Remember in early 2024 when people on TikTok were showcasing their dozens of water
bottles? Or, when people were camping outside of Target like it was Black Friday for a pink
Stanley Cup? For some background, way back in January, videos were circulating of people
rushing displays of the aforementioned pink Stanley Cup. This version of the Stanley Cup was hot pink and a collaboration with Starbucks, sold exclusively in Target stores. Some of the individuals who were able to grab one of these bottles were selling them on eBay for hundreds of dollars with the retail price being fifty.
The Stanley Cup is to the clean girl aesthetic as the Hydro Flask was to VSCO girls. Both
relatively pricey water bottles that many influencers deem as 'essential' to achieving a specific aesthetic. In reality, both function the same as less expensive ones on the market.
For some context, the clean girl aesthetic is currently popular on TikTok and has an
emphasis on exercise, minimal makeup, clean skin, and simplistic clothing. The Stanley Cup is an item often paired with the aesthetic. The VSCO girl aesthetic originated from the VSCO app and was popular in 2019 to 2020. The essentials for the aesthetic were oversized shirts, scrunchies, and most famously, the Hydro Flask.
Nobody needs a cupboard of water bottles and you can stay hydrated using any type of
container. But, it's not about hydration. Truthfully, the goal of achieving a specific look promoted by social media is why materialistic trends like these occur. People buy these expensive cups as a ticket into an exclusive community. For the clean girl aesthetic, 'essentials' are expensive skincare routines, outfits, makeup, jewelry, et cetera. Not to mention, it's emphasis on exercise and thinness. Not everyone can afford the time to work out or the products featured in the aesthetic, but one may feel included if they buy a Stanley Cup. Furthermore, influencers who can afford to be the pinnacle of the clean girl aesthetic promote the cup. To some people, being a part of a clique can be shown through the purchase of one, and your dedication to the aesthetic and lifestyle is shown through purchasing more and more Stanley Cups. This phenomenon causes a frenzy of overconsumption as seen in the Target situation.
Buying one or two water bottles isn't bad. If you like the Stanley Cup and its features,
more power to you. Trends like these become an issue when they lead to people into
over-purchasing products. If you find yourself craving similar products, before purchasing,
consider a few things. Why do you need that product? What makes its use special in comparison to other products? If you couldn't show the product to anyone, would you still buy it? To conclude, the rise of exclusive social media aesthetics correlates to the rise of products that fit the theme of the aesthetic and that may be due to people wanting to find community.
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