Seasonal Microtrends: How to Fight the Temptation of Consumerism
The “ber months” have arrived, bringing with them the coziness of autumn and the excitement of the upcoming holidays. If you’ve been scrolling on social media lately, you’ve probably seen countless ads and sponsored videos promoting the latest fall fashion trends and seasonal home decor items that influencers say you just have to have. Despite the pressure to shop, you don’t have to buy into the new microtrends to enjoy this time of year. Here’s how you can ditch the trends and make the most of the upcoming seasons sustainably.
The Allure of Seasonal Microtrends
A microtrend is a short-lived fad that gains rapid popularity but fades away within months or even weeks. It is typically fueled by social media influencers, celebrities and algorithms on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Think Strawberry Girl Summer from 2023 or this year’s somewhat random Sardine Girl trend. This applies to the multitude of -core fashion and design aesthetics that are all the rage until they aren’t.
With Halloween and holiday festivities, microtrends also come into play with home decorations and gifts. Products are pushed through TikTok Shop or Temu, which mass-produce low quality items and contribute to carbon emissions. Textiles go to landfill, while microplastics pollute soils and oceans.
The Psychology of Microtrends
Life is meant to be enjoyed, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with buying things you love. But the sales psychology behind microtrends is sneaky, pushing consumers to buy when they perhaps otherwise wouldn’t. Aggressive tactics exploit psychological triggers such as FOMO, countdown timers add time sensitivity, lightning sales encourage impulse purchases, while casino-style buying apps gamify the experience.
Add in the innate desire to be part of the crowd, and you have a heady mix of purchasing pressure. But by celebrating individuality, you can buck the trend. Here’s how to resist temptation, starting with the spookiest season.
Creative, Low-Impact Ideas for a Sustainable Halloween
Can you have ghoulish fun without needing to buy new, micro-trending items? Yes! Here’s how to plan the perfect, sustainably scary Halloween.
Improvised or Recycled Halloween Costumes
The latest costume microtrends are fun — an eclectic mix of “Wicked” and “Wednesday” and K-pop — but you can easily get creative with what you already own to assemble a unique creepy look.
Before going to the costume store or searching on Amazon, check out your closet. A black dress and white collared shirt, plus pigtail braids, are all you need for an on-trend Wednesday Addams look. If your closet is full of pink, put together a cute outfit and craft a wand with a reusable straw for a cute Glinda ensemble.
If you do want to need something, head to a thrift store for a preloved costume. Better yet, host a costume swap for friends and family. Everyone gets something fresh without anyone having to buy new.
Sustainable Halloween Decorations
While there’s always a new selection of Halloween decor in stores every year, there’s nothing better than what you already own. If you avoid buying low quality products, your decorations will last for many years to come. Thrift stores are also full of seasonal home items, so hit your local shops first to build out your collection.
Real pumpkins and gourds also make for perfect, sustainable decorations. At the end of the season, you can let them decompose in your garden and plant the seeds to grow your next batch for next fall.
Mindful Alternatives to Seasonal Shopping
After Halloween, you can apply these same tips to the winter holiday season:
Avoid online ads: Use an ad-blocker and unsubscribe from marketing emails. This reduces pressure by limiting your exposure to seasonal promotions.
Thrift and swap: Shop secondhand or participate in local swaps for holiday items.
Make your own decorations: Spend some free time crafting. You don’t have to be an expert — there are many simple but effective ideas to try. You might even learn a new hobby.
Restyle last year’s clothes: The world is on course for 134 million tons of annual fashion waste by 2030, largely fueled by fast fashion. The best style is your own, so continue wearing the things you love season after season.
Set a cooling-off period: When you see something you want to buy, wait 24-48 hours to avoid impulse shopping.
Track your seasonal spending: Sometimes tracking and analyzing your purchasing habits is enough to stay mindful of over-buying.
Celebrate Seasons Not Trends
Resisting seasonal microtrends helps protect the planet and supports mindful living. By reusing, thrifting and making conscious choices, you can enjoy every season without falling into the trap of overconsumption. Celebrate meaningfully, because your choices matter!
