December 2023

'Tis the season for end-of-year roundups, sparkly holiday parties and some much-needed OOO time. But what’s trending as we close out 2023? Let’s get into it.  

• Keep the peppermint mocha far, far away from us. The world has caught on that making it a masala is the elite hot beverage choice.  
• A Georgia restaurant made headlines (and caused many a clashes in comment sections) for announcing a $50 fee for unruly children.   

• The cannabis F&B category just keeps on flowering, with the latest notable addition being edibles from NYC’s famed Magnolia Bakery.    
• A Manhattan restaurant went viral a whole week prior to its opening thanks to its genius SEO-loving name.  
• Caviar cones, anyone? RH Guesthouse New York has debuted its newest luxury experience, the latest in their celeb-approved hospitality portfolio – and similar concepts are planned across the globe.  
• Nostalgia continues to be a driving force. The latest? A Golden Girls-themed pop-up restaurant in Miami, complete with cheesecake and 1980s décor.  
• Keith Lee, beloved LV influencer, took down the ATL restaurant scene. We’ll say it again: influencers are influential.  

• The post-pandemic days of "revenge travel” are over, as more people gravitate toward slower and more meaningful experiences.  

• Want to hit up the hottest travel destinations next year? Check out The Cool List from National Geographic. 
• Movie theaters go beyond the smell of buttery popcorn and the latest Marvel film – according to Thrillist, they’re now must-see international experiences (including a theater inside an indoor ski resort...and yes, hot chocolate is served). 
• Bookworms, this one is for you. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts has announced its partnership with the beloved Hello Sunshine Reese’s Book Club. Expect exclusive pop-ups, book tours, signings, meetups, and more.  
• Every day (even travel days) is a good skin day with new products like Hey Dewy hitting the market, making it easy to travel with convenient (and aesthetic) humidifiers  

• Wake up, the 2024 Met Gala theme went public. The May event will celebrate the MoMa’s "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" exhibit, and we could be in store for a luxe take on the loungewear trend. 
• Retro gaming will always have our hearts. Analogue has launched a fresh take on the Pocket, similar to the Game Boys we all knew and loved in the 90s.  

• Maybe this time, “fetch” will actually happen. The trailer for Tina Fey’s new “Mean Girls” film dropped, and we can expect new iconic phrases and aesthetics to make their way into our lives. 
• Say “CHEESE!” Veneers are having a moment as the hottest new procedure in beauty. Find new chompers on everyone from your favorite celebrity to influencers.  
• Nepo babies are still trending – but this time it’s for their greater-than-average apartments.  
• End of an era. Jezebel shuttered after a 16-year run.  

• Trust us, that’s a spoon. Surrealist cutlery is all the rage.  
• Take it from interior designers: Curves, textures and soft browns are in for 2024, and bright colors and rustic aesthetics are out (bye bye, cottage-core).  
• Speaking of color – while bright reds have taken over our closets, it’s time to make room for its richer and more luxurious sibling, merlot.  

• The “Age of Awe” is upon us. Individuals increasingly seek daily experiences of "awe and wonder" that they are willing to travel for, and hotels and restaurants are beginning to design with that in mind.  
• Dark motifs, micro interactions and augmented reality menus top the restaurant website design outlook for 2024.   

• Time to update your “Close Friends” list on IG – the app has finally launched a new feature allowing users to share feed posts and reels exclusively with them. 

• For those of you who jumped off Threads as soon as you signed up, you can finally delete your account without also deleting your Instagram. 
• Ask and you shall find... Google is now allowing users to follow searches and see content from creators (including username, popularity of their content and follower count) on the Google Search feed.   
• Save it for the group chat. In an age where a newsfeed post can feel cringe, use of DMs, shares and close friend stories is at a high and brands should pay attention to sub-feed interactions.