How do you sum up an entire 365 days worth of viral pop-culture moments, chokehold trends, and iconic fashion choices aka the best moments that defined 2024?
Well… unfortunately, you can’t.
So instead of attempting to collectively cram the best of 2024 into a 1000 word article (spoiler alert, she’s a little longer that), we have curated The Modern Muse’s very own “2024 Year in Review” instead – a guide to 10 of the most iconic, ground breaking and eyebrow-raising moments this past year has offered. Spanning from animal print jeans to a viral 80’s crime drama, we’ll discuss 2024’s key pop-culture moments, most loved fashion trends, TikTok movements we were obsessed with, and our very own celebratory ‘Muse Moment’ for the year that has just passed.
Four Key Pop-Culture Moments
Photo credit: Vogue
Tyla’s Iconic Dress at the Met Gala
What Vogue described as being “Fashion’s biggest night out”, the annual Met Gala arguably wrestles for first place as one of the most memorable fashion events every year – which 2024 proved to be no exception. In particular, Parisian fashion house Balmain’s collaboration with pop artist Tyla made this past year’s gala all the more iconic – which Vanity Fair proclaimed as “one of the best Met Gala debuts of all time”.
If you’re not picturing it already, Tyla stepped out onto the carpet wearing a perfectly moulded strapless “sand dress” composed of sand and micro-crystals, which Balmain said was their take on the event’s dress theme “The Garden of Time”.
The most intriguing part about the singer’s appearance however, was when her long mermaid trail was cut off mid event with a pair of scissors, to allow Tyla to freely walk around the venue. Whilst unplanned, the moment was pretty iconic if you ask us.
Photo credit: Forbes
Return of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
After its six year hiatus, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show made its controversial return during 2024, boasting an iconic lineup of ex-Victoria’s Secret “Angels”. Among such, household names such as Adriana Lima, Bella Hadid, Candice Swanepoel and Kate Moss graced the stage yet again – however left a mixed online response in its wake. What first began in 1995 as a runway-formatted marketing event showcasing the lingerie brand’s garments, soon became a highly-coveted runway within the fashion realm.
However, after a significant decline in viewers during the early 2010’s following a lack of inclusivity among the “Angels”, the show announced it’s end in 2018. This past year’s iteration aimed to overhaul this image, which saw transgender models such as Alex Cosani, plus-size angels such as Ashley Graham, and models of Moroccan and Egyptian descent like Imaan Hammam walk the runway. Despite their efforts, the show’s aftermath sparked conflicting conversation online, with commentators discussing just how diverse their new lineup actually was.
Photo credit: Pitchfork
Charli XCX’s BRAT Summer
If you haven’t already attempted to harness your inner “365 party girl” this past year, what exactly have you been doing? English singer Charli XCX certainly has – alongside the better half of the internet during 2024.
After the release of her fluro-green hyperpop album “Brat” in June, what came after was a cultural-phenomenon the singer branded as “Brat Summer” – a refreshing new way of life typically categorised by smudged eyeliner, late-night partying, and a hedonistic attitude. However, the album’s cultural significance arguably stemmed from its influence on marketing schemes, fashion trends, and unpredictably, US politics.
In the leadup to the United States’ 2024 presidential election, the Democratic party harnessed the “Brat Summer” phenomenon in their campaigning scheme, when Charli XCX announced on X via a post that Vice President Kamala “IS Brat”. Despite the party’s loss, it’s evident the chokehold Charli’s album had on the world during 2024, encouraging an unserious, sleazy yet care-free era.
Photo credit: Netflix
Menendez Brothers Netflix Series
Money talks, and cash is dirty, according to an 80’s Netflix crime drama series that took over TikTok during late 2024. “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” is a 10-part series centred around the infamous murder of parents Kitty and Jose Menendez, and the events that unfolded in the wake of their death. The show starring Cooper Coch and Nicholas Chavez quickly gained traction immediately after the show’s release – which resulted in an extraordinary number of “TikTok edits” (primarily of Chavez) circling online to the song “Dirty Cash (Money Talks)” by artist The Adventures of Stevie V. These edits quickly started a trend of their own which saw creators filming hundreds of viewers within university lectures and workplace meetings simultaneously watching the same TikTok edit – drooling over Chavez and his “rich boy” persona emulated in the drama.
Three Most Loved Fashion Trends
Photo credit: Ganni
Leopard Print
“Leopard print is a neutral” have been the words on everyone’s lips this year – and we’re convinced it’s not ready to leave just yet. From Ganni’s viral leopard printed jeans to the return of leather Fendi baguette bags, animal print has worked its way so far up the ranks this past year as to penetrate the fast fashion market – meaning every girl and her handbag has been seen sporting the beloved trend.
Bag Charms
Bag charms have also been a prevalent accessory trend throughout 2024, which emerged from the “Jane Birkinifying” trend on TikTok. This saw creators embellishing their bags with copious keychains, carabiners, ribbons and charms to recreate how the actress would famously decorate her bag – if you consider yourself a maximalist, this trend was for you.
Photo credit: Pinterest
Micro Shorts
What Russh recently labelled as “the most divisive trend” of 2024’s summer, Micro shorts began to make a comeback amidst a sea of baggy jeans and knee-length jorts. The resurfacing trend initially emerged on the 2023 runway at Milan Fashion Week, and was eventually popularised as a staple “Brat summer” garment – making them a must-have during late 2024.
Two TikTok Trends We Were Obsessed with
“Man in Finance” Trend
Will the girls who constantly complain about wanting a boyfriend, whilst simultaneously having an extensive highly-specific checklist of what they want in a partner please come to the front… This trend is for you.
The above describes the sentiment behind the “Man in Finance” trend that first emerged in May 2024, after American corporate worker Megan Boni (aka @Girl On Couch) made a TikTok explaining how she was looking for a “man in finance, trust fund, 6 ‘5, blue eyes”. The audio from Boni’s TikTok was then remixed by multiple Dj’s on the platform – creating the viral “Man in Finance” soundtrack.
“Very Mindful, Very Demure” Trend
Whilst “demure” is hardly the word to describe this past year, this very mindful word certainly had its time in the spotlight during 2024. To recap for those who weren’t chronically online this past year, Puerto Rican creator Jools Lebron posted a satirical TikTok in early August, where she described her makeup for work as being “very demure, very mindful”. To say the video went viral would be an understatement – which at the time of writing has collected 4.9 million likes, and 53.7 million views.
Gen Z creators used the phrase “very demure, very mindful” as a means to describe anything and everything – which essentially replaced 2023’s pop-culture buzz word “Slay”. We wonder what 2025’s new word will be…
Our One Top ‘Muse Moment’
If we’re being completely honest – we can’t put our finger on one sole moment for 2024! This has been an incredible year for The Modern Muse, having had the opportunity to work with some amazing brands as we have continued to steadily build a beautiful community of creatives and readers alike. However, we can boast some proud statistics to properly put into focus this year’s progress.
At the time of writing, we have published 11 Magazines, and just over 160 articles all within the span of 12 months! We’re so grateful to see that people back our publication and see us as a “go-to” source, and can’t wait to bring you more into the new year.
You have no idea what you’re in for….
Read more of our New Year’s articles here.
