This week on TikTok: There’s a DUPE for everything
YPulse told you how Gen Z and Millennials love a good luxury dupe, or even dupes for items that aren’t considered high-end but are still too expensive for their inflation-riddled wallets. Beauty influencers are often sharing their Ulta dupes for popular Dior products and fashion influencers can be seen sharing their thrift finds that function as dupes for trending styles. But the popularity of dupe content on TikTok has now catalyzed a trend mocking the way content creators make videos about their favorite dupes—especially in the beauty and fashion industries.
This week, TikTokers are making parody versions of these videos, highlighting sometimes ridiculous or silly “dupes” (or “doops”) as they dramatically announce objects, or even people and actions, that are “cheaper” versions of the real deal. So many are doing it that the hashtag #Doop currently has 80M views. For example, they’ll show a Walmart sports bra as a “Skims DUPE,” or hold up Target sandals and announce, “Gucci slides DUPE!” Gen Z’s also getting their parents in on the trend, filming them in stores showing off workout clothes and saying “Lululemon doop.”
Gen Z has now transformed the trend into a “dupe mindset,” claiming “once you get into the dupe mindset, everything’s a dupe.” But with most silly trends, there’s haters—and one TikToker’s video stating her distaste for the “annoying” trend ignited a slew of ironic comments reading, “pick me DUPE” and “’I’m different’ dupe,” suggesting that her hatred for the trend means she’s trying to look cool or stand out from the crowd in an embarrassing way.
Also on TikTok: A conspiracy that ordering a Martini is a scam to get only half a drink
Couture looks from Paris Fashion Week have TikTok comparing it to The Hunger Games
YPulse data shows 24% of Gen Z and Millennials say big fashion events are pop culture moments their generation cares about, and designers have been making sure it stays that way. This week, Paris Fashion Week’s Schiaparelli show drew some controversial attention after Kylie Jenner and models in the show sported pieces with giant, fake animal head adornments. Debates online were sparked not only over the debated meaning of the looks, but also their price. The New York Times writes that while couture fashion has always had elements of provocation, social media and red carpets have pushed it further as it fights for space in the attention economy.
But as the saying goes, even bad (or just conflicting) press is good press, especially in the social media sphere; on TikTok, the hashtag #Schiaparelli has 627M views, filled with videos of the animal pieces and Doja’s Cats runway-side, show-stealing full-body red crystal look. Comments on many of the posts made by verified fashion outlets are filled with confusion from young users—with one reading “I’m too poor to understand this,” receiving 69K likes of its own. Others are comparing the show of excessive wealth it requires to own these looks to Capitol fashion from The Hunger Games—where the elite don expensive looks while the average citizen struggles to pay for their basic needs. YPulse predicted that 2023 would be a year of Gen Z showing resentment towards the uber-wealthy as they face financial hardships, and this shows how historically expensive fashion is now reading as ignorant many of them.
Also in fashion: People are mad to learn SKIMS’ manufacturer is much less expensive than the items themselves
Walt Disney World’s Splash Mountain redesign ignited an internet debacle
Last year, Disney announced that Splash Mountain, located in Magic Kingdom, will be closing and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (inspired by 2009’s Princess and the Frog animated film) will be taking its place. Extreme Disney adults are almost considered a cult these days (YPulse data shows Disney is the No. 7 top brand Millennials say they feel a sense of community around), and they’ve stirred up quite the ruckus over Walt Disney World’s Splash Mountain closure this week.
The original theming of the ride has been debated over the years for exhibiting blatantly racist music and animatronic characters based on the “widely banned” Song of the South cartoon. A Change.org petition stating that the ride is “steeped in extremely problematic and stereotypical racist tropes” received over 21K signatures. But now that the ride is actually changing, some Disney adults are angrily jumping on social media to rant about how the ride is nostalgic to their childhood and how they want their young kids to experience it, too. Some even claim they see “nothing wrong” with the ride or the racist song. One mom on TikTok went viral after making a video stating, “The ride I named my daughter after shut down today at Disney I’m so sad”, Which ignited hilarious comments and stitched videos of TikTokers guessing the baby’s name, like “Spalshton Mountleigh,” “Splash Mountain Jones,” and “Zipideedoodah.” (Spoiler: the name was actually Briar.) Even further, some dedicated fans scooped samples of the ride water and are selling them on eBay for thousands of dollars.
On the other hand, most parents and families are pumped for the redesign that will feature Princess and the Frog theming starring Disney’s first Black princess—after all, the mechanics of the ride will remain the same, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will exhibit themes from the film that will resonate more with today’s kids and families.
In Western Europe: Mass merch retailer Tesco follows Spotify with 2022 “Unpacked”
Mass merch stores (more commonly known as Supermarkets in the U.K.) have been growing in popularity among young Europeans, as YPulse’s Mass Merch Mentality report showed. Now, they’ve become a place for the next trendy fashion-piece or must-try meal. These stores are listening to what ticks among Gen Z and Millennials, and now they’re borrowing from the success of Spotify Wrapped. Tesco is allowing consumers to see a 2022 “Unpacked” of their most purchased food, most visited grocery alley, and how much they’ve saved over the year with their Clubcard discount.
And just like Spotify Wrapped, people are sharing their Tesco Unpacked on social media. The hashtag #Tesco has 2.2B views on TikTok, with people posting their Tesco finds and experiences, and now their 2022 Unpacked. Content creators like @caitlinpinkerton made a TikTok story of her Unpacked, adding extra comments like “the addiction is real” over her most purchased drink being Monster Energy, and using the caption “meal deals slap” with her 91 lunches over the year. Tesco’s own TikTok account shared the new feature, getting young people to click on the Clubcard app to have a look at their own. It also showed the nation’s favourite meal deal happens to be sausage, bacon, and triple egg butty, with McCoy’s grilled steak crisps, and a Coca-Cola.
Passing links:
Music: Fans are disappointed in Beyoncé for performing in Dubai, where same-sex relationships remain illegal
Justin Bieber sold his whole music catalog for $200M
Dating: Women on TikTok are ditching dating apps for finding a partner at Home Depot
Content creators: While Millennials pause for videos to begin recording, Gen Z shake their phone as they set in down
TV: Rick and Morty will re-cast their main voice actors as they cut ties with co-creator over domestic violence charges
Snacks: Oreo’s new limited edition flavor is Oreo flavored Oreos
