Ozempic is a medication made for treating diabetes, but in recent times, it has been treating another condition: weight insecurity. As celebrities and influencers sing the praises of the drug, one is led to wonder: When did the beauty standard switch from being "thicc" and curvy to being thin, from Brazilian butt lifts to buccal fat removal?
The rise of Ozempic, buccal fat removal, and other microtrends signal desperate economic times for Gen-Z. Job applications go ignored on Indeed, lattes cost six dollars (extra for alternative milks), and the idea of buying a house has become unthinkable. As economic times get harder, people with the means are able to alter their appearances and lifestyles to embody this fact, in ways that somewhat make this transition more digestible to the masses.
Photo by Chris Briggs / Unsplash
Other microtrends include the resurgence of the tradwife movement, where predominantly female influencers are praised for being able to prepare baked goods and other foods for their husbands and children. Emily Mariko graduated from Columbia University with a degree in neuroscience, and today her income comes from videos of her cooking and showcasing her farmers' market hauls. Nara Smith made cereal from scratch for her children's breakfasts while in her third trimester of pregnancy.
The tinned fish trend on Tik-Tok, while short-lived, was also a telling sign of economic hardships. Individuals and couples would pick out different tins of preserved fish atop crusty bread to eat at home as a novel treat or a unique date night activity.
Everything in clothing stores is made of denim -- a sturdy material -- evocative of hard work that demands durability out of a fabric. Has the simple cost of living risen enough to warrant durability as well? Everything in the clothing stores is denim: corsets, boots, midi skirts, trench coats, dresses, designer bags (The Louis Vuitton bag is $2970, $3970 for Gucci).
As the cost of living skyrockets, we should consider the messages we receive from media, influencers, and advertisements. These trends are in themselves, trends, and as trends are bound to do, they will one day change to reflect the upward and downward turns of the times. Hemlines were once long during the Great Depression, but in prosperous times, mini-skirts will begin trending again.