A new phrase is sweeping social media feeds: “kinda chic.” The trend encourages people to reframe the ordinary - rewearing outfits, staying home on a Friday night, letting gray hair grow in - as not just acceptable, but stylish. What began as lighthearted posts celebrating real life has quickly grown into a broader cultural conversation about authenticity, self-confidence, and what it truly means to be cool in 2026.
Social media influencer Tatianna Merritt is fully on board. “It’s kind of chic to repurpose an outfit you’ve already worn,” she said, describing how she styled a jacket over an outfit she’d already worn once before her TV appearance. AJ Williams, journalist and writer for the Michigan Chronicle, offered a more philosophical take: “Anything chic is subjective, as much as most things in life. So, if you want to call something chic for you, by all means - that doesn’t mean it’s chic for everybody else though.” Content creator and journalist Jeanna Trotman, however, raised an eyebrow at the trend’s growing ubiquity. “I just think it’s kinda chic to maybe not say kinda chic,” she said, arguing that endlessly copying a trend runs counter to the very spirit of individuality it promotes.
Despite the debate over the phrase itself, the underlying message resonated across the panel: embrace the life you actually live, not the one curated for a feed. From paper calendars to Costco clothes to staying home on a Saturday night, the guests agreed that comfort, gratitude, and self-expression are the real hallmarks of chic - no viral hashtag required.
To watch the segment, click on the video above.