California: land of sun, surf, and some of the most eyebrow-raising trends to ever sweep a population. From fashion fads that defy the seasons to culinary concoctions that challenge the palate, the Golden State is never short on creativity. Have you ever found yourself sipping kombucha at a yoga retreat, wearing shorts in December because you can? Then you’ve tasted the unique flavor of Californian trendsetting. Let’s take a wander through 21 trends that could only have sprung from the soil of California.
1. Avocado on Everything
Image Credit: Shutterstock / New Africa
Once just a humble fruit, now a staple from toast to ice cream. California made it a luxury item.
2. Tech Start-Up T-Shirts as High Fashion
Image Credit: Pexels / Zetong Li
In Silicon Valley, the latest start-up tee is a status symbol. Who needs haute couture when you’ve got pre-IPO equity?
3. Outdoor Yoga Classes
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Evgeny Atamanenko
Because why meditate indoors when the sun is shining? Beach and park yoga sessions are a testament to California’s eternal summer mindset.
4. Juice Cleanses
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Jacob Lund
Detoxing on $10 bottles of cold-pressed juice. Only in California is starvation considered enlightenment.
5. Surfing Before Work
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Catching waves at dawn is the ultimate flex. It says, “Yes, I do have a life beyond my 9-to-5.”
6. Veganism as a Competitive Sport
Image Credit: Shutterstock / RossHelen
It’s not just about animal rights—it’s about who can concoct the most convincingly meat-like tempeh burger.
7. Boutique Fitness Classes
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Paying a small fortune to sweat in a room full of strangers. Spin, Pilates, and “hot” everything classes are the norm.
8. Designer Dogs
Image Credit: Shutterstock / AnnyStudio
The more obscure the breed, the better. Bonus points if it fits in a handbag.
9. Thrift Shopping as a Treasure Hunt
Image Credit: Pexels / cottonbro studio
Vintage is king, and finding that one Chanel jacket in a sea of fast fashion discards is a true Californian quest.
10. Organic Everything
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Frolova_Elena
If it’s not certified organic, gluten-free, and non-GMO, is it even worth eating?
11. Start-Up Speak
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Jacob Lund
Throwing around terms like “disrupt” and “scale” in casual conversation. Because every idea is the next big thing.
12. Sourdough Baking
Image Credit: Shutterstock / antoniodiaz
The pandemic hobby that stuck. Now, everyone’s a critic of crust and crumb.
13. Celebrity Sightings
Image Credit: Shutterstock / sebra
Bragging about seeing a celebrity at the grocery store is a humblebrag staple.
14. Hiking for the ‘Gram
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Duet PandG
It’s less about the hike, more about the summit selfie. If it didn’t get likes, did it even happen?
15. Electric Scooters Everywhere
Image Credit: Pexels / Ay?enaz Bilgin
The sidewalk menace that nobody asked for but everyone uses. Because walking is so last century.
16. Quinoa in Desserts
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Nataliya Arzamasova
Turning a healthy grain into a questionable dessert ingredient. Only in California would this be considered a good idea.
17. Festival Fashion Year-Round
Image Credit: Pexels / Polina Tankilevitch
Flower crowns in fall? Fringe in winter? Festival fashion knows no season in California.
18. Pretentious Coffee Orders
Image Credit: Shutterstock / topseller
A simple coffee will never suffice. It must be single-origin, hand-picked, and described with at least three adjectives.
19. The Rise of the “Influencer”
Image Credit: Pexels / Los Muertos Crew
Where being Instagram-famous can pay the rent. It’s all about the brand deals and follower count.
20. CBD Everything
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Dmytro Zinkevych
From lattes to lotions, if it doesn’t have CBD in it, it’s not on trend.
21. Tiny Home Living
Image Credit: Pexels / Max Vakhtbovycn
Sacrificing square footage for simplicity… and because the rent is too darn high.
So, Only in California, Right?
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sean Pavone
From the whimsically wonderful to the downright wacky, California’s trends set the pace for the nation, if not the world. Whether you’re here for the innovation or the avocados, there’s no denying the Golden State’s knack for the new, the novel, and the occasionally nonsensical. Have you caught yourself indulging in any of these quintessentially Californian trends?
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The post 21 Ridiculously Californian Trends was republished on Passing Thru with permission from The Green Voyage.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Pandora Pictures.
For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.
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