Millennial Trends That Moms Can Rock Too
Trends of yesteryear have been somewhat adult-unfriendly. Moms weren't rushing out to wear the low-cut jeans and mini skirts of the 2000s. Contemporary trends are different, and by different, I mean classier and more refined. Trends are moving to mom level. Millennial food, fashion, and makeup trends are suitable for the young and the young at heart.
Read ahead to learn which millennial trends you can pull off, even if you're really a Gen Xer. Settle in, grab some herbal tea in an old-timey ceramic mug, and accessorize your way into cultural relevance.
Mom Jeans
@thelfashion/Instagram
When I said that the trends are coming to you, I meant it. Mom jeans are back in style (or "mum jeans" as they're called across the pond). Mom jeans have a relaxed fit, a tapered leg, and a retro high-waisted silhouette. You can find them pretty much anywhere jeans are sold nowadays.
Roll up the ankles and pair them with some loafers if you're feeling extra hip. Millennials like to wear mom jeans with a cute crop top, but if you want to play it a little safer, you could always tuck in a blousy top à la the photo above.
Face Masks
@_r.nnn/Instagram
Millennials love face masks, but they love sharing pictures of themselves wearing face masks even more. If you're not that into the public displays of beautification, you can always play with face masks in the privacy of your own home.
The good news is that this trend is great for aging skin. There are tons of face mask formulations to choose from tons of different brands. If you're looking for some recommendations for the newly initiated, check out a Lush store or the Sephora sheet masks. The girl in the picture above is rocking Lush's Mask of Magnaminty.
Highlighter
@ameliarose.makeup/Instagram
Highlighter is basically a makeup product that makes you look glowy and gorgeous. It comes in different forms, finishes, and colors, but all highlighters reflect light in some way or another. Generally, powder highlighters are the most potent while liquid highlighters are more dewy and subtle. If you don't normally wear makeup or foundation, go for a liquid highlighter. If you're going for full glam, go powder.
Highlighter goes on the high points of your face to accentuate your features and bring them forward. Use a fan brush to place it on the tops of your cheekbones, the tip of your nose, your cupid's bow, and just under your eyebrows.
Meal Prep
@aurorakitchennewcastle/Instagram
This trend proves that millennials have basically become moms. Making all your meals for the week ahead of time is a great way to cut down on stress and unnecessary snacking. Come home from work to a fully cooked meal that just needs to be quickly reheated instead of munching on chips while your food cooks because you're too hungry to wait an hour.
You can even have meal prep parties with your friends and neighbors. Everyone cooks one large meal and then divides it up among the group so you get to eat something different every day. Read on for the quintessential millennial food trend.
Tiny Jewelry
@chanya925/Instagram
The photo above showcases some tiny heart stud earrings, but you can also get tiny rings, tiny bracelets, or tiny necklace pendants on a dainty chain. Whether you're into silver, gold, or millennial rose gold, tiny jewelry looks sophisticated and understated in any color.
Small jewelry is simple enough to complement any outfit. It doesn't distract from your face and looks especially good in selfies or any close-up photography. Keep tiny jewelry in a safe place so it doesn't get lost (and so your kids don't snatch it from you!).
Terrariums
@terrarium.imaginarium/Instagram
Terrariums are the trend that keeps on trending. Cute plants: check. Cute geometric glass: check. Gold accents: check (although not in the photo above. Imagine the black lines are gold if you have more shine than coal in your soul). Terrariums come in all shapes and sizes. You can buy them pre-made or you can make them yourself.
For added fun, host a terrarium making party. Grab some rocks, some succulents, a few plastic dinosaurs if you're feeling fancy, invite your friends over and get your green thumbs out. Leave with personalized home decor that you and your kids will all love.
Avocado Toast
@iloveeat_blog/Instagram
Is there anything more millennial than avocado toast? Probably just avocado toast served on a millennial pink dish. There's a reason this food is so popular. It's delicious, it's nutritious, and it looks darn good in photos. If you have a bit of extra time on your hands, top your avocado toast with a poached egg.
The Guardian published a controversial article a little while ago that claimed that avocado toast was the reason millennials can't afford to buy houses. Yeah, avocados are a bit pricey, but not house pricey. Also, they're delicious so stop judging. Read ahead for tips to help you get your eyebrows on fleek.
Room Diffusers
@dwellingcollective/Instagram
Room diffusers break down essential oils into micro molecules and then project them into the air. As the oil breaks down it releases natural ozone and freshens your entire room. There are so many essential oils to choose from and they all have different properties.
Lavender is one of the most popular essential oils. It has a calming effect and has been proven to help people who suffer from insomnia. Lemon oil is antimicrobial and great for deodorizing. Mix peppermint, cinnamon, and rosemary oils in the wintertime for a Christmasy blend.
Checked Blazers
@samanthamariaoffcial/Instagram
A far cry from the pink velour sweat suits of the eighties, this checked blazer is the paragon of preppy sophistication. You can get this jacket in different sizes of check and in different lengths and fits. Its neutral tone goes with just about everything and, like everything millennial, it looks great in pictures.
Teens, Moms, grandmothers, and maybe even dads can all rock this look. Pair it with some leather (or faux leather) boots and a smart handbag for an instant chic and polished ensemble. Wear it to work or to a casual Sunday barbecue.
Eyebrow Maintenance
@dominiczko/Instagram
The days of overplucked eyebrows are over (thank goodness). Time to grow those babies out, but also, time to thread and tint and fill in and microblade. Eyebrow threading is super quick and painless, and it leaves you with more precise lines than waxing.
