Out With the Old, in With the New - 1/26/25

Ins and outs, aka my personal take on what we all should be trying and what we should leave behind in 2025. My apologies if you find some points to be controversial, but I am an Aquarius, which means I view my opinions as factual statements 99% of the time.

Ins:

1.     Second-Hand Couture

Everyone wants their hands on designer goods, but a full-priced Louis bag isn’t accessible for all. Want to save up for your next fashion investment? Consider doing your research on second-hand designer products & purchasing. Some consignment shops specialize specifically in designer reselling. Online designer-resell websites like the RealReal, Farfetch, Vestiarie, and Rebag aim to sell verified luxury goods. However, when it comes to making such a large purchase, I prefer to interact with the product in person before handing over the change. Locally, I have visited The Fashionista in Coconut Grove. This luxury consignment boutique prides itself on, “Reinventing what it means to upcycle, infusing affordability into the high-end luxury market.”

2.     Meal Prepping

As a university student, I don’t have all the time in the world to come home and prepare a meal on the spot. I also don’t have the funds to support eating out every day. The solution: meal prepping. Meal prepping isn’t only a money saver but a time saver, too. Done right, meal prepping can also ensure you’re getting the proper intake of macronutrients & micronutrients. Visit Harvard University’s Meal Prep Guide to learn more.

3.     Junk Journaling

            Looking for a new craft that doesn’t take much investment or artistic ability? Turn to junk journaling, a spunky way to save personalized memorabilia using a mix of found and recycled materials. Grab an old notebook you haven’t touched in years and start collecting random items you acquire on the day-to-day. Junk journals are a great way to collect memories, ideas, and sources of inspiration. Think of a hybrid between a scrapbook and a vision board. I devote pages in my diary to paste in random bits I’ve held onto, routinely crafting a spread after the end of every semester. Follow @junklub_ on Instagram to see her sparkly take on junk journaling.

4.     Extra Dirty Gin Martinis

            I hate vodka, and I love olives. Put these two factors together, and you have a delicious extra dirty gin martini. Appointing vodka as your preferred choice of liquor in 2025 is honestly alarming. Espresso martinis were all the rage in 2024, but as someone who can’t take large amounts of caffeine at once and doesn’t think the rich flavoring pairs well with a lot of dishes, I’m ditching this drink. Expand your nightcap palette and switch to the dark side: Tanqueray and blue-cheese stuffed olives (always in threes).

5.     Smaller iPhones

            As a consumer of the iPhone 13 mini, I only have good things to say about a smaller cellular device. Having a massive iPhone shoved in your back pocket isn’t flattering when it’s weighing down your apple-bottom jeans. Switch to a smaller-sized iPhone when you go in for your next upgrade. They’re more convenient to carry, can fit in any bag, and encourage less usage of your phone.

6.     Neighborhood Games

            Some of my happiest memories in life come from playing Kickball and Capture the Flag in the dusty dirt mound attached to my middle school (shoutout Moses). A little competitive edge and adrenalin are good for the soul, so why not head outside with the homies and touch grass? These days, physical exercise is all Pilates and Pickleball. Let’s ditch the trendy, clean girl lifestyle and trade it for some real grit with a mean game of Manhunt. Your inner child will thank me.

Outs:

1.     Dating Apps

            Although dating apps can assist singles in finding other singles they might not have met organically, swiping right on Tinder can leave you in some messy situations. The younger generations, including my own (Generation Z), seem to struggle with romance and dating organically due to our hyper-fixation with technology and social media. But, if any part of the human experience should arise without cellular devices, it is dating. As a very picky dater myself, I like to meet people face to face before giving them a real chance. Flirting through the phone does not provide that option. With many friends who have their own dating app horror stories, I prefer to steer clear of all virtual dating platforms, and you should too.

2.     FOMO

            Having FOMO is so 2017. If you can’t make a certain event, trip, or gathering, don’t stress. You weren’t meant to be there. If you are experiencing a fear of missing out on a regular occasion, chances are there is a deeper problem going on. Include yourself in situations you really want to devote your time and energy towards, and don’t fret when you can’t make a certain Friday night festivity because another opportunity will always arise, and chances are you aren’t missing much.

3.     Blue Jeans, Black Tops

            I know it’s easy to succumb to the blue jeans black top epidemic, but come on, people, let’s dress a little more outside of the box. I am not denying the fact that I have definitely hit the streets with the lethal blue jean-black top combination, but I find my outfits have more flare and personal touch when I take risks. If you’re feeling a classic blue jean, try mixing in a funky top or layer pieces (including accessories) to balance out your outfit. Or if you want to wear a plain black top, throw on a fun pair of shorts or patterned pants (except for camo cargo pants, those are SO out).

4.     Beer Pong at the Pre-Game

            Unless you live in a frat house, I can’t seem to justify why one’s pre-game activity of choice would be running beer pong. You can still have fun and manage to keep the drinks flowing without pulling out a foldable table and Solo cups. Now, I do enjoy a feisty game of stack cup, but that’s a whole separate conversation. Get more creative and incorporate card games instead. My personal favorites are Ride the Bus, Fuck the Dealer, and King’s Cup. If you want a target-sponsored pre-game, look into purchasing adult card games like Incohearent or Do or Drink.

5.      Snapchat

            If you use Snapchat as your main channel of communication, you simply have to do better. No one is impressed by an impromptu “Blank is typing…” notification anymore, especially the ones that come through at 2 am (yes, this is me also shading hookup culture). Taking the time to reach out to someone over iMessage, or better yet, over a call, demonstrates immediate signs of maturity & respect. Think about it: people used to have to ring the family landline when they wanted to ask someone out and memorize dozens of phone numbers, now we carefully slide over messages on Snap that we don’t want to be marked as opened yet. Sidebar: if you use Snapchat to post besides your private, that is a whole other issue because no one shuffles through main Snapchat stories anymore.

6.     Simplistic Skin Care

            When it comes to skincare, keep it clean but keep it simple at the same time. Don’t overspend on face products you barely use or are too intricate to incorporate into your daily routine, like LED therapy or microneedle dermal rollers. Return to the skincare basics with a reliable moisturizer and serum set, and occasionally treat yourself with a mask. My go-to products are La Roche-Posay, good ole Cerave, and The Ordinary of course. I find it more rewarding to save up for a spa day where a professional is giving your skin the facial it deserves, as opposed to buying overpriced, trendy skincare gadgets that won’t see consistent use.