Forecast vs. Reality

I am aware that my last post was about Pinterest, but as a company they are doing some really neat things that are too hard to ignore. With Pinterest dropping their 2026 predictions soon, now feels like the perfect time to revisit what they forecasted for 2025. While they released many trend calls, three stood out and shaped the year: Fisherman Aesthetic, Aura Beauty, and Goddess Complex.

Fisherman Aesthetic

The Fisherman Aesthetic is a blended natural, whimsical, ocean-inspired styling such as cable knits, raincoats, nautical stripes, and sea-themed accessories. This summer the trend felt inescapable, even for people living nowhere near the coast.

Sardine and fish charm necklaces became a major accessory trend and appeared in both local boutiques and major retailers like Free People. Parke’s sweatshirt campaign photographed by Madison Lane drew heavily on coastal imagery, including fishing docks and knee-high Hunter boots. Boat shoes also resurfaced in a significant way. Vogue highlighted this revival in the article “Ahoy! Boat Shoes, a Polarizing Summer Style, Are Here to Stay” written by Christian Allaire and published on May 8, 2025 (Allaire).

Aura Beauty

Aura Beauty also rose in popularity exactly as Pinterest predicted. This trend focuses on bright, bold, neon-inspired colors. Examples could be seen across beauty culture, including Kylie Jenner’s revival of her King Kylie palette which featured neon teals and metallic tones.

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show also incorporated this trend through a segment called “Magic Hour Aura” where models were dressed in colors inspired by sunsets, dreamy gradients, and vibrant colors (Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2025).

Goddess Complex

The Goddess Complex trend became especially visible through holiday beauty packaging and within this year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Although gold is always popular during the holidays, The New York Times reported a significant increase in its presence. They explained that gold became a dominant aesthetic in 2025 beauty products not only as a color but as a symbol of comfort, luxury, and emotional stability during a time of economic uncertainty (Clark).

Beauty brands leaned into gold packaging and gold-toned formulas to create a sense of “tiny luxury.” Brands including Bath & Body Works, Olaplex, Kiehl’s, Charlotte Tilbury, Diptyque, Oribe, and Pat McGrath Labs all launched gold-themed gift sets and collections. Pinterest reported that Boomers and Gen X were the primary drivers of this trend, embracing gold as a symbol of value, confidence, and comfort.

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show echoed this aesthetic with its “First Light” segment which featured amber, gold, and warm glowing hues (Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2025).

I am so excited to see what they predict for 2026!

Works Cited

Allaire, Christian. “Ahoy! Boat Shoes, a Polarizing Summer Style, Are Here to Stay.” Vogue, 8 May 2025.

Clark, Colin. “In Beauty Buys, Gold Is the Standard.” The New York Times, 2025.

Lnae, Madison. Parke Sweatshirt Campaign Photography. 2025.

Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. “Magic Hour Aura” and “First Light” Segments. 2025.

Pinterest. Pinterest Predicts 2025. Pinterest, 2024.