trendingFIONA

There’s a sentence I didn’t expect to be writing! But here we are, and ponchos are back. When I think about ponchos, my mind goes two places: Blair Waldorf’s iconic Gossip Girl outfits, and this coral pink (handmade) poncho I wore at age seven(ish). Frighteningly enough, the current trend taking over our feeds is much closer to the slightly scary and very rough-around-the-edges thing I was sporting as a child than the elevated looks Blair was wearing around New York. And yet, this is a trend I can absolutely get behind.

I love a summery layering moment, whether that be a linen button down or a slouchy, open knit sweater, and the crochet-esque ponchos we’re seeing everywhere are right up that alley. They add a casual, beachy vibe to an outfit that I am obsessed with, and they’re so effortlessly easy to style.

But you all know how I feel about micro-trends, and I fear ponchos have it written all over them. So let’s talk about engaging with this fun summer style without engaging with wasteful spending and fast fashion.

The first one’s for my crafty girls: DIY it (not like I DIY’d my pink poncho). Learning to crochet is a breeze, and the shape of a poncho makes it an easy project. Light and thin yarn for a project like this isn’t too expensive, and who doesn’t need a cute little hobby these days? There are hundreds of free crochet patterns out there, making this an overall low-budget project.

For my non-crafty girls who really just want to shop—let’s talk sustainability and ethical labor for just one minute. It might not be exciting, but it is important. When it comes to a trend like this one, it can be ultra tempting to make a quick Amazon or Shein purchase and call it a day. The problem is that with a micro-trend like this one, the piece will probably cycle out of your wardrobe fairly quickly. And on top of that, knit or crochet pieces that come at ultra-cheap prices are more often than not made by severely underpaid workers.

So where’s the middle ground? Obviously, you don’t want to spend a ton on a short term piece, but you still want to engage with the trend. A fabric you want to avoid: acrylic. Not only is it not biodegradable, but the petroleum-based chemicals it’s made from lead to so many environmental concerns. Acrylic tends to lend itself to low-quality garments with short life spans—an acrylic poncho will probably pill quickly and become unwearable. If you’re looking for something budget-friendly but a step above acrylic, viscose might be your best bet. Depending on the manufacturer, this wood-pulp based fabric can be significantly less harmful than acrylic. It’s always good to interrogate where retailers source their materials, especially when it comes to pieces with quick turnover like ponchos.

I know it’s more work, but I cannot recommend second-hand shopping enough when it comes to trends like this one. Handmade and re-sale ponchos are all over sites like Depop, Etsy, and Poshmark, not to mention IRL thrift stores. The style we’re seeing resurge right now was a big part of y2k fashion, so it’s more than likely that you can get your hands on a “vintage” one at your local thrift.

Engaging with trends is fun, and finding new ways to switch up your summer style is exciting—especially considering how hard it can be to dress for ultra-hot weather. But when it comes to trying out new trends, it’s so important that we don’t fall into the fast-fashion trap. Working a little harder for a piece makes it all the more gratifying to style, and elevates your outfits beyond what everyone else is wearing. There’s nothing wrong with matching with the girls—but isn’t it so much better to match in ethically sourced pieces that won’t sit in a landfill for the next two hundred years?