When virality kills the thrill

A bag that broke the internet (and my interest), nine February outfits, and hyper fixations that made the group chat.

Last week, a new brand came across my desk and stopped me mid-scroll. The handmade, customizable (and reasonably priced) carryalls checked every box on the current trend bingo card—beading, fringe, animal print, tassels. I grabbed a screenshot for my ever-growing, ever-evolving spring wishlist.

Fast forward a week. I blinked and nearly every influencer I follow had either ordered one, was planning to, or already unboxed it. My feeds were suddenly flooded with the same little novelty bags.

Truly—good for Le Nodo. It’s exciting to watch an independent brand have its moment. But the shift happens fast: one minute it feels like a fresh discovery, the next it’s on every cool girl’s shoulder—and just as quickly, it can lead to fatigue.

Social media has a way of turning micro-trends—even specific pieces—into full-blown movements overnight, often tied to whatever we’re collectively watching on our TVs, seeing on the runways, witnessing in pop culture. Case in point: the sudden wave of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy nostalgia. Her quintessential ’90s minimalist style—understated, effortless, timeless—should never feel “trendy.” She defined classic. And yet, here we are, repackaging it as a newly discovered aesthetic instead of what it’s always been: enduring style.

I’m not claiming immunity to the algorithm—I’m influenced daily. I love inspiration and a good trend, and there’s usually a reason something goes viral: it resonates, usually amplified by people we trust. That’s part of the beauty of our hyper-connected world—we’re constantly discovering new ideas, style cues, and little sparks of joy from one another.

Maybe the real tension is this: nothing feels entirely original anymore. We all remix and add our own spin, sure—but we’re also moving through a hyperactive trend cycle that can blur our sense of taste. When it’s all urgent and everywhere all at once, it’s hard to tell if you genuinely love something… or if you’ve just seen it enough times to think you do.

You know the ones—pieces that hit full saturation: Juju Vera’s shell necklace (that dominated last year and found itself hanging on every girl’s neck), and Kujten’s bandana scarf (I own one!) immediately come to mind.

I write this with two voices in my ear. As a trend writer, I love tracking what’s hot—and why. But when everyone has the same thing, personal style starts to feel less like expression and more like a collective checklist, ensuring you stay on trend and at the top of the algorithm.

Whatever the piece may be—i.e. a funky, handmade beaded handbag—the minute it shows up in every fashion girl’s photos, it can lose a little of its magic.

When my feed nearly had me adding another bag to my cart, I figured the least I could do was reacquaint myself with the ones I already own. So, at 9 P.M. on a Tuesday, I did what any responsible fashion girl would: pulled out the two storage bins under my bed (living in a 1940s home means creative storage), took inventory, inspected each like a rare collectible, and tucked them back into proper dust bags.

That little inventory reminded me that novelty isn’t synonymous with new. Sometimes it’s just rediscovering what you already own—and imagining fresh ways to style so it feels uniquely you.

Much to my chagrin, I rediscovered handbags in my collection that scratched nearly the same itch as the Le Nodo—some hiding in plain sight, waiting for their comeback: the beaded, fringed cinch clutch I grabbed at a Zara in Italy years ago, a vintage beaded shoulder bag I unearthed at an estate sale in 2018, the list goes on.

(See photo above.) Do I really need another beaded handbag? For once, I’m agreeing with my husband: absolutely not.

Purses (ok, and coats) are, for me, maybe the most story-driven corner of my closet. They’re the things I hold onto the longest—classics that tell little chapters of my style and my life, which is probably why I purge them the least.

Some—like my first-ever designer bag, the LV speedy—a few vintage from my mom (ok, technically on ‘loan’); and an ’80s Chanel I scored after patiently waiting on a resale waitlist—just get better with age and never go out of style. Others are more seasonal, holding out for a tropical vacation or sexy date night. And then there are the surprise and delights—the ones you stumble upon in a boutique while traveling or discover at a thrift store. They’re all little treasured time capsules you get to carry around, uniquely yours—and something your algorithm may never recommend.

