With constantly changing trends, students are adapting their holiday wishlists for the 2025 season based on current popular items.
In recent years, traditional advertising such as print, radio and TV have been overtaken by digitalization. As a result, many people are building their holiday wishlists around that year’s online trends, popular items and influencers.
Sreyashi Mukherjee, a teaching assistant professor in communications, noted the influence that social media influencers have on the holiday advertising industry.
“It is far more cost effective and persuasive now to have influencers do the work of traditional PR firms and corporate offices — to embed product advertising within an environment that thrives on limited attention requirements and instant gratification,” Mukherjee said.
Mukherjee explained that businesses and trend creators incorporate popular aesthetics to create a sense of relatability or comfort for the consumer. If the trend is relatable, the buyer may be more likely to purchase because it aligns with their identity.
“The trend of ‘cottage core’ or ‘clean aesthetics’ often produces the context in which buyers experience desire and feel fulfillment on seeing the same products being used for their comfort shows, movies or even by favorite micro-celebrities while doomscrolling,” Mukherjee said.
Mackenzie Stuckert, sophomore marketing and data analytics student, thinks consumerism increases during the holiday times. In the past 20 years, holiday spending has more than doubled in the United States.
“I think that over-consumerism especially is a problem during the holidays because people are pressured to buy gifts for others every year, and a lot of things gifted are not needed at all, and it is sad how it affects our environment,” Stuckert said.
Mackenzie Norris, sophomore nursing student, cited consumerism as the reason she puts more items on her wishlist that she doesn’t need, but wants because of popularity.
“Because the culture is so popular and it’s trendy to overconsume, I think that’s causing me to do it more, because I want all the latest styles and trends,” Norris said.
Norris said she resonates with a number of different aesthetics but is finding wishlist ideas from Pinterest. This year, she’s hoping for a White Fox sweatset, zig-zag headbands she’s seen on TikTok, flare leggings and Dior lip oil.
Stuckert finds wishlist inspiration from the influencer Alix Earle and follows a “clean girl aesthetic.” This year, she’s hoping to get appliances for her apartment and clothing basics.
“I want a vanity mirror, a Nespresso machine, sweatpants, candles and apartment decorations,” Stuckert said.
Isabella Aires, sophomore psychology student, similarly finds holiday gift ideas from social media posts and ads and wants clothing, jewelry, shoes and a new school bag.
“I want a matching Alo set, new gold chunky earrings, a Kendra Scott necklace, any kind of hoodies, chunky New Balances and a purse or school tote,” Aires said.
Eileen Healy, sophomore psychology student, said her wishlist goes off of what she needs rather than what’s trending. Healy is hoping for a variety of items from clothing pieces to household essentials.
“I need a closet refresh — especially jeans and things that fit well and are in good shape,” Healy said. “I also live in an apartment, and so I have a few decor items and household things that I asked for.”
Rather than getting inspiration from one influencer, Healy said her wishlist reflects her personal wants rather than the most current items.
“I don’t think I have an exact aesthetic for what I picked. I feel like it’s a mixture of the people I follow,” Healy said.
First-year urban planning major Carter Jensen finds inspiration for his holiday wishlist through his hobbies, his hometown in Washington, D.C., and overall style goals.
“I collect vinyls as a hobby,” Jensen said. “[I want] a football because I don’t have one and I want to throw with my friends. Flannels are for [my] style — I’ve always been a little more subdued with my style, and I think flannels reflect that.”
Zack Chishti, sophomore data science student, said his wishlist reflects what he enjoys most.
“I want tickets to a playoff Steelers game, white socks, golf balls and a Jared Jones Pirates jersey,” Chishti said. “I have always really liked sports and that’s what I spend most of my free time on, so I wanted stuff that I would use a lot.”