There is a feud across America right now between Sephora employees and 10-year-old girls. It’s not just found through TikTok rants: The stories of rude, entitled and selfish girls (in the eyes of both staff and their parents who pay for the $300-$400 hauls) have caught the eye of the press, including The Independent.

However, people have been noticing that while these younger girls are purchasing moisturizer and anti-aging glow drops, the bows-galore trend is the older generation craving the innocence and sweet simplicity of their nostalgic girlhood. It’s not just fashion, but even the recent trend of revealing your 2024 “ins” and “outs” is very reminiscent of early middle school.

There’s a bittersweet sendoff as we realize that the childhood we wished to go back to is being fast-forwarded by those who can still enjoy it. The coquette trend is dying down as a new girl comes into town — or should I say, returns.

It seems that the next big trend is the messy, sexy rock star chic who celebrates aging. We honor the woman within us — the one that is cluttered, self-advocating, filled with rage and yet so full of love. This woman has been through life, and despite it, continues to learn and breathe and practice radical self-acceptance.

It reminds me of the opening line of Jenny Joseph’s 1961 poem, “Warning”: “When I am an old woman I shall wear purple / With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me. / And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves / And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.”

Life is life is life, and Joseph’s celebration of aging compared to all of the marketed narratives of fear and prevention is vastly refreshing to read. Especially with one of my 2024 resolutions being related to my skincare, it’s easy to fall into spirals of anxiety surrounding wrinkles, pore size and irritation. But maybe this new fashion trend can help with a shift to a more positive, laissez-faire attitude.

Intrigued? Wondering how to get ahead of the game? Here are my top four predictions for the details of the 2024 it-girl:

Firstly, a required pop of red. Historically, this accent has been dawned on lips for the classic, Parisian statement look; however, this trend is actually gaining more popularity in tights and socks. Just in time for the (oddly strong) winter breeze, stockings are a hot new accessory that demand your attention here and now. It’s already hard enough as it is to find ways to layer fashionably, especially when you’re spoiled by the California sun, so bright red socks, legwarmers or stockings are a great way to make your outfit more interesting by color — or depending on how it’s made — texture! If you’re not a stocking person, cherry red ballet flats are a great tie-in of this new trend and the still-popular balletcore aesthetic. If you’re going out at night, opt for maroon or wine red kitten heels to elevate your look. Another hot color if you don’t think red is your shade is a burnt, sunset orange.

Second, cool (girl) tones. We’ve already established that it’s cold in Los Angeles, but apparently it will remain cold for the fashion world this upcoming year. Silver in particular has been rising in popularity, increasing 15% over the past year, so find some chunky hoops, silver barrettes or dramatic eyeshadow — it’s the year of the stargirl. Other than silver, using cool tones to complement the subtle shine are in for the rest of the winter; when shopping or thrifting, look for slate grays, dark browns, creams and French blues. Let the red be your centerpiece, and the rest of your outfit the beautifully crafted pedestal she lays on.

Thirdly, leave the mess. Is your eyeliner still running from the day before? Is your hair freshly washed and a little frizzy and wild? Is your lipstick blurred out instead of perfectly lined and freshly glossed? Then, actually, you’re pretty on-trend. This it-girl knows nothing in life is unsolvable, and starting out from zero doesn’t have to be the only way to freshen up. Instead, she applies a fresh coat of mascara to offset the liner, tames her hair with a tortoiseshell headband or a french pin and swipes on a fresh layer of lipstick.

But if you’re not ready to take that jump yet and prefer the “clean girl aesthetic,” a graduation of the fresh face take is on par with our age: the (working) clean girl. Although increasing the drama with sharper eyes and darker lips, it is offset by brown eyeliner and a shade of gloss one or two below your natural color. The clothes, though, follow a “corporate-librarian-chic” style, close to Gisele Bündchen’s outfit in “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006). Look for pencil skirts, low-waisted slacks, form-fitting button downs and elegant heels in dark colors. And, I’ll give you extra credit if you can score some thin-framed silver glasses.

A bonus number four, just because I love you, is for your ventures out at night. Instead of a leather bomber, fur seems to be having a resurgence, and particularly, cheetah print. Gaining momentum towards the end of 2023 with the “Slavic girl” trend on TikTok, with people donning fur hats, coats and luxury items while lip-synching to “My Marmalade” by Russian singer Katya Lel. Although the longevity of this potential trend is unknown, there is still the debate on ethical usage of authentic fur in luxury along with the push to use more sustainable materials in retail (as opposed to the toxic synthetics often used to make the faux furs).

Of course, my disclaimer with every trend prediction piece is that participation is not mandatory. A rumor of skinny jeans returning is starting to bubble, but I can tell you right now that I won’t be buying any. So, if you like the clean girl look with ribbons on your black stockings, who am I (or the rest of the world) to tell you you have to stop?

People tend to forget that 1. trends are cyclical, and 2. a trend has to be started by someone at some point. But, just as we still use appliances like light bulbs instead of scrapping them for LED lights, you don’t need to follow the status quo with every changing of the guard.

The most popular thing of all in 2024 is taking time to learn about and grow into yourself and your capabilities. Whether that’s in a cheetah print fur or your favorite puffer jacket, just take the world by storm one outfit at a time.

Hadyn Phillips is a junior writing about fashion in the 21st century, specifically spotlighting new trends and popular controversy. Her column, “That’s Fashion, Sweetie,” runs every Wednesday.