As we leave behind 2025, there are trends that LHS students plan to leave with it. But as the new year starts there are also new trends that are becoming popular. Junior Tye Dodson talked about the new trends.
“My favorite new trend is ‘I got like hella money, I got like hella money I got like $5,’” said Dodson, likely due to the relatability of being broke in high school.
Brain rot was big in 2025, with trends like the Italian artificial intelligence videos, six-seven, mewing, rizz and more. Many people could be heard “vocal stimming” and singing whatever TikTok audio was most popular at that time. When people look back at 2025, they will remember these audios and the brain rot.
“People will definitely cringe at all the new terms and slang we came up with this year like gyatt, rizz, Italian brain rot and all the weird brainrot things from this year,” said freshman Hazel Mikolitch.
However, although many people will cringe looking back at 2025 brain rot, throwbacks seem to be the new big thing of this year with many people saying that 2026 is the new 2016.
“I think throwbacks will be the biggest trend,” said Dodson. “I keep seeing throwbacks on Instagram to 2016.”
Throwback videos have been popping up all over people’s Instagram and TikTok feeds. With people’s aesthetics shifting from things like clean girl and matchas to colorful makeup and old Starbucks drinks. For many high school students, 2016 is the height of nostalgia, right when we were getting online and becoming aware of the world.
“I have definitely seen that 2026 is the new 2016 thing and nostalgia-core. Also a lot of trends from the early 2000s like animal prints and stuff like that,” said Mikolitch. “I think maximalism and early 2000s clothing trends and 2016-type aesthetics will be big this year.”
Another thing that seems to be popular this upcoming year is individuality. People seem to be trying to find their own identity instead of following influencers aesthetics and styles.
“The trends I want to follow this year are having good study habits and dressing how you feel like you want to without input from others,” said Mikolitch.
