Sites That Will Keep You Up To Date With What’s Cool, Hot, and Trendy

For a long time I used to endlessly search google for websites that professed to be the beacon of what’s cool, what’s trendy, and what is fashionable.

I wanted so badly for their to be one place to keep me up to date.

Sadly, no such place exists.

In fact, the minute someone creates a site like that, and opened it up to the masses, you could pretty much bet that everything contained on the site would suddenly become “uncool.”

So how do you stay up to date with what’s currently hot in lingo, music, clothes, food, cars, and general style?

You become a detective.  You scout out the places where the knowledgeable people on these subjects hangout.  You pay attention to phrases you hear over and over again.  You eavesdrop  in as “cool” people are talking.  You notice the music you hear in people’s cars.  You become an observer of our modern culture.

In a podcast I did last summer, called Stickiness:  The Art of Being Cool, I talk about how important it is to introduce new fashionable things to people and groups you want to mingle with.   (I took the podcast down, but if you’d like a copy leave a comment below and I’ll get you one)

Anyway,  here are some of the sites that I’ve checked out over the past couple years to stay up to date on current trends, hot topics, slang, and style.

Sites that will point you towards what is currently in style

Itunes Best Sellers:  I said this was going to be detective work didn’t I?  So if you want to know what is currently hot in music browse through the best seller’s list on Itunes.  You can browse by cateogory.  So if you’re in a social circle where everyone predominantly listens to hip hop- you can quickly see what artists and albums are currently being downloaded.

Trend Hunter:  This site isn’t the mecca the name would suggest… but if you spend a few minutes browsing the site every day you’ll get a good idea of what what is currently being produced and consumed by modern society.

Ramprage and Skateboard City Forums:  These are probably better if you’re in college or high school… but skateboarders tend to be on the cutting edge of what is just about to become fashionable to the general public.  Spend a few minutes browsing the forums and see if any slang seems to be sticking, or certain brand names of clothes mentioned.

TSB Magazine:  Yes, I created the site, so i am biased.  But we have a team of young writers who are all living in either New York or LA and all of them are pretty up to date with what is cool.  (duh, I wouldn’t have hired them if they weren’t)

Asylum:  If you’re out of college and want a more intellectual look at what is going on in society, Aslum will give you some good tips.  Remember, you’re looking for clues- there will never be an article that says “these words are cool or this music is cool.”

Hot Chicks With Douchebags:  Ok… he makes some of his words up… but you could do worse that to copy some of the lingo he has created over the past five years.  He seems to be in the L.A. crowd, with a good idea of what’s currently hip and popular.  Plus the site is damn funny.

Fashion Indie: I generally hate men’s fashion sites, because they hardly ever recommend clothes that I would actually wear or could afford… but Fashion Indie is the best out of a bad bunch to choose from.  You’ll find some good trends in there- and the clothes they feature isn’t usually the high priced shit that GQ pushes on you.

TMZ:  You need at least one celebrity gossip site in there.  For 2 reasons.  First, because chicks love gossip and it is good conversation ammo.  And two, because if you pay attention to what the young male movie stars are wearing- you’ll get some ideas for what is currently in style.  These guys have stylists they pay a lot of money to know this shit.

Hail Mary Jane:  Another one for the younger high school and college crowd.  But if you’re in a certain social circle of people- this site will keep you up to date with what is currently fashionable in that world.

Dirt Rider:  Another site geared to the X games crowd.  You could do worse than to follow those guys.  I’ve hung out in Dominican Republic with the Kite Surfers- and they PULL WOMEN.

Gawker:  You don’t read Gawker to agree with what they like… you read it to see what they are ripping on.  Since they are anti-mainstream- you can bet that the stuff they are ripping on is probably pretty trendy and popular right now.

If you have more ideas… leave them below in the comments…

Thanks

Bobby Rio

Tagged as: fashion, trends, whats cool