Middle school fashion trends among Gen Alpha are rapidly evolving, with formerly popular items now considered outdated, according to a Las Vegas teacher.
Natalia Garcia, a 25-year-old middle school teacher, has been observing and documenting the style fads of her students for the past few years, sharing her findings on TikTok. She noted that as of 2024, certain trends that were popular last year are no longer in vogue.
"My students told me that Crocs are kind of leaving, and Birkenstocks are taking over," Garcia shared in a recent video. She also observed that long jean shorts, often referred to as 'jorts,' have become a consistent staple in school hallways, with variations like sweat jorts and cargo jorts emerging.
Baggy clothing, including oversized T-shirts and jeans, remains a dominant style among her students, a trend Garcia believes is here to stay. In footwear, alongside Birkenstocks, Adidas Sambas are currently highly popular. Garcia stated, "Sambas are still very much in, and I don't see them leaving." She frequently sees students wearing them, often in a wider range of colorways beyond the traditional black and white.
This represents a shift from a few years prior when Adidas Campus sneakers and Converse were among the most popular shoe choices, with Crocs and Vans also being prominent.
Beyond fashion, Garcia has also noticed changes in student hobbies. Last year, popular pastimes included "gambling games" like Blackjack and Roulette, as well as collecting small decorative ducks. These fads have reportedly been replaced by an increased interest in the online video game Fortnite and a fascination with squishy toys. "They love squishies, and I'm talking all kinds of squishies," Garcia said, describing a wide variety from homemade versions to large butter squishies. As the school year progresses, Garcia plans to continue monitoring and sharing updates on the rapidly changing trends among her students.