There’s no doubt that 2021’s biggest fashion influencer is Gen Z’s favorite app: TikTok. From the #BamaRush phenomenon to the comeback of Gap’s logo hoodie, when TikTok approves of a fashion trend, it becomes an instant must-have.
Ahead, our list of viral, TikTok-approved fashion recommendations — all under $150.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
JW Pei Gabbi Bag
Thanks to TikTok star Emily Mariko, this bag — previously worn by everyone from Emily Ratajkowski to Megan Fox and Hailey Baldwin — is now famous on the Gen Z platform.
Mejuri Charlotte Bold Hoops, $, available at Mejuri
Frankies Bikinis Terry Slide
While this brand is famous on TikTok for its bikinis, we're still not over over its first footwear drop. After all, it's not the holidays without some fuzzy sandals.
Frankies Bikinis Juna Terry Slide Sandal, $, available at Frankies Bikinis
Hill House Nap Dress
From the dinner table straight to bed, that's the level of comfort you'll give the fashionista on your list this year, courtesy of one of TikTok's favorite items.
Hill House The Ellie Nap Dress, $, available at Hill House
Bon Bon Whims Rainbow Ring
For the whimsical fashion fan in your life. This brand launched the child-like ring craze on TikTok.
Bon Bon Whims Rainbow Lucky Ring, $, available at Bon Bon Whims
Lisa Says Gah Bucket Hat
1,2,3... Say "Gah!" At least that's what TikTok bloggers have been doing thanks to this brand, that's also popular on Instagram.
Lisa Says Gah Britt Hat, $, available at Lisa Says Gah
House of Sunny Good Vibrations Dress
The pastel cousin to TikTok's favorite Hockey Dress, this slip is slowly catching on among the online crowd. So get ahead of the trend.
House Of Sunny Good Vibrations Dress, $, available at House of Sunny
As much as we'd like to go about our days wrapped in a duvet, walking around with a blanket draped over your shoulders is generally frowned upon in anyone over the age of 4. But being an adult means having to improvise, adapt, and overcome, so we've found a socially acceptable alternative: clothes that feel nearly as comfortable as having a duvet draped around you.
One brand we've found to be extremely good for this is Cuddl Duds, whose range of ultra-cozy base layers and accessories make any outfit significantly warmer and snugglier. Want proof? Ahead, we've put together four full looks that are the (approximate) equivalent of burrito-ing yourself in your sheets, only much more portable and way more stylish.
The universally beloved uniform that is a sweatsuit gets an upgrade with a cowl-neck tunic and matching joggers. For the finishing touch — cozy socks and sneakers.
Cuddl Duds Ultra Cozy Tunic, $, available at Macy's
Cuddl Duds Ultra Cozy Jogger Pants, $, available at Macy's
Cuddl Duds 3-Pk. Crew Socks, $, available at Macy's
Cuddl Duds 3-Pk. Textured & Classic Crew Socks, $, available at Macy's
Shrimps Florian Pearl-Embellished Earrings, $, available at Farfetch
Nicole Saldaña Fabiana Shoe, $, available at Nicole SaldañaThe star: A deep red top that feels as nice on your skin as the however-thousand-count sheets you sleep on. Add: very well-cut jeans, a roomy hoodie, and a flex-y hat for a city girl-approved 'fit.
Cuddl Duds Softwear with Stretch Long-Sleeve Top, $, available at Macy's
Cuddl Duds Half-Zip Fleece Hoodie, $, available at Macy's
Cuddl Duds 3-Pk. Textured & Classic Crew Socks, $, available at Macy's
SLVRLAKE Sophie Straight-Leg Jeans, $, available at Intermix
Sam Edelman Women's Kolton Boots, $, available at Macy'sThese gray floral leggings do it all — wear them solo on temperate days to achieve a not-too-hot/cold sweet spot or as an underlayer for when temperatures drop. Up the coziness factor with an abundance of textures: a shearling jacket and velour hat.