Fill in your brows with an eyebrow pencil for a super sleek, defined look. If you're looking for something more permanent, try microblading. A technician basically tattoos individual eyebrow hairs into your forehead with a small scalpel. Come on, try it. All the kids are doing it. Read ahead for a hair trend that's taking over the world.
High Waisted Everything
@tanyaburr/Instagram
Basically, all pants, skirts, and trousers now sit above your hips. Pull everything right on up to your bellybutton. Not only is this fit universally flattering, it's also super comfortable. High waisted clothing helps to emphasize your waist, the smallest part of your body, and accentuate an hourglass figure.
Wear high waisted clothing with a cropped shirt, a tucked in blouse, or an oversized sweater. Low rise jeans and skirts of generations past only looked decent on very young, very slim people. The high waisted clothes trend is a celebration of all body shapes and sizes.
Nude Lipstick
@Kyliecosmetics/Instagram
Nude lipstick is a great way to get that "your lips but better" look. What is "nude" for you depends on your skin tone and preferences, but there really is a nude lipstick out there for everyone. Go for a matte finish if you want something that will stay put all day, or a satin finish if you like your lips to feel moisturized.
For lighter skin tones, check out Mac Velvet Teddy or Kat Von D's Bow 'n' Arrow. For darker skin tones, check out Mac Taupe or Bobbie Brown Brownie Pink.
Balayage
@hairbyraquell/Instagram
Highlights of the 2000s were choppy and pretty fake looking. Balayage comes from the French word for "to sweep" or "to paint." It's a dying technique for highlighting hair that creates a graduated, natural-looking effect. Balayage is softer and less noticeable than traditional highlights and it blends seamlessly into your natural hair color.
Balayage works on all hair colors and textures. Search the internet for inspirational pictures before you see your hair stylist about balayage. Balayage may be a millennial trend, but celebs of all ages are rocking beautifully blended hair. Read ahead for another hair trend to keep you looking hip.
Plants Everywhere
@timlablenda/Instagram
Millennials. Love. Plants. If you want a young person to think your house looks well decorated, fill it with plants. Tons of plants. Here's the thing though— some plants are easier to take care of than others. Forget to water a pot of ivy and that ivy is going to dry up real fast. Get some desert plants that only need occasional watering so it's not a big deal if you miss a day or two (or a few).
Aloe is almost indestructible. Spider plants grow their own little baby plants that you can snap off and plant to make more plants. You get a plant, you get a plant, everyone gets a plant.
Wicker Bags
@liketoknow.it/Instagram
Wicker bags are in style and they look hipper than ever. The one is the photo above is more of a half moon shape, but these bags come in all shapes and sizes including a very cool circular shape. They are perfect for summer or for taking on vacation or for casual walks in the park.
The model in this photo paired her bag with a woven hat for a cohesive look, but you can also pair wicker accessories with more structured outfits for a pop of bohemian flair. These bags can be tightly woven or more see-through.
Beachy Waves
@raylorojohair/Instagram
Now that your hair is beautifully balayaged, it's time for styling. For that easy, breezy, just stepped off the beach look, invest in a hair straightener or a curling wand that is 1 to 2 inches in diameter. If you're using a curling wand, wrap the pieces of hair at the front of your head away from your face.
If you're using a hair straightener, clamp pieces of your hair between the tongs, twist your wrist away from your face to curl your hair around the tongs, and then pull the straightener down your hair as you continue twisting. Read on for a unique piece of jewelry to make any outfit a bit more special.
Candles
@amandazta/Instagram
Candles add a sultry atmosphere to any room while also filling your house with wonderful scents. You can get candles at any price point, in any size, and in any scent. Candles made from soy wax burn cleaner and don't release as much soot as they burn.
You can also switch the candles in your house to match the season. Burn sweet florals and light, fresh scents in spring and warm, woody scents in the winter. Before you know it, you'll have accumulated a whole candle collection and you'll be as obsessed as most millennials.
Wide Leg Trousers
@tt_stories/Instagram
So, skinny jeans aren't out, but wide leg trousers are definitely in. These pants are super comfortable and great for emphasizing a small waist. Go for a neutral black or brown pant if you're feeling traditional, or a brighter color (like the coral in the photo above) if you're going for a bolder look.
Wide leg pants look great with fitted tops, blazers, loafers and high heels. If you're not ready to hop on the skinny jeans bandwagon, wide leg trousers are their more sophisticated, fashion-forward cousin. You can look modern and hip without wearing skin tight clothes.
Threader Earrings
@curlynicky/Instagram
Threader earrings are threaded through the pierced ear just like regular earrings, but then they keep on going. To get started, the end is a bar or post, but the rest is a flexible chain. The chain is slender enough so it can easily pass through the hole.
Try threader earrings for a more modern alternative to traditional stud or dangly earrings. Some threader earrings are long in the front and the back and some (like the one in the photo above) have a stud in the front with a longer tail in the back.
Instagram / @Instagram
If you haven't searched through Instagram before, consider this article your official introduction. All of the pictures you have seen thus far have been taken from Instagram, a social media platform for sharing photos and videos. An Instagram profile can be public or restricted to followers only.
Keep up with all the latest trends, millennial or otherwise, by browsing the birthplace of them all. Follow your favorite celebrities and search for hashtags that interest you. Try out some of these trends yourself and then post them to your own Instagram account. I'm sure your kids won't mind...
