What a strange past year itās been. From selfie sticks and mom jeans to flower crowns and man buns, itās hard to say we havenāt seen it all. But that wonāt stop us from squeezing the most out of these last few months of 2016. With half of the year already behind us, however, itās time to gear up for those trends making their 2017 debut. Hereās a look at the tired and inspired.
What Weāre Sick of Seeing
Chokers: While admittedly cute at times, the choker has long run its course as a daily accessory. Thrust back into the spotlight after a 15-year hiatus, it can currently be found adorning the necks of celebrities and urbanites alikeābut not as the beloved tattooed style weāve all rocked at some point or another. Designers today have opted instead for thick velvet, metal buckles, and spiked leather. BDSM vibes aside, not every day is a 90s costume party.
Random body contouring: A tip, ladies? Feet are feet are feet. No one but us is going to notice the slimming effects of bronzer on our toes, so itās best we let the adage āeverything in moderationā reign true for the time being.
Shaped nails: This yearās finger walk down the runway would have been incomplete without its fair share of WTF moments. But, as expected, social media was ablaze with the extreme stylings that are coffin nails, bubble nails, and stiletto nails. Embellished with the occasional 3D sticker, these manicures are eccentric at best and not at all functional. Weāre much better off playing it safe with a classic square or rounded tip. At least then weāll be able to pick coins off the ground.
The Kardashians: There are plenty of others worth ākeeping up with.ā Enough said.
What We Should Expect to See
Soft contouring: Move over, clown contouring, 2017 is about to go au naturel. In a sudden turnaround, weāve taken to trading the super-defined lines of years past for a dewy, barely-there look. The technique, which has earned the nickname ānontouring,ā is a result of picking and choosing those specific areas to sculpt, whether it be the cheekbones, jawline, or nose.
Personal jewelry: Looking for a jewelry box reboot? In the spirit of simplicity, itās time we take a minimalistic approach toward the ways in which we accessorize. Enter personal jewelry, the tamer cousin of 2010s-era statement pieces. Complete with elegant chains, tiny studs, and delicate rings, the trend is en route to becoming our favorite wardrobe stapleāsomething weāll put on once and never take off. All the more reason to get on board.
AƧaĆ bowls: Itās music to any health nutās earsāour favorite smoothie-in-a-bowl isnāt going anywhere anytime soon. First popularized in Hawaii and southern California in the mid-2000s, these antioxidant-rich pick-me-ups have since found a following across cosmopolitan areas. Not that weāre surprised; blended with fruit and garnished with granola, aƧaĆ bowls make for a wonderfully tasty breakfast we canāt (and wonāt) stop photographing.
The āLobā: For those of us who see a fresh chop as a remedy for beating the heat each summer, the Lob, or āLong Bob,ā is our new go-to. The shoulder-grazing cut is often forgotten due to its low-maintenance regime, but with more and more celebs sporting shorter strands, itās actually on track to carrying us through the colder months. And if anything complements the Lob best, itās a new dye job. Try experimenting with honey highlights, blended auburn balayage, or, for the daring, a rich raven black.
Unisex clothing: Just when we thought Jaden Smithās men-in-skirts campaign was spearheading the gender fluidity movement, Zara dropped a new line of genderless clothing. A marriage between soft cotton blends and a neutral color palette, the 16-piece collection is an online exclusiveāfor now. But thatās not to say the future isnāt bright with unisex basics. This next year should see a dramatic increase in the number of mainstream stores putting function over convention in terms of everyday wear. The upshot? More for us to choose from.
Themed Instagrams: Our favorite social network is still very much in, but this year, itās all about making it even more pleasing to the eye with the help of a theme. By tinkering with brightness, saturation, and tint, avid Instagrammers are crafting their feeds so that each picture flows into the next. Already weāre hooked. Whether the look is bright and colorful, clean and unsaturated, or dark and moody, the result is one of uniformityāensuring the trend will keep on keeping on.