Cuddl Duds Softwear with Stretch High-Waist Legging, $, available at Macy's
Cuddl Duds Soft Knit Long Sleeve Top, $, available at Macy's
Cuddl Duds Velour Hat with Sherpa Cuff, $, available at Macy's
Cuddl Duds Women's 2-Pack Boot Socks, $, available at Macy's
Stand Lorelle Cropped Faux Shearling Jacket, $, available at Intermix
Sagittarius season has finally arrived. When the sun moved into the sign of the archer on November 21, it brought with it positive vibes and joy. And now on November 24, Mercury, the Planet of Communication, slides into Sag, ushering in another dose of optimistic and idealistic energy that will persist until December 13, when the tiny planet moves on and into Capricorn.
Mercury is in its detriment (aka at its weakest point) in Sagittarius — that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does bring up some habits that it’s best to be aware of. “When Mercury moves into Sag, our minds expand,” says Madi Murphy, the co-founder of The Cosmic RX and The Cosmic Revolution. “Thoughts become bigger, visions become enhanced, and, yes, stories become exaggerated.” We’ll be channeling some major Taylor Swift energy for the next couple of weeks, Murphy says — extravagant and entertaining storytelling will be our M.O. “Use your communication skills to take others on an adventure with you to help broaden others minds or get other people excited,” she suggests. “You may find yourself dazzling people with your wit and exuberance.”
Although being more charming and witty sounds fun (as long as you keep your exaggerations from getting away from you too much), we can run into some snags while the speedy planet is hanging out in Sagittarius too. Archers, infamously, have a tendency to put their feet in their mouths. And because Mercury influences our communication, Lisa Stardust, the author of Saturn Return Survival Guide and The Astrology Deck, says that the planet’s entrance into the sign makes it especially likely that this period’s blunt and direct nature will seep into our contact with others. “This placement doesn’t really rely on facts; it’s a very impulsive and impetuous placement for Mercury, which makes communication happen quickly without knowing all of the truth of the matter,” she says. This is part of why Sagittarius is one of the chatty planet’s least favorite placements, “because Mercury loves to know the tea and all the details of the situation before taking action, which is the juxtaposing energy of this transit,” Stardust notes.
Being impulsive isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but be aware of when you need to pull in the reins as this month goes on. Specifically, Murphy says we need to watch out for where your passion turns into preachiness. “We love that you have such conviction and courage in your beliefs, but it doesn’t mean that everyone has to feel the same way,” she says. Keep this piece of advice tucked in your back pocket — with the holidays approaching, it may be a good idea to keep any family drama on the down low. But still, some battles are worth it. If you reflect and decide you still want to ruffle some feathers, Murphy says, “I also support that.”
One particular day to look out for is December 7 — Leslie Hale, psychic astrologer for Keen.com, says this will be a pretty confusing time due to Mercury clashing with Neptune, the Planet of Illusion. “This is not a good day for making solid decisions or for meetings as the truth may be hard to come by,” she says. “Don’t believe all you hear, and remember that Neptune can make things appear worse (or better) than they really are. This is a good day to take things with a grain of salt, and let the fog clear before making any type of decision or commitment.” Beware of donning rose colored glasses today and take a day before making big choices — trust us.
In all, Mercury in Sagittarius is full of possibilities. We’re interested in broad perspectives and feel upbeat and empowered to take on whatever comes our way. For the next two weeks, embrace the chaos — after all, what’s more fun than that?
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Unbothered’s creative lead producer and DJ extraordinaire Crystal DeVone slips into the co-host seat on this episode to share a few gems about Black women in music. “Before, it was one person at a time. You could only listen to Nicki Minaj. Then we wait. Next year, listen to Cardi B. At one point, women weren’t even out,” DeVone shares. “Now you have a song [by a Black woman] to listen to when it’s a heartbreak, or when you want to feel your wokeness, or you just want to feel good.”
“One of the reasons [artists] don’t have to care as much about what A&R rep is checking for them is because they’ve been able to use the platforms available to them in 2021 that weren’t available 20 years ago,” says co-host Chelsea Sanders about an artist’s ability to be authentic and unapologetic. “They can hop on Twitter and release a song. They can hop on TikTok like Doja Cat does and go wild.”
To hear more about how Black women artists are using social media to elevate their brand and if a Whitney Houston hologram tour is good for the culture, listen to the full episode, below.
