10 Things That Will Be ‘Has-Beens’ in 2024

Every year, we’re presented with new trends and things that take the world by storm. However, not all trends are meant to last the test of time. Because of that fact, as we head into the next 12 months, we’ll see many things become ‘has-beens’ in 2024, and some of them may surprise you. From fashion to food and even interior design trends, there’s a lot we’ll likely leave behind, and it’s going to be interesting.

For this list, we’ve come up with 10 trends that seem temporary and will likely no longer be popular in 2024. To compile the list, 24/7 Tempo consulted various fashion, interior design, and entertainment sources, such as Vogue and Architectural Digest, to come up with the most likely candidates. (Click here to learn about the biggest fads of the past 100 years).

1. Crocs

• Very casual look
• Not fashionable

This popular sole-hugging footwear has been popular for some time, but the trend’s days are numbered. Though they are comfortable and come in many different styles, crocs are far from fashionable, and they sometimes give the person wearing them the appearance that they stumbled out of bed and got dressed in a hurry. That’s why we believe they will be a ‘has-been’ in 2024.

People will likely wise up to the idea that there are other forms of footwear to try, and Crocs may slip into obscurity. We’re not saying that you need to throw your Crocs away, but it is a 2023 fashion trend that will likely stop being cool.

2. Restaurant Service Charges

• Not sustainable
• Service fees are skyrocketing

There are plenty of valid reasons why restaurants found it necessary to create new changes during the last few years and tack on more service charges than they did in the past. During any given year, profit margins in a restaurant are extremely thin, and so many establishments need to sell a lot of alcohol or find other ways to pay the staff and keep their operation afloat.

We also know that some situations are out of their control, like the current inflation, which makes the price of everything from eggs to bread balloon in price. There was also the global pandemic that shut down many restaurants for years. With fewer customers coming in, they had to tack on some service charges.

However, some of these service charges are simply out of hand. Some restaurants charge a fee for when patrons arrive late to their reservations. Others have kitchen fees, living wage fees, and more. In 2024, the world should return to some semblance of normalcy, and hopefully, restaurant service fees will become a ‘has-been’ in 2024.

3. Minimalist Home Design Trends

• Cold, stark feel
• Less inviting

There has been a trend in 2023 where many homeowners and apartment renters decided to decorate with a very minimalist style. This design strategy included decorating with only essential furniture, and it was more about function than fashion. In addition to the lack of “stuff” in the rooms, the furniture and décor used in this style are mostly white and other lighter colors, which makes the space rather formless and, quite frankly, kind of cold.

However, in 2024, many designers believe that homeowners will start to include more color and shape in their décor. Many people are also looking for more character in their homes via rounded windows, arched doorways, and other creative attributes. It’s all an attempt to make their spaces more inviting.

4. Tight-Fitting Jeans

• Stiff feel
• Outdated look

A 2023 fashion trend that will likely be leaving us in the new year is the desire by many to wear fitted and skinny jeans. This fashion choice goes by many names, from Mom jeans to fit-and-flare, but according to the editors at Vogue, this will soon be a thing of the past.

So what will replace it? Baggy jeans could make a return in 2024, which would make tight pants a thing of the past. Although they may not be as fashionable, many people find these looser jeans to be more comfortable. Only time will tell if this fashion prediction becomes a reality.

5. Old-Fashioned Décor

• Dated look
• Not as functional

According to the experts at Architectural Digest, there are numerous interior design trends that need to become ‘has-beens’ in 2024, and many of them have to do with old-fashioned décor. For instance, experts believe that the trend of installing “barn doors” in homes instead of traditional doors needs to stop. Also, hanging neon signs as art is another trend that should end in the new year.

Finally, many designers believe that the trend of installing Edison light bulbs in all light fixtures is also becoming dated. The bulbs can create a nice look here and there, but using them throughout the house is a trend they say should end. Plus, many Edison bulbs don’t give as much light as standard bulbs.

