CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Sneakers have evolved from athletic gear to global cultural icons. With high-profile collaborations, limited releases, and a vibrant online community, they’ve become more than just footwear – they’re a symbol of style, identity, and a booming global market with it estimated to be worth over £300 billion pounds in 2023.

With this in mind, experts sought to discover which sneakers take the crown as the most popular of all time. They utilised trends in Google searches  to find out the global monthly searches for popular sneakers, as well as Instagram to record the number of hashtags, totalling a final popularity score out of ten. 

The most popular sneakers of all time 

Sneaker Experts can reveal that Nike Air Force 1s are the most popular sneaker of all time with a score of 9.80/10. The staggering influence of the Air Force 1 is exemplified by an astounding 2,400,000Instagram hashtags and an equally remarkable 2,543,931 global monthly searches. Since they first came on the scene in 1982, new versions are still being released over 40 years after their initial introduction. 

Shutterstock/yanishevska

Following on in second place are the Adidas Superstars with a score of 9.68/10. This exciting shoe, with a history spanning over 50 years, has garnered an impressive 560,000 Instagram hashtags and 2,955,076 global monthly searches. The enduring popularity of Adidas Superstars is seen in the widespread adoption by celebrities, such as Kylie Jenner and Gigi Hadid, who consistently feature these classic sneakers in their social media posts and public appearances. 

Shutterstock/artyaroslav

Securing joint third spots are the timeless Nike Dunks and Air Jordan 1, boasting an impressive score of 9.64/10. These classics have amassed a notable 1,300,000 Instagram hashtags and draw attention with 1,701,003 global monthly searches, showcasing their enduring popularity in the ever-evolving world of sneaker culture. Likewise, Air Jordan 1 has a staggering 689,000 Instagram hashtags and2,486,372 global monthly searches. 

Shutterstock/ Madcat_Madlove

In fifth place are Vans Old Skool (9.56/10), followed by Adidas Sambas in sixth place (9.44/10). Interestingly, the search interest for Adidas Sambas has surged by over +400% in recent weeks. 

Typically, with the new year, we set new goals and resolutions and often re-download dating apps to get back on the market and find someone special.

Relationship coach Jonathan Hartley from PositivesDating has revealed the top dating trends of 2024. This year, trends focus on mental health, wellbeing, and trying new things. These trends can help you understand the mindset of the dating pool and prepare you for potential connections in 2024. 

Contra-dating 

The term ‘contra-dating’ is used when you want to broaden your horizon and contradict yourself and usual type by going for someone you would not usually go for. Having a type when looking for a romantic connection is very normal. However, this can narrow down the dating pool and decrease your chances of finding a potential partner.  

If your preferences are all physical, it is best to reevaluate and open up to some other potential candidates. Physical attributes will change over time, and core values will remain the same. It is best to remember that emotional connection, beliefs, and reciprocity affect your physical attraction to someone.   

Furthermore, dating someone not your type may indicate to yourself that what you want is not what you necessarily need. You may experience a different outlook on life and relationships or even be exposed to activities, foods, or hobbies you usually would have passed on.

Age is just a number   

2024 is the year to experience connections with people older or younger than you. According to Bumble, users are widening their age range filters, with over 63% of people surveyed revealing that age is not a defining factor when dating.    

Let go of any personal rules surrounding how old a potential partner must be; not only will this widen the dating pool, but you will also realize that what a partner has to offer is less about age and more about values and personal goals.   

Though an age gap may seem daunting, remembering that some celebrity couples have significant age gaps may make the idea of dating someone younger or older more desirable. Some examples include Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, who have an age gap of 11 years; Beyonce and Jay-Z, who have an age gap of 12 years; and Heidi Klum and Tom Kaulitz, who have an age gap of 16 years.

Micro-flirting 

‘Micro-flirting’ is a fairly new term, used to describe flirting in a subtle, not-so-obvious way and is usually done to gauge if one person is interested in the other. Micro-flirting will be on the rise in 2024 as highlighted through search volume data, as worldwide searches for micro-flirting have increased over the last month, according to Google Trends. 

