September's Trend Curation: NYFW, Destination Dupes, Health Elixirs & Charm Accessories

A holistic lens on the trends shaping fashion, wellness, and hospitality around the world, curated by trend forecaster and editor Kendall Becker.

Sep 16, 2024

CURATED cuts through the noise for you by taking a holistic approach to trend; think utilizing a global lens, delving into the deeper mindsets at play, looking at both traditional and new-age ways of forecasting, and empowering you to find your most aligned and unique voice in a sea of sameness–-aka take what resonates and leave the rest. Below, discover our curated list of insights for the month.

Your monthly forecast outlining what the “trend stars” have in store for us.

Trend: Fashion Month, So Far

Dare I say that New York Fashion Week kept focus on the collections this time around? Fashion Month as a whole is still young, so I won’t speak too soon––yet, with the introduction of European majors in NYC and promising young brands offering up top-notch collections, there was plenty to buzz about as is.

My top takeaways from NYFW:

NYC designers aired on the side of minimalism with a creative twist––it felt less whimsical than past seasons (which is especially interesting for a Spring/Summer season). Americana + sports-inspiration was also a strong theme.
In terms of color, butter yellow held on the strongest from last season. Otherwise, the palette was much more cool-toned than last year where hot pink and orange were the leaders. There was a movement towards “new neutrals” as I like to call it––think a color that’s so easy to wear than even your friend who only wears black might do it––which consisted of a rich sage, deep teal, and plum.
Accessories I’m watching: pouch purse, heeled flip flops, belts (more so for show than utility), East/West bags continue, and gold made a case for itself after a heavy silver season.
For print, not much to report––we still seem to be in a texture cycle. There was a lot of stripes (make them interesting by mixing and matching) and florals (which looks very cool when done in an abstract way).

You can read (and shop) my trend report on Refinery29––or, sign up for the end-of-season webinar I’m hosting for Trendalytics (presentation + time for questions!).

Trend: Destination Dupes

Last year, my friends and I made the mistake of going to the Amalfi coast.. in July. Was it absolutely beautiful? Without a doubt. Was it so packed with tourists that I felt like we were strolling around Disney World? Basically. After a slew of viral TikTok showcasing the ferry lines, overpacked trains, and rising prices in hotspots like Amalfi, Mykonos, and Nice, conversations around “destination dupes” began to catch traction. In short, in-the-know travelers are sharing their insights help guide others to places with similar draws to popular vacation spots. For example, more travelers are choosing Albania over other European beach destinations or heading to Sri Lanka and Vietnam rather than sticking just to Thailand. There’s a fine line to consider here––the “dupe destinations” are typically lesser developed so dollars from tourism are a welcomed boost to the economy. On the other hand, while slowing tourism numbers can help preserve landmarks and landscapes of hotspots, it puts new destinations in risk of damage from over-tourism. Travel responsibly, my friends.

Trend: It’s Back-to-Denim Season

After a cycle of our attention focused on relaxed trousers and cargo pants, denim is back and ready to make its case as the perennial “it” pant just in time for fall. Designers like Dries Van Noten and Who Decides War are betting on artistic details and grunge washes while embroidery and embellishments have been tapped by PatBo, Tanner Fletcher, and Stella McCartney. When evaluating if a trend has staying power, one of the key factors that I look for is adaptability––can this look be worn by people with different personal styles, from different walks of life? In this case, the answer is clearly a yes. For those who like sweeter styles, I’m loving options with bow details along the seam or sheer sequins that give your jeans a near-liquid look. If you’re looking for an option with a bit more edge, stud details are always cool. Personally? I have my eyes on artistic details––this can range from landscapes printed on a pair of jeans to pencil-like sketches or swipes of paint.

Trend: Elixirs Made Easy

I spent most of my early twenties feeling sick, fatigued, and anxious––and every time I’d seek “Western” medical attention, I was met with my doctors ignoring the root cause, focusing on solely treating symptoms, and gaslighting my experiences. That’s not to say there isn’t a time and place for the Western medical system, but if it wasn’t for feeling ignored by my medical teams, I never would’ve discovered my love for holistic wellness and natural medicine. Thousands of dollars and hours of my own research later, I found the solutions I was looking for and healed my chronic health issues––now, I feel healthier and more full of energy than I even was as a child. Unfortunately, my story isn’t unique––the sentiment of feeling left behind by Western medicine is a shared experience amongst many of us, especially women. But, fear not, thanks to holistic companies like Anima Mundi (my personal favorite), Elix, Aphina, Apothékary, and so many more independent brands who hone into the insights of ancients practices from around the world, they’re creating the elixirs for you––so you can skip the research hours and trust in their expertise. Struggling with hormone regulation? Need help combatting stress-induced cortisol spikes? Or, an immunity boost to fight off the first signs of a cold? These emerging companies tap the practices of herbalism, Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, and more to help the body heal at the root of the issue. And, these are great even if you’re not struggling with chronic health issues––they offer elixirs to boost collagen, sex drive, hair growth, and more. My disclaimer: please make sure you’re shopping a credible source––the good news is, as awareness grows, the access to these trusted companies does too.

Trend: I’m Charmed

In a sea of sameness thanks to the rapid-fire growth of trends, there’s an underlying craving to showcase personal style while still fitting in––it’s no simple task to achieve both at the same time. With that being said, small ways to standout do the trick and charms are an option growing in popularity. This trend began in the jewelry market with tried-and-true iterations like zodiac charms, birthstones, and initials–-yet, as this trend has grown, charm have a cheeky touch that may show off someone’s favorite food or spiritual animal. Charms haven’t stopped there––they’ve been their way back on to phones, lipgloss (yep, you read that right), and, most notably, on to bags. The key for brands? Balance both cheeky and chic options––if a customer is spending money on a luxury bag, not everyone will want to add a hot pink heart or faux cupcake to their look. Be sure to include elevated options like stones, metal hardware, and art-driven pieces, too.

What I’m currently manifesting on my vision board––from bucket list trips to skincare.

Paris, France: So not overhyped––see you next week!
Peter Thomas Roth Hydro Water Drench Eye Gel: Thank you for saving my concealer.
Kroma Wellness: The matcha and bone broth is too good, and I’m due for a restock.
Gap jeans: I get why Gap jeans have been around for decades––they’re good (and affordable!).
Spoke & Weal: If you’re looking for a hair salon in NYC or LA, you can’t go wrong here––and, they use non-toxic products.
Uber One: Okay, I ignored this pop-up for so long and finally got the membership––actually crazy how much it saves it you’re an avid Uber + Uber Eats user like I am.