7 Gen-Z Trends Millennials Are Lowkey Jealous Of And 7 They Literally Can't Stand
Let's face it: while it seems to have cooled down in the past year or so, there's a lot of smack talk online from Gen Z aimed toward millennials.
So, I recently asked millennials to give me their thoughts on some Gen Z trends. Which ones are they judgementally side-eyeing? And which ones do they low-key want to take part in? Here are some of their answers:
Love: Baggy jeans
Mauricio Santana / Getty Images, Edward Berthelot / Getty Images
"Honestly, I love how baggy jeans and pants are popular again. The phase of skin-tight pants and jeggings was hard for me because I felt like I was squeezed into my clothes for the sake of fashion. I love that wide-legged pants are back in style. They’re so comfy!"
—Anonymous
Side-eyeing: "Always critical."
"I can't stand the way Gen Z is always critical of everything millennials do. They hate the way we dress, the way we dance, they think we are old and out of touch already.
When I was growing up, I idolized my Gen X aunts and uncles and all their friends. I thought they were so cool, and I never would have made fun of them the way Gen Z makes fun of us."
Love: Young men taking fashion risks
"I love that lots of young Gen Z men are taking more fashion risks than men in my generation did.
Painting their nails, carrying tote bags, even reading books in public are all fashion choices that many men my age would NEVER have dared to do.
It makes me happy that young, straight men feel like they can do what they want without it impacting their masculinity."
—Anonymous
Side-eyeing: "Slay."
"I'm 33, and I can't stand the word 'slay' that Gen Z is using!
I was in the changing room of a new look clothing store the other week, and there were a bunch of girls in there about 18-19 years old-ish I reckon. I overheard them saying to each other, 'Awww girl, you slayyy!' —I actually lost count how many times it was said.
I had to resist the urge not to say, 'Oh my God, will you shut the f—k up? There are other words, you know!'But on a positive note, as somebody here has mentioned before, Gen Z is not afraid to ask for what they want/need, and without feeling the guilt for doing so, whereas I was told to 'get on with it' no matter what the situation was."
Love: Oversized clothes
"I don't wear my clothes baggy, per se, but I love the trend of oversized clothes (as opposed to really tight clothing). I think fabric with a bit of drape looks better than clothes that are too tight.
I live in NYC, and while tight clothes are still present, I see many young ladies wearing oversized blazers and straight-leg trousers, which look great!"
—Anonymous
Side-eyeing: Middle parts
"Middle parts, and the accompanying disdain for side parts. Listen here children, side parts will always be superior, and it will be YOU who regrets your middle part phase, not the other way around."
—Anonymous
Love: Accessories
"I love the high socks and hair clips."
—Anonymous
"The way they accessorize their bags, with all the charms and bows. It's so cute!"
—Anonymous
Side-eyeing: "Crop tops, the obsession with brand name skin care, and the overpriced Stanley craze."
Re: skin care: "You guys are fetuses! You don't need that shit yet!
However, in the grand scheme of things, [do whatever] as long as you're not hurting anyone. To quote a millennial cliché, 'You Do You, Boo.'"
Love: Work attitudes
"Y'all think you are so original, but really, y'all are just copying the multiple generations of your past. Get some respect. BUT...
What I really love is y'all don't give a f--k about corporate and working past your wage. Minimum wage, minimum effort; and I applaud your rejection of the corporate hustle."
—Anonymous
Side-eyeing: Short, flared pants
"Why are everyone's pants an uncomfortably short length, and flared out? It doesn't look good and it's cold!"
—Anonymous
Love: Retro-chic
"I actually love that Gen Z is so inspired, fashionwise, by older generations. Yes, they sometimes treat us like we're dumb old hags. Which makes me feel sad.
But overall, I love the outfits I see from these outgoing, cool girls on TikTok! I don't really mind if they think they invented certain styles. They'll get older, and they'll learn that fashion is cyclical. I just like seeing trends from my youth (and before my time) cycle back around! It's super fun."
—Anonymous
Side-eyeing: Skincare obsession
"The Gen Z (and Gen Alpha) focus on make-up and skin care. I have discovered that the more facial/make-up products I use, the older I look... I worry about what all these TikTok famous elaborate skin and make-up routines will do to their skin long-term."
Love: Less smoking
"This is random but I love that they don't smoke cigs. I'm an elder millennial/Gen X'er, and I feel like millennials almost killed the tobacco industry.
Gen Z isn't doing quite as good of a job (curse you, vapes!) but seriously, SO few people are smoking cigarettes now compared to when I was a kid. It's awesome!"
—Anonymous
Side-eyeing: Eyewear styles
"Gen Z rocks. As a Millennial who only just stopped being the butt of everyone's generational jokes like, last year, you won't catch me disparaging the generation below me. It wasn't fun when it happened to me, and they don't deserve it.
"I am, however, baffled by the '80s glasses being back in fashion among 20-somethings. The huge, thick-framed monstrosities we all remember our moms wearing. Whose idea was that?"
And finally, some words of wisdom:
"Their fashion choices are questionable, but I'm a firm believer in do what you want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else."
"Elder millennial here. Like the people commenting before me, those of us who are older don’t need to get into the 'get off my lawn!' attitude or intolerance for younger generations many of us experienced. I LOVE that Gen Z and Gen Alpha are open-minded and accepting!"
"The trend I hate the most is the media attention given to the generational divide, like it is some new, never-seen-before concept invented by the generation of the day. "
"My Generation is a song from the '60s that was about the same old vs. young bullshit of the day. The clothes, the language, the righteous rebellion against the previous generation, it is in every decade. And the generation changes as it ages; the wild child of the '70s is now the uptight boomer of today."
So, what do you think? Whatever your thoughts are, feel free to leave alllll your opinions down in the comments below!