My little bag exercise pushed me further: before spring arrives, I’m going through my entire closet, piece by piece, before adding anything new. Time to see what I actually wear, what I genuinely need, and rediscover forgotten gems. The goal isn’t to swear off shopping—let’s be real—but to refall in love with pieces that feel truly “me,” and style them in new ways. It may seem silly that a viral handbag sparked this rabbit hole (LBH: sometimes you should just buy the damn thing that brings you joy!), but it became a metaphor for resisting the pull of a shiny “it” piece—a skill that feels extra necessary with spring around the corner, as fresh collections, new drops, and endless scrolling vie for our attention.

Time to poll the class…what’s something influencer and social media culture has overexposed for you?

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Mixed Bag: Some February Outfits

1. Occasion: Scouting and pulling product for an editorial shoot

Camila Coelho boiled knit jacket // & Other Stories wool zip-up jacket // Mango funnel neck wool jacket // Reformation shoulder bag // Pistola jeans (mine are old Moussey) // Toteme bag // Aeyde leather booties // Tony Bianco suede boots

2. Occasion: On-air for a local TV style segment, followed by a day at the office

Aritzia leather bomber // slvrlake dark wash low rise jeans // Citizens of Humanity dark wash straight leg jeans // Reformation wool jacket // Little Lies knit striped top // English Factory striped knit // J.Crew striped crew neck // Margaux slingbacks // Staud boots

3. Occasion: Galentine’s dinner

H&M shoulder pad sweater // Ronny Kobo v-neck sweater // Staud leather cuff clutch // Freja seamed clutch // Marc Jacobs claw clip clutch // Citizens of Humanity denim // b-low the belt belt // Steve Madden boot // M.Gemi mule // Jenny Bird earrings

4. Occasion: Coffee shop work session, grocery run, school pick-up, and swim lessons (Chanel flats—AKA my wedding day shoes!—swapped for sneakers).

Lioness windbreaker (solid black and red/black options) // Cos mock neck jacket // AYR pants // Gap pants // Mansur Gavriel flats // Steve Madden flats // Clare V. bag charm // Rosie Assouline heart bag charm // Golden Goose tassel bag charm

5. Occasion: Midday meeting and evening haircut

Julietta necklace // At Present necklace // Uniqlo turtleneck // Agolde leather pants // Quince quarter zip // Everlane half zip // Reformation boots

6. Occasion: Desk to drinks

Linea Pelle belt // Aritzia hourglass blazer // Eaves blazer // B-Low the Belt belt // Levi’s jeans // Margaux flats // Madewell flats

7. Occasion: All day office grind

B-low the belt belt // Ruti no-iron button down // Sold Out NYC button down // Freda Salvador loafer // Eliou earrings // heaven mayhem earrings // The Line By K turtleneck // Aritzia trousers

8. Occasion: Date night with my valentine

Agolde jeans // Lioness cropped jacket // Reformation lady jacket // Simon Miller bag // NLA knotted bag // Florian London bag // Jenny Bird earrings // Zara slingbacks

9. Occasion: photoshoot returns, errands, then out for tacos with the family

Still Here New York jeans (mine are vintage) // Freda Salvador water resistant boots // Clare V. bag // Shoreditch Ski Club puffer // Aritzia superpuff // ASOS balaclava // Steve Madden boots

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Bits and bobs: Hyper fixations that made the group chat

1. This dress by Minneapolis-based label Mille, which I will be wearing to my friend’s upcoming wedding in Spain.

2. Dojo’s foaming soap makes bathtime with littles ridiculously fun—fellow moms, thank me later.

3. My favorite lip liner. A stick so thick, you can cheat the system and swipe it all over your lips for a one-and-done look.

4. Tonymoly’s $13 ceramide mochi water cream—a hydration hero that leaves your face feeling like literal velvet.

5. The Splits59 leggings I live in—now in a juicy berry color—and matching top.

6. This pants and tee set that walks the line between pajamas and polished loungewear.

7. Odele’s newly-launched signature hair scent.