Teenagers have spoken and some of the most iconic staples of the last few years are officially on their way out.
According to investment bank Piper Sandler’s semi-annual Taking Stock With Teens survey, upper-income teenagers say they’re moving past once-beloved brands like Lululemon and Stanley, signaling a generational shift in what’s considered cool.
The survey, which polled nearly 11,000 teens across 47 states between August 8 and September 22, 2025, offers a detailed look into what young Americans are wearing, buying, and prioritizing. The findings suggest that while some longtime favorites like Nike, Starbucks, and Chick-fil-A continue to dominate, others are beginning to lose their grip on the youth market.
Three years ago, Lululemon leggings and Stanley tumblers were social media darlings, defining the "clean girl" aesthetic and filling TikTok feeds. Now, teenage girls say both trends are slipping in popularity a clear sign that even the most viral products have a shelf life.
The numbers back it up. Activewear giant Lululemon, which ranked among teens’ top 10 brands for online shopping just last spring, failed to make the cut this fall. Similarly, Stanley cups once a must-have hydration accessory flaunted by influencers appeared simultaneously on both the “most popular” and “on the way out” lists, showing that their dominance is beginning to fracture.
Among male teens, footwear preferences are shifting too. Twelve percent of boys said Crocs are “on the way out,” a stark change from fall 2022, when the brand ranked among their top five favorites. Even Nike and Jordans, once untouchable in sneaker culture, showed signs of waning appeal.
Skinny jeans topped both male and female lists as the number-one style that’s fallen out of favor, continuing a trend that’s been building for years. For female teens, leggings and Lululemon’s signature look joined them on the decline list as did Crocs, hair trends, and the previously adored Stanley cups.
The survey also shed light on what today’s teens value most when shopping. Despite constant exposure to fast-changing microtrends on TikTok and Instagram, 15- and 16-year-olds are prioritizing practicality over hype. Quality and price were ranked as the top two decision-making factors, outweighing brand prestige, trendiness, or sustainability.
Still, not everything old is gone in fact, some old-school favorites are making a comeback. Hollister and UGG, iconic labels of the early 2000s that once dominated mall culture, are rising in popularity among teen girls, reflecting a broader Gen Z fascination with retro and nostalgic fashion.
This season, that nostalgia seems to blend with irony. Many teens appear to be reclaiming vintage looks from flare jeans to logo hoodies as part of a larger move away from hyper-polished aesthetics. Instead of curated perfection, individuality and comfort seem to be the new markers of cool.
Piper Sandler’s data paints a clear picture: Gen Z teens aren’t just rejecting specific brands; they’re redefining what personal style means in a post-viral world. The once-uniform "must-have" items are giving way to a more fragmented and self-expressive landscape where trends rise fast, fall faster, and everything old can become new again.
Whether this marks the true end of Lululemon’s reign or just another fashion cycle remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: if you want to know what’s in and what’s out just ask a teenager.
