifically tie into the “whimsy” trend of 2026, which we will definitely be covering further down in this article. 

Polka dots (I’ve also seen some call it Dalmatian print…) made a huge resurgence. I saw them everywhere in stores this summer! Bikini sets, shirts, pants, bags, and even nail sets all had polka dots on them. Polka dots are said to be one of those classic prints that will always be around, waiting to come back into the spotlight. But I have to say…where is all of the polka dot print now? I’ve seen more stripes in stores lately than I have of those special little spots.  

Different social trends have been taking over social media in 2026 as well, like how this summer became the “Analog Summer,” as the kids call it. The irony of analog becoming a trend on social media isn’t lost on me. The idea of an analog summer is to be away from electronics. People were making their own analog bags (a tote bag full of analog activities for on the go), buying old iPods, reading physical books, using digital cameras, and overall just trying to stay off of their phones. I hope to see this trend outlive the cycle of a speedy life and death that so many other trends experience, and it’s honestly encouraging to see people still talking about recommended ways to stay off your phone. 

The “whimsy” trend was another big one for the summer. A whimsical summer entailed making lots of DIY crafts, participating, at least slightly, in the analog trend, inviting color into your life, and participating in your community. Similar to the analog trend, I do hope to see this one continue. While the overuse and generalization of the term “whimsy” has started getting on my nerves, the trend itself promotes being a good neighbor, getting off of your phone, and creating more than consuming. This trend became popular among the depressing state of the world we live in today, and I think this trend is the people’s way of fighting back, and not letting life get them down. It’s a reminder that even when things are bad, there are still reasons to keep pushing. 

But if we all know that they’re sure to disappear so quickly, what’s the point in participating? 

Well, I’ll have you know that being anti-trend has also become a trend as of late. People are promoting now more than ever to just be you.  

You don’t have to follow the trends (obviously). If you don’t like the new trend of capris, that’s okay! You can wear whatever pants make you feel gorgeous. If you are incredibly tech-savvy and don’t want to switch to a flip phone, nobody is forcing you! Just because it’s in the trend cycle, doesn’t mean you have to participate. 

Wearing the clothes you want to and living the lifestyle that makes you happy is better than participating in trends and buying things that will inevitably end up in the trash! 

• blind boxes
• college
• labubu
• opinion
• trend
• trend cycles
• whimsy