6. Disposable Coffee Pods

• More expensive
• Not environmentally friendly

This one may have you scratching your heads, but hear us out. Over the years, disposable coffee pods, like those made by Keurig, have been a go-to for many coffee enthusiasts worldwide, and it’s easy to see why. It’s incredibly convenient to turn on the machine, throw in a pod, and miraculously have a steaming cup of coffee in minutes. The issue arrives once the coffee is ready. Once the process ends, we take out the pod and throw it in the garbage can.

The problem is that if you make coffee with a Keurig daily, you are throwing out 365 disposable pods every year, and most, if not all, end up in landfills. Even worse, some of the garbage is transported by boat, and many of the pods end up in the ocean, where they can hurt the sea life. Environmentalists hope coffee pods become an old trend by 2024. If you want convenience, you can instead invest in a smart coffee maker that will make coffee with beans at the touch of a button on your cell phone.

7. The Need to Have More Stuff

• Too materialistic
• Homes become cluttered

For every year that goes by, our culture becomes more obsessed with materialism and having more stuff. Many of us want the newest electronics, video games, clothes, knick-knacks, and even the latest streaming service. In 2024, we think that people will realize that they’re drowning in stuff and will learn that money and buying new things don’t really make us happy.

Having more stuff only gives us temporary joy. Plus, the more things we own, the more cluttered our homes become. That lack of organization is what tends to drive us crazy. When our homes are a mess, the issue can cause anxiety and stress because we worry that we’ll never get organized, and it can create a dangerous cycle.

As we enter 2024, we think that the trend will change, and people will think about what really matters, like good friends, family, time in nature, and other soothing activities.

8. Superhero Movies

• Overabundance of superhero movies
• Moviegoers burned out

Ever since Robert Downey Jr. starred in Iron Man in 2008, superhero thriller movies have flooded our cinemas, with multiple films coming out annually. (Click here for the best thrillers of all time.)

Marvel Studios has an amazing amount of success every year, and the movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have made billions of dollars, and a few DC movies have also made a splash. For a while, there was no sign that the trend would ever end, but in 2024, we may see a decline in superhero films.

We believe this may be so because a few recent superhero films have fallen short of expectations. The recent Flash movie became one of the biggest disappointments in superhero movie history, and The Marvels, which came out in November, had the lowest opening ever for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. People may be burned out from having so many of these movies in cinemas, so this may be one of the big trends to leave behind in the new year.

9. Wearing Sweatpants as Fashion

• Too casual for going out
• Sloppy look

Just like the Crocs we mentioned earlier, we believe that the trend of wearing sweatpants anywhere and everywhere will become one of the ‘has-beens’ in 2024. Yes, sweatpants are comfortable, and they’re also becoming more accepted as a regular form of clothing. Many designers are even putting their spin on sweatpants and marking them up to exorbitant prices, but we think in 2024, people will get wise.

As the new year comes around, we think that people will start to wear regular pants or shorts more often as the fashion world rights itself. There’s nothing wrong with wearing sweatpants, especially while at home, but we believe the trend of wearing them everywhere will die out.

10. Ordering Food With QR Codes

• Not always convenient
• Usually too small to see the menu

Finally, we have one more food-related trend that we hope becomes a ‘has-been’ in 2024: ordering food in a restaurant via a QR code. This is another trend of recent years that has become the norm in many restaurants due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a way to prevent the use of physical menus that were passed from person to person along with the germs of each individual. As a solution, many restaurants put a QR code on the table, which requires you to pull out your phone, find the QR app buried somewhere within, take a picture, and then look at the miniature menu option on your screen.

We certainly understand why this became a trend. However, as the virus has become less of an issue, we long for the days of that physical menu that made us feel like we were in a nice restaurant, and we hope they come back in 2024. ( As we look forward to the new year, here are 20 lifestyle hacks that should be a trend in 2024.)