autumn 2024 ins and outs

Clean girls, pea toast and Addison Rae: An unofficial list of ins and outs for autumn 2024

Rodent men are out, thank god


It’s that time of the year again where pumpkin spiced lattes are back and we are all collectively counting down the days for our student loans to finally come through. But just as the seasons come and go, so do trends… from Brat summer to cherry red everything, there’s a pretty extensive list of ins and outs for autumn 2024.

As the darker nights roll in and the academic term kicks off, here’s a comprehensive list of all the autumn 2024 ins and outs so you don’t get caught in last season’s trends.

Outs for this autumn?

Clean girl aesthetic

Made iconic through the slicked back buns with no strays, going to the gym at 5am, and eating anything with the words “organic” or “high protein” stamped across the packaging, the reign of the infamous “clean girl” has faced a steady decline and now appears to be officially out.

Whilst this aesthetic may embody what most of us deep down aspire to – clear skin, a bedroom that is tidy 24/7, and healthy smoothies every morning – in this economy, it just seems like nobody can be arsed.

And while this once trendy lifestyle aesthetic definitely has some remaining appeal, it is also painfully minimalistic and void of any personality.

I literally can’t wait to see the back of it, give me a green cut crease and voluminous hair any day.

Brat summer

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A post shared by Charli (@charli_xcx)

Whilst saying the sentence “Brat summer is over” may feel a bit redundant at this point, it still had to be said.

Arguably the antithesis to last season’s “clean girl”, the angsty, messy aesthetic associated with Charli XCX’s hit album Brat is best defined through Charli herself saying that the only essentials for a Brat summer are “a pack of cigs, a Bic lighter and a strappy white top with no bra”.

It is hard to imagine such a simple concept can be “out”, however, following Charli herself saying BRAT summer is over – and the controversial Kamala Harris endorsement – we can confirm that Brat summer has now officially come to a close.

Men in finance

Looking for a man in finance? No, you’re not because they’re not relevant anymore. We all know the song, but we also all know that looking for a man in finance who ticks any of my boxes would be a task.

Hard pass, next.

Rodent men

For anybody who doesn’t know, there was a time where the internet was genuinely losing its mind over “hot rodent men”. You heard me.

If you’re lost, think Timothee Chalamet (the unofficial, official mascot of this very specific category of male heartthrobs) – tall, sleep deprived men with dark, unkempt hair and distinctly sharp, skeletal features.

While this genre of celebrity men may never truly be out of fashion, they just don’t hit like they used to. Therefore, ratty men are out for this season, sorry girls.

Pret A Manager

We all anticipated it, the five drinks a day definitely were definitely too good to be true. It’s even harder to imagine that before Pret’s cost of living era, their subscription also included smoothies too. Take me back.

Nonetheless, Pret has officially retired its position as the default study spot by abandoning its famous five drinks a day subscription model, leaving us no choice but to make Pret officially out for this Autumn.

Ins for this autumn?

Pea toast

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A post shared by Paige (@glutenless_paige)

Whilst the crowds seem to be ditching the clean girl vibe this season, we do still have to eat our greens.

However, groceries are outrageously expensive these days, and meal deals just keep climbing in price. It’s becoming increasingly challenging to eat healthy as a student when instant noodles seem to be the only thing immune to inflation.

Avo toast is great, but let’s be real—most of us students are on a tight budget. That’s where pea toast comes in.

It might sound a bit odd, but crushed peas and some seasoning on toast is actually pretty tasty and apparently good enough that even Gordon Ramsey approves!

Smoking outside of pubs and clubs

Keir Starmer could be named on the “out” list for many different reasons, but potentially banning smoking in outdoor pub and club spaces has definitely put our new PM in the doghouse with Gen Z.

With another sanction on smokers potentially looming around the corner, this autumn marks the beginning of us potentially counting our days before the UK will see the last of intoxicated smoking area conversations – a great pillar of British society.

Whilst smoking may be stupid, it can be said that it’s our right to choose to be stupid. Plus, smoking areas in clubs are one of the few places left on planet earth where everybody actually talks to each other.

For this reason, and for as long as it’s allowed, smoking in pub gardens and club outdoor spaces is definitely in.

Addison Rae

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A post shared by Addison Rae (@addisonraee)

Previously known for her TikTok dances and her dedicated preteen fanbase, it-girl Addison Rae appears to have had a total rebrand.

From dancing the “renegade” to featuring in Charli XCX’s single Von Dutch and releasing her own pop single Diet Pepsi, which I personally feel gives a nod to the Lana Del Rey-tumblr aesthetic, Addison Rae is emerging with a new fanbase of teen girls and younger adults.

Whilst this rebrand has definitely come out of the blue, it definitely is working for her and we may be seeing a new pop-princess in the making.

Jojo Siwa, take some notes.

Capris

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A post shared by BRUNA RIZK (@brunabear)

I think the last time these were cool was in 2011, but yet here we are witnessing the slow return of the capri pant creep back into fashion.

Popping up here and there in trendy, urban shops, this classic trouser cut is likely emerge up as the new cool girl pant. So if you want to be ahead of the trends, go grab yourself a pair!

Because who doesn’t want chilly ankles in autumn?

45p energy drinks

These infamously cheap energy drinks may look and taste like a potential biohazard but I’m just going to accept that these are a great way to survive exam seasons with minimal collateral on the bank account.

Plus, you can’t really get much for 30p these days, so I’m willing to take what I can get.

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Feature image via Instagram