FEATURES

Ins and Out for the Season

The Features section's cultural vibe check: what's in and what's fading out in music, fashion and ritual this November.

By Shinika Riley | FEATURES | 11/8/2026

(The crisp air of the fall weather as the sun begins to set.)

Seasons Change

The November Air

We are officially hitting the reset button. As the semester grinds on and come to an end, the days are getting shorter. The way we dress, listen, and kill time is shifting away from the manufactured culture trends and moving towards things that feel human. The people are getting tired of nine-dollar iced coffees, algorithmic shuffling, and the constant guilt of unread texts. This season, the Features section is tracking cultural vibe check. From intimate local venues to pure art of decompression, here is what is In and what is slowly fading Out.

Music & Listening

IN: Naming a playlist something hyper-specific like "songs that feel like driving down the highway at 12 AM" instead of just "Vibes."
OUT: Letting streaming app's generic "Made for You" playlists dictate one's entire musical taste for the day.
IN: Listening to an album from track 1 to track 12 in the exact order the artist intended.
OUT: Spending a week's paycheck on overpriced nosebleed seats, just to watch the artist through a gigantic black screen.
IN: Rising fusion genres of afrobeats, hyperpop, country, K-pop, and Latin crossover tracks.
OUT: Strictly only listening to a single genre.

Fashion

IN: Costume and Cosplaying. Investing time into DIYs, thrifting, and hand-making unique pieces for events.
OUT: Ultra-skinny jeans and faux-leather leggings. Super-tight pants are seemingly being worn less and replaced by baggy denims.
IN: Wearing shoes built for walking miles around the city, hallways, and to work without destroying one's feet.
OUT: Clothing with extreme rips and slashes. Ripped jeans are being seen less as the years go by.
IN: Y2K is making a comeback. Baggy, oversized skater denim and cargo pants.
OUT: Randomly mixing checkerboard, cow print, neon smiley faces, and galaxy prints.

Ritual

IN: Late night hotpot or K-BBQ sessions. Spending a few hours around a boiling broth, a sizzling pan with a group of friends just talking and eating.
OUT: Feeling guilting after not replying to a partner or friends after a grueling day at work or school and knocking out mid-scroll.
IN: Go on a mystery exploration at a nearby museum, library or café.
OUT: Overnight life transformations. Everything, and every habit cannot be changed in one night.
IN: Always being available. The younger generation are setting more boundaries with friends, family, and jobs.
OUT: Glorifying sleepless nights, skipping meals, or working through sickness to prove dedication.

Have Your Say

Did we get it right, or where would you agree and disagree? We want to know what your personal list looks like.