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Major spoilers for Saved by the Bell on Peacock are ahead. Latinx students’ relationship with Spanish class has always been fraught. In 1980, comedy duo Cheech & Chong wrote about it in their classic song “Mexican Americans.” In it, there’s a line that’s relatable to most U.S.-based Spanish-speaking Latinx adolescents that critiques how these communities often “take Spanish and get a B.” This is because the Spanish taught in U.S. classrooms isn’t the one spoken by the more than 60.5 million Latinxs who live in the country. Instead, it’s Castilian Spanish. Forty years later, not much has changed—except now it’s the Latinx students of Bayside High School in the Saved by the Bell reboot taking on the issue.
In season 2, which starts streaming November 24, viewers are introduced to Señor Johnson, a Spanish teacher who doesn’t know more than a summer abroad’s worth of his second language but purports that this version, in which the “z” sounds like a “th,” is the only way to speak Spanish correctly. While made for TV, the scenario rings true for many of us who took Spanish as a second language in school. Growing up in Arizona, where 19.5% of the population speaks Spanish, my Spanish classes were pretty much part of the colonial project. While Spanish is a colonizer’s language, so many Latin American and Caribbean communities have made it their own. However, this was entirely erased in my classroom. I mean, who else had to learn vosotros, a personal pronoun that’s not typically part of a native Spanish-speaking Latinx’s vocabulary? Moreover, these classes are often led by teachers like Señor Johnson, educators more interested in investing in the professional futures of non-Latinx white kids than affirming the culture, identity, and experiences of their Spanish-speaking Latinx students. In Los Angeles, where Saved by the Bell takes place, more than a third of people speak Spanish; across the country, 13% of people speak the language.
Throughout the episode, Aisha also leans on her coach, Mario Lopez’s A.C. Slater, for advice. “The one thing that I thought no one could ever take away from me—the fact that I’m Latina—is being challenged by a cosplaying conquistador,” she tells him. That a Black Latina is so assured in her Latinidad is refreshing (and long overdo) in entertainment. For Coach Slater, it’s also inspiring. When Señor Johnson gets fired after ridiculing Aisha’s Spanish in front of the principal, Slater takes over the class. In part, it’s a way for his character to reclaim his culture and ethnicity—you know, that very visible part of his identity that is entirely glossed over in the original series. As Coach Slater says, “Growing up, we never talked about the fact that we were Mexican. My dad changed our name from ‘Sánchez’ to ‘Slater’ and made my middle name ‘America Rules.’”
Maureen Bharoocha, the director of the episode, hopes the plotline validates all the Latinx students who have taken similar Spanish classes and illuminates the experience for others. After all, she tells Refinery29 Somos, school campuses too often turn into spaces where “others tell you who you are, and you have to justify to them who you are and your culture.” Co-written by Marcos Gonzalez, with input from the series’ Latinx actors, she hopes the episode’s universality and humor will help audiences absorb the lesson. “With humor, you’re able to reach more people, and people can digest it more because your heart is more open,” she says.
As a viewer, “La Guerra de Aisha” has been satisfying to watch, in part because it’s so different from my own experience. When I had a non-Latinx white missionary Spanish teacher, I just shrugged it off. I knew it was strange that he didn’t actually know much Spanish, but I didn’t want to stand out and cause a scene. I was a Daisy in need of an Aisha. But there was none in sight—we were all too timid. Even if there was one, I don’t think my school’s administration would have responded like the fictional Bayside faculty did. Maybe if I had watched a series like this, I would have felt empowered to speak out; perhaps—and hopefully—young people will now. Only then will we all be free of vosotros.
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As we get ready for the holidays, I’ve been searching daily for styles that feel sleek, refined, and festive. Saks Fifth Avenue seems to always have what I’m looking for, from top designer finds, to everyday essentials. I’m excited to share that Saks has their Spend/Get Online Only Sale going on now through 11/24, with up to $200 off on purchases using code SGNOVSF. Spend $250 and get $50 off, $500 and get $100 off, $750+ and get $150 off, or $1,000 and get $200 off (excluding beauty and fragrance). It is the perfect time to select something for yourself or for the hard-to shop-for friends and family on your list. See below for an assortment of finds from Saks to get you holiday ready this season.
