As this year begins, many sites have their predictions on what will become the next big thing. Personally, I enjoy exploring the upcoming trends on Pinterest.

Let’s start with an activity some think is going to become big this year: pen pals! If you were lucky as a child to have a pen pal, there are many indications that there might be an appeal to them coming back. If you don’t know what a pen pal is, a pen pal is someone who lives nowhere near you, and you send each other letters, small trinkets, and even photos sometimes. If this calls to you in any way, there is a chance they might come back. 

Now, if you aren’t one for activities, don’t worry, there are a lot of fashion trends that are coming into play this year. A few that I have seen popping up more are gothic theme. Whether it is dressing like a vampire, a Monster High doll, or even just theming an outfit around a certain color, it has come into play. With this style of clothes, layering plays a heavy role. One specific fabric that has grown in appeal is lace. On the ends of sleeves or around the collar, lace is used as a way to add more dimension to an outfit. 

If you aren’t into the gothic style, a lot of fabrics are seen as a possibility this year, from lace to khaki; you can find something this year that will appeal to you. With patterns falling into this category, you can see that fruits were a massive deal again, and 2026 holds the possibility of vegetables coming into play. With cabbages seeming to be the first victim, time can only tell if it kicks off or not. 

A major theme this year seems to be just throwback. The internet claims it is 2016’s redemption, although if I’m being honest, I don’t think the 2016 trend will stay all year round. It isn’t just 2016 coming back; it is even going back to when people romanticized writing, and not just a simple text. With this in mind, we may see glimpses of poet-like ideals. 

With Vogue even calling this year a possible luxury detox, it is interesting how many previous trends will come back. With AI seeming to block the creation, it seems like some brands may use fan intel to see what they’re like. 

Only the first few days into the year, it’s hard to get a good grasp on what might come into play, but hey, maybe you have something to try this year. I personally am now on the hunt for a pen pal… again.