The Ultimate 2025 Guide To 'Cheugy': 25 Millennial Trends That Gen Z Declared Out Of Style (And Why We Don't Care)

The word 'cheugy' burst onto the global lexicon in 2021, instantly igniting a social media war between Millennials and Gen Z. By late 2024 and heading into 2025, the term has evolved from a simple insult to a nuanced cultural descriptor, representing anything that is "uncool," "out of touch," or "trying too hard to be trendy," particularly if the trend peaked in the early 2010s. It’s not quite "basic," which implies simplicity or lack of effort, but rather a playful, self-deprecating term for things that are a little passé—like being the last person on the bandwagon after the parade has ended.

Originally coined in 2013 by Gaby Rasson, a then-high school student in Los Angeles, the term gained viral traction nearly a decade later on TikTok, quickly becoming the defining word of a generational aesthetic critique. While its peak virality has passed, understanding what is considered 'cheugy' today—in fashion, home decor, and lifestyle—is essential to grasping the current cultural conversation and the ironic reclamation of these trends by the very generation they were meant to mock.

The Definitive 'Cheugy' Glossary: Origin and Cultural Context

The term 'cheugy' is less about being universally bad and more about being unintentionally uncool, a specific brand of outdated enthusiasm. It’s often deployed as a critique of the "Millennial Girlboss Aesthetic," a set of trends and mottos that were once genuinely popular but are now viewed through a lens of Gen Z irony.

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The Biography of a Slang Term

• Coined By: Gaby Rasson, a high school student in Beverly Hills.
• Coined Year: 2013.
• Viral Popularity: Early 2021, primarily on TikTok.
• Core Meaning: Out of date, trying too hard, or off-trend.
• Generational Target: Stereotypical Millennial trends (those born roughly 1981-1996).
• Key Distinction: Unlike 'basic,' 'cheugy' is often softer and more forgiving, allowing for a self-aware, ironic embrace.

The term is a sign of the generational divide, where Gen Z (post-1997) has created a new lexicon to comment on the cultural artifacts of their older counterparts. The beauty of 'cheugy' is that it acknowledges the effort behind the trend, even if that effort is now seen as misplaced or passé.

25 Trends Gen Z Declared 'Cheugy' in 2024–2025

To understand the full scope of the term, one must look at the specific examples that have been publicly labeled as 'cheugy' across social media. These trends often center on items that were mass-marketed or highly aspirational for Millennials in the 2010s.

Fashion, Beauty, and Appearance (The Great Style Debate)

Fashion is perhaps the most visible battleground in the cheugy wars. These items are seen as clinging to the aesthetics of the early 2010s rather than embracing the looser, Y2K-inspired styles of today.

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1. Skinny Jeans: The quintessential cheugy item, a symbol of Millennial resistance to wide-leg and straight-leg denim.
2. Side Parts: A controversial hair choice, deemed cheugy in favor of the center part, which Gen Z prefers.
3. UGG Boots (Classic Style): While UGGs are experiencing a new wave of popularity, the classic, tall, beige style is often considered a nostalgic, but cheugy, relic.
4. Double-G Gucci Belts: The desire for overtly branded, high-end accessories is often seen as trying too hard.
5. Nude or Blush Pink Everything: An overuse of soft, neutral colors, especially in athleisure or accessories.
6. Chevron Print: A geometric pattern that dominated Millennial fashion and decor in the 2010s.
7. Infinity Scarves: The bulky, looped scarf popular in the mid-2010s.
8. "Boss Babe" or "Girlboss" T-Shirts: Clothing featuring motivational, corporate-feminist slogans.
9. Statement Necklaces: Large, colorful beaded or jeweled necklaces worn over a simple top.

Lifestyle, Home Decor, and Phrases (The Aesthetic of Enthusiasm)

Cheugy decor and phrases are characterized by overly earnest, inspirational, or cliché messaging that lacks irony. It’s the aesthetic of trying to make a personality out of a hobby or a motivational quote.

10. "Live Laugh Love" Signs: The ultimate symbol of cheugy home decor, representing an overly earnest, mass-produced attempt at inspiration.
11. Overly Motivational Wall Art: Any decor with phrases like "But First, Coffee," "It's Wine O'Clock," or "Gather."
12. Pumpkin Spice Obsession: The performative love for all things autumnal and pumpkin-flavored, often documented excessively on social media.
13. Minions Memes: Any meme or image macro seen as outdated or shared primarily by older relatives.
14. Labeled Kitchenware: Items like a coffee mug that says "Coffee" or a jar labeled "Flour."
15. Gallery Walls: A cluster of framed photos or art, especially if they include a mix of inspirational quotes and family photos, are now considered a dated way to fill wall space.
16. Accent Walls: A single wall painted a bold color or covered in a busy wallpaper, often seen as a dated attempt at interior design drama.
17. Using the Crying-Laughing Emoji (😂): Gen Z has moved on, preferring the skull emoji (💀) or the loudly crying face (😭) to convey similar feelings.
18. Posting Vague Quotes as Statuses: Using social media for earnest, non-ironic inspirational posts.
19. Crystal Swan Ornaments: A specific example of dated, mass-market decorative objects.
20. The Word "Adulting": Using the term to describe mundane tasks like doing laundry or paying bills.
21. "Rosé All Day" Culture: The aesthetic of brunch and wine as a central personality trait.
22. The "I Need Coffee" Personality: Making one's dependence on caffeine a defining personal characteristic.
23. Shiplap (Overuse): The rustic-style wooden paneling popularized by certain home renovation shows.
24. Using the Term "Hubby" or "Wifey": A cutesy, overused term for a spouse.
25. Faux-Distressed Furniture: Pieces that are intentionally made to look old or worn.

The Cheugy Backlash and The Ironic Embrace in 2025

As the term ‘cheugy’ spread, it inevitably faced a backlash, which ironically only fueled its mainstream use. For Millennials, the critique often felt like an attack on the cultural touchstones of their young adulthood, from their favorite jeans to their motivational mindsets.

However, by 2025, the conversation has shifted. Instead of being mortified, many Millennials are actively reclaiming the word, embracing their own "cheuginess." This self-aware approach transforms the term from a pejorative into a badge of nostalgic honor. Embracing 'cheugy' is a way to reject the relentless, exhausting cycle of trend culture—a counter-movement that says, "I like what I like, and I don't need Gen Z's approval." It’s an act of defiance against the fear of getting old and being culturally irrelevant.

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Furthermore, the fashion cycle is already bringing some of these "cheugy" trends back with an ironic twist. For example, UGG boots and certain aspects of the "Girlboss" aesthetic are being re-contextualized and embraced by the very generation that once mocked them, proving that no trend truly dies—it just becomes 'cheugy' for a little while before a revival. In 2025, 'cheugy' is less a definitive label of 'out' and more a cultural shorthand for the specific, earnest aesthetic of the 2010s, which is now being viewed with a mixture of nostalgia, irony, and affection.