What is the ‘kinda chic’ trend taking over social media?
Dining alone? Re-wearing a favorite outfit? Apparently, that’s "kinda chic".
This trend taking over social media isn't about fashion trends or dressing like a Parisian; it's a tongue-in-cheek format where people rebrand ordinary life as effortlessly cool. It is attached to everyday habits, mundane routines, and bizarrely specific life choices.
The trend typically appears as a photo carousel or video with text that reads “Kinda chic to…” followed by a small life choice, personal belief or random thing the creator thinks is worth celebrating.
Think: “kinda chic to repeat outfits,” “kinda chic to watch a movie alone,” or “kinda chic to take yourself out to dinner.”
@lifeofhennaa Enjoying hobbies purely for the fun of it & learning something new #hobbies #kindachic ♬ original sound - stevelacyoffline
Where did it come from?
One early viral version came from influencer MariaBegins, who used the phrase in a posts about body positivity and dealing with online criticism. Her posts read, “Kinda chic posting myself online despite the hate comments I receive.”
From there, the phrase spread as users began filling in the blank with their own versions.
By August, celebrities had also joined in. Drew Barrymore posted about how it's “kinda chic” to be in her 50s, while Reese Witherspoon shared her own list of things she considers chic, including cheering on other women and calling her mom. Local content creator Ella Pangilinan also joined in on the trend, sharing how it's chic to be a mom in their 30s.
So, what exactly does it mean? It's the beauty—or absurdity—of the trend is that there aren’t really any rules. Unlike traditional definitions of chic, which usually refer to being stylish or elegant, the Tiktok version has expanded the word to cover almost everything.
One person might post that it’s “kinda chic” to drink matcha while wearing flats. Another might call it chic to travel alone or simply stop caring what other people think.
That flexibility is part of what makes it so easy to join.
Not everyone thinks it's chic
Of course, the internet wouldn't be the internet without a little backlash. Some users have criticized the trend for making social media feel increasingly repetitive, with thousands of users using essentially the same format to share about their lives. Fashion editor Brenda Weischer even described this kind of copy-and-paste content as “template slop.”
Others have taken issue with how loosely the word “chic” is being used. If everything is chic, then what does it even mean anymore?
Still, there's something oddly freeing about the trend. Maybe being “kinda chic” isn't really about looking stylish at all. Maybe it's just about deciding that the little things you enjoy are worth celebrating.
