Back when I was in middle school, I remember begging my mom for a Hollister T-shirt for Christmas. Specifically, I wanted one where the logo was prominently displayed on the front, so people would know exactly where it was from. This was circa 2012, when models still danced shirtless in front of the store, enticing people to come in. (Yes, for all you Gen Alphas, this really *did* happen, and the worst part? It worked.) If the popular girls at school weren't wearing Hollister, then you could reliably spot the brand on celebrities and YouTubers. It's my first real memory of trying to "buy" my way into a seat at the cool kids' table. When I wasn't immediately befriended (shocking!), I continued my Gatsby/Dan Humphrey–esque lifestyle of observing the upper echelons of high society from the outside in. If I could just figure out the right clothes or makeup to buy, I'd be in—or so I believed.
These days, TikTok is the easy, one-stop stop for discovering every hot new "it" item. Want to be like your favorite influencers? Their TikTok page tells you exactly what yoga pants to wear, which foundation to use, and even what showerheads to buy. Over the years, a Hollister T-shirt morphed into pillow pets, then an EOS lip balm, then a pair of platform UGGs, and now…a Stanley cup. ICYMI: Right before the holidays, thousands of people camped outside of Targets across the country for a chance to get their hands on Target-exclusive pink and red Stanley Quenchers that dropped on New Year's Eve and are now sold out online. The quest to acquire the latest status symbol is relentless and, frankly, more impossible than ever. And guys, I'm sick of it! It took a water bottle going viral (and causing IRL fights in Targets across the country) to really put it into perspective for me—because honestly, how on earth did we let it get this far?! How did we lose our minds trying to get our hands on a giant metallic mug? |
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