Some examples of micro-flirting include noticing small details that have changed, subtle changes in body language when the other person is around or becoming defensive or protective of the other person.   

This subtle form of flirting is excellent if you want to protect yourself from rejection.

Death to ghosting  

Ghosting, used when someone suddenly ends all communication with you, is very common in the dating community and must be left in 2023. Ghosting can leave people feeling confused, irritated, and unwanted, negatively impacting self-confidence. Therefore, it should be considered an immediate red flag and a sign of poor communication.   

There are numerous reasons why people may ‘ghost’ you; these range from emotional unavailability, attachment styles, or just feeling overwhelmed. If you suspect you are getting ghosted, do not let feelings linger; try to communicate with them maturely. If they do not respond to your messages, it is better to protect your feelings and avoid contacting them further.  

If someone has ghosted you, one way to deal with this is by hearing the experiences of others. The TikTok hashtags #Ghosted, #IGotGhosted and #GotGhosted have over 1.7 billion combined viewsand include videos highlighting ghosting experiences and comebacks and how you can protect yourself if it happens again. 

Putting your foot on the break  

Experiences such as ghosting can impact mental health and the dating experience can become very draining. This is why it is vital to protect yourself and prioritize self-care. According to a survey carried out by dating site Bumble, 58% of users are becoming more self-aware and cautious when dating to protect their mental health.  

They also found that 31% of users surveyed are ‘slow dating’, the term used for when one is more considerate of how often they go on dates and generally takes things slow to build an emotional connection in a pressure-free and relaxed environment. The build-up to creating a connection with a partner can be overwhelming; if it does not go well, it can be mentally draining, which is why slow is best. 

Real men DO cry  

2024 could be the year when men realize that vulnerability is vital to improving relationships and breaking cycles of toxic mentalities that can plague young men. 2023 prompted many conversations regarding masculinity and vulnerability, with significant moments in pop culture, such as the Barbie movie, having underlying themes of toxic masculinity and gender roles.  

Vulnerability is an essential aspect of a relationship; it can signify trust as you are willing to put yourself at ‘risk’ by sharing the most emotionally intimate part of yourself. This can help build or improve a strong foundation for a lasting relationship, regardless if the relationship is platonic or romantic.  

It is important to remember that people have varying emotional needs; some prefer emotional connection prior to any physical connection, and some may need a physical connection before opening up to an emotional connection.

As offices around the world ask for a return to the office, there is still a growing number of jobs, especially for companies wanting to attract Gen-Z and younger millennials that allow it. A recent study used data to reveal which global cities are most accessible and attractive for remote workers by assessing factors related to remote working infrastructure, living costs, infrastructure and liveability, in addition to showing current location trends.

The global employment specialists WorkMotion.com released the study that analysed the ease of complying with local employment laws and ranks the attractiveness of 85 global cities for remote workers. As a company that helps companies hire employees based anywhere in the world, WorkMotion decided to rank the cities according to their remote working compliance regulations, cost of living, infrastructure and liveability. Additionally, they used proprietary data to illustrate current location trends by showing where remote workers are currently being hired from. The resulting index reveals which cities are facilitating remote working best, and which are most attractive for remote workers to relocate to, as well as current remote worker patterns.

The table below reveals a sample of results for the top 10 cities for facilitating remote work out of the 80 cities in the index.

“The growth of remote working has opened up new avenues for employees around the world,” comments Carsten Lebtig, Co-Founder and Managing Director of WorkMotion. “People are increasingly less restricted by their location and the size of its job pool, and can regard foreign locations as possible work destinations regardless of whether or not they speak the local language. Now that the initial shock of the pandemic has subsided, we wanted to capture a snapshot of the current remote working landscape as the first step in tracking how it changes over the coming years. Many remote workers are drawn to cities by the promise of a different lifestyle or climate. The leaders of Barcelona, Dubai and Prague can be proud to say they’ve done things right and their cities are the best destinations for a Workation as well as to live, play and work from.”