Pick social media these days, and you’re likely to see teens obsessing over their “Christmas hauls” showing what they got–or would like to get–for Christmas. The gifts trending last holiday season were Uggs, Kendra Scott jewelry, and Adidas shoes, but trends are like the wind, blowing hard at first and then disappearing like they never existed. If you’re looking for the perfect teen gift, here are some current must-haves trending on TikTok and Instagram.
Owala Water Bottles
This water bottle catches most teenagers’ attention, coming in many colors (in case you want to pair it with your outfit of choice) and trending because it has a “free sip” option as well as a straw option.
“It is an amazing product. It won’t spill everywhere because you have a lip piece for your straw and you can easily sip. The durability is great, and my water always stays cold throughout the day,” says FCHS sophomore Carli Miller ‘28. The most popular style that comes with this water bottle is the FreeSip water bottle. They come in 3 sizes: 24 oz $27.99, 32 oz $32.99, 40 oz $37.99. The second most popular style is the FreeSip Twist waterbottle. You can find these water bottles at Walmart, Target, and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Birkenstock Clogs
These slip-on shoes are a trending gift that has stood the test of time, as Birkenstocks have a long history of popularity that has roared back in the last year or so, as noted in this article on the Fluco Beat. Teenagers like these shoes because they mold to your feet and create a custom feel that is comfortable for most people.
“They’re very comfortable, and they’re my go-to shoes,” said 8th grader Emmie Dickinson.
The most popular Birkenstock style is the Arizona sandal style. It’s the generic style you’ll see the most of. The second one is the Birkenstock clogs. These have recently become popular this year around the summertime and fall. The places to buy Birkenstocks in Charlottesville is Shoe Fly, Super Shoes, and Dick’s Sporting Goods. The price of these shoes ranges from $50 if you’d like a standard option, and then up to $100-$200 if you want a more durable, comfortable fit.
Digital Camera
This nostalgic and fun camera has been trending this entire year. Teenagers like the look of the photos taken, because they look more nostalgic or aesthetic.
“The photos are more yellow-looking and brighter from a digital camera,” said junior Lacey Rhodes.
Digital cameras don’t only take photos, but sometimes also videos, and teens like the look of the camera and its quality. The two most popular digital cameras are the Canon Powershot V1 Digital camera ($900) and the Sony Cybershot Digital camera RX100 VII ($1,300+). The Sony cameras are known for their high-quality nostalgic photos, and teens seek them out for that. The cameras are different from the phones, because the phone’s photos are smaller and not as high-quality as a camera.
New Apple Products
It may seem like every teenager wants an iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, or AirPods, but there have been new releases. The new Meta glasses are wearable glasses that have a screen built into them. They can record, play music from any streaming app, and even text. These new $300 glasses have sold more than 2 million times since 2023. These glasses last up to 5-8 hours playing audio or recording.
Another new and popular product is the iPhone 17. This phone is $800 or $33.29 a month on some plans, but for a good reason. This phone has a higher resolution and different camera options, such as an ultra-wide camera. The phone comes in multiple colors: standard black and white, light purple, light green, light blue, orange, and beige. Another popular, related item is a phone pouch. These $150 phone pouches with stretchy, ribbed-like material hang from your body with various color choices. This new product was released Nov. 14, and has been a huge subject on TikTok.
Jellycats
These soft and colorful stuffed animals have been popular for at least three years now. They started trending on TikTok and has become a big gift for any holiday. Jellycats are a collectible stuffed animal that comes in various sizes. Most teenagers would like Jellycats for Christmas, because these are high-quality stuffed animals with a variety of colors and pure softness.
Jellycat is currently selling 779 different animal plushies, and 994 plushies in all. You can find Jellycats for as little as $20 and as much as $100. Locally, you can buy Jellycats at Shenanigans, located at the Charlottesville Downtown Mall. You can also buy Jellycats directly from their website.
Clothes
This gift never disappoints, as many teenagers constantly want to change their style. Whether that’s new jeans, a new hoodie, or even Nike socks, many love to get something new to wear to school. Specific clothes that are trending this year are Hollister babydoll tops, Comfrt (not a typo) hoodies, and Shein clothing. The Hollister babydoll top is a flattering, flowy top for teen girls. It comes in many colors, like pink, red, and brown, as well as polka dots. These tops generally retail for about $30-$40.
Comfrt hoodies are comfortable and weighted hoodies that come with an extra soft interior. These hoodies are somewhat similar to the Essentials hoodies and the Whitefox hoodies, besides their weighted comfort. Comfrt hoodies are $50 at Comfrt.com.
If you are looking for clothes for a dirt cheap price, you might want to check Shein. Shein offers a wide variety of different clothes and styles. Keep in mind that while they are cheap, and tend to be of poor quality and may not last long. You can find them on their app or at Shein.com.
Skincare and Makeup products
Most teenagers will ask for this gift because they need a new moisturizer, blush, or primer. Since these products can run out fast, teenagers will always need a new product, or they would like to try a new bronzer they see online. Specific makeup brands that are popular right now are Drunk Elephant, Saie Beauty, Glow Recipe, Summer Fridays, and Tarte. Teenagers tend to be influenced by social media to try new popular products, so a lot of popular products are constantly trending on TikTok.
If you are a parent who doesn’t know where to start or doesn’t know which products are popular, check out SheKnows.com.
Record Player and Vinyls
These items recently resurfaced as a popular gift. Many teens have discovered vinyls from their favorite artists, and want an exclusive poster or letter that comes with the record. Some teens feel that having physical music instead of playing it from a phone seems more real, and they think they’re a real fan of a certain artist if they have a CD or vinyl.
Some vinyls that are popular amongst teens are Taylor Swift’s, which come with exclusive posters or letters that some fans find brilliant. This goes for CDs as well, with Taylor Swift and Oliva Rodrigo CDs selling out. You can find more on trending albums here.
Target is a solid choice for a local store that sells vinyl records, but if you really want to save money, consider checking out Goodwill in Palmyra, the two Goodwill stores in Charlottesville, or the Salvation Army in Charlottesville.
