Trends are Inspiration
First: trends don’t run you, they inspire. Style is about what feels like YOU. That means if low-rise baggy jeans are back (they are), we think of them like a blank canvas (aka a rag = a thrifted piece) and then you make it yours.
Here’s what’s trending in the thrift world right now, lighting up TikTok & Pinterest, and how you can own it:
1. Low-Rise Baggy/Wide-Leg Jeans
They’re officially back & been back. Think 2000s boom, reimagined with loose, modern tailoring. Seen on runways by Stella McCartney. The vibe? Freeing, nostalgic, and effortlessly cool. The beauty of these jeans is that they’re shapeshifters. They work with just about every vibe you throw at them. Go classic streetwear with an oversized denim or bomber jacket and sneakers, go feminine with a cropped cardigan and mary janes, or push full grunge with a ripped up tank and combat boots. They’re easy to thrift, easy to style, and impossible to make boring unless you try (boring is okay to, I love boring). And the best part? They get better the more you wear them in, so each rip, fade, or fray makes the jeans really become yours!
Your Rags take: It started as a rag, low-rise jeans… and then you make it yours. Pair them with literally whatever speaks to your soul. It doesn’t hurt to take a fashion risk, as long as you visualize it you can do it.
Article all about low rise jeans: https://denimology.com/s-s-2025-hello-again-low-rise-jeans/
2. Indie Sleaze Reborn
Early 2010s indie sleaze is creeping back in…messy glam meets grunge club energy. Gritty motherfu**in glam. Think studded boots, sheer tops, layered necklaces, band tees, sparkles, and sequins. It’s nostalgic chaos at its best. Indie sleaze thrives on imperfections and clashing elements. It’s the kind of outfit you throw together five minutes before you leave but somehow looks like a masterpiece. This is where thrift stores really shine because you can mix decades in one look without it feeling forced. Pair a sequined mini skirt or shorts with sheer patterned/colored tights, a slouchy vintage band tee or a basic, and a dramatic fur jacket. Add beat-up combat boots or metallic kitten heels, messy eyeliner, and layered statement jewelry. The magic is in clashing textures, sparkle with mesh, leather with lace, all in a way that looks like you threw it on at 2 am but still somehow nailed it. The point isn’t to look polished, it's to look alive, like you’ve been somewhere and you’ve got a story to tell.
Your Rags take: Chunky mood meets your personality. It's not about copying the mess, it's about using that energy your way.
3. Nostalgic Romance (Polka Dots, Puff Sleeves & Slogan Tees)
According to Byrdie, the fall feed is filling with polka dot tops, newsboy caps, preppy/classy tops, slogan tees, and neon nostalgia. Nostalgic romance doesn’t have to mean soft and delicate if that’s not your vibe. You can pair a puff-sleeve dress with a leather jacket and biker boots just as easily as you can wear it with ballet flats. The key is contrast; take the sweetness and mix it with something unexpected. Maybe that means wearing a slogan tee with silky trousers, or styling polka dots with bold, chunky accessories. Thrifted romance pieces already come with history, so you’re just making it your own.
Your Rags take: These are story starters. Make these pieces YOU.
Article highlighting mentioned trends: https://www.byrdie.com/nostalgic-fall-fashion-trends-11762658?
4. Denim Renaissance (Barrel, Jorts, Tops, Dresses, Embellished & Dark Indigo)
Wide-leg silhouettes, long jorts, barrel jeans, embellished seams, and dark indigo washes are trending hard. Think Gucci-esque, but thrifted. Denim everything. Denim’s strength is that it’s universal but never boring if you let yourself go out of the box. You can layer denim over denim, mix light and dark washes, or customize thrifted pieces with embroidery, patches, or paint. Even the smallest tweaks, a raw hem, a swapped-out button, or a different belt. Make your piece feel one-of-a-kind. Whether it’s the base of your outfit or the main statement, denim will adapt to whatever mood you’re in.
Your Rags take: Let denim be your friend. Find distressed barrel jeans, cuff them, or add unexpected trims. Style them minimally or with full cluttered accessories.
Article on denim styles: https://www.byrdie.com/summer-denim-trends-11736106?
Trends are sparks. They influence the vibe of the outfit, but you give them meaning. So when you thrift those low-rise jeans or a punky band tee, style them your way. That’s how you build your style identity. Now go thrift... make it yours. And remember your closet is your personal gallery. Every piece you put on is a chance to express yourself on the outside or just feel damn good for no reason at all. Play with it, mix eras, ignore the “rules” and let your style evolve with you. Because at the end of the day, the only trend that matters is the one that makes you feel like you.
