Beyond the Headlines: The Lighter Side of 2025
In a year marked by economic anxiety, political deadlock, and social unrest, 2025 often seemed to offer little room for optimism. Yet amid the steady stream of concerning headlines, The Post’s Lifestyle team worked diligently to uncover the quirkier, more intriguing sides of modern life. Their reporting ventured into territories both amusing and eyebrow-raising, covering everything from the changing landscape of relationships to the latest fashion trends and technological developments that shaped our social fabric. These stories provided a welcome respite from the more sobering news that dominated much of the year, offering readers a chance to smile, wonder, and occasionally gasp at the evolving nature of human connection and self-expression in these complex times.
Perhaps most surprisingly, 2025 saw a significant shift in intimate relationships, with many younger Americans—particularly women—deliberately choosing celibacy. This wasn’t driven by religious conviction but rather by disillusionment with modern dating culture. Twenty-nine-year-old Mandana Zarghami told The Post about her four-year abstinence, explaining, “Hookup culture doesn’t benefit women in any way—it only benefits the man.” This trend coincided with another social phenomenon: the rise of “hub-sons”—adult men living with their mothers, performing household duties in exchange for financial support. Luke Parkhurst, 33, embraced this arrangement wholeheartedly, telling reporters, “This has been my dream job since I was a little kid.” While many women stepped back from dating entirely, the void was increasingly filled by AI companionship. Elon Musk’s Grok platform introduced X-rated AI conversations, which The Post’s brave reporters tested firsthand. Asia Grace found unexpected comfort in her digital companion Valentine, noting how refreshing it was to be called pet names without “having to play the waiting game or fearing that I’d be ghosted.” Even more concerning was how indistinguishable AI-generated models had become from real humans—a Times Square experiment showed that not a single participant could correctly identify all real people versus AI creations in a simple test.
The fashion world underwent its own transformations in 2025, with traditional institutions like New York Fashion Week losing their former luster. Once-devoted fashion enthusiasts like Hayley Corwick confessed, “Even the people in fashion aren’t going to the fashion shows anymore,” as the events became overrun with influencers and brand collaborations that prioritized social media exposure over actual clothing. Ironically, as adult fashion events declined, children’s fashion soared to new heights. New York parents spent an average of $1,348 per child on back-to-school attire—nearly double the national average. One Queens mother admitted to spending $2,500 on her four children’s wardrobes, comparing it to “a mortgage payment.” For adults who did maintain fashion consciousness, specific trends captured attention, including the $1,200 Celine flared jeans worn by Kendrick Lamar during the Super Bowl, which promptly sold out and sparked a wider revival of Y2K styles. Meanwhile, the controversial return of capri pants divided fashion enthusiasts—embraced by celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Anne Hathaway, while causing others like travel writer Elisa Mala to declare, “I hate the idea of them on myself with the fury of a thousand suns.”
The beauty industry continued to evolve in unexpected directions, with cosmetic procedures increasingly targeting male consumers. Men seeking more masculine facial features turned to fillers in unprecedented numbers, with one Queens resident, Antonio DeVita, investing $7,200 in jawline, chin, and cheek enhancements. “It was a bit of a power move—now, when I walk into a corporate setting, I feel more confident,” he explained. Park Avenue plastic surgeon Lara Devgan observed distinct generational patterns, noting that men in their 30s and 40s sought to enhance naturally masculine features, while older men attempted to maintain a youthful appearance to remain competitive professionally. The motivations reflected broader social pressures and workplace dynamics, with Devgan pointing out that “if you look at American presidents or Fortune 500 CEOs, you’ll see that one of the features most men have in common is a strong jawline.”
Perhaps the most concerning beauty trend of 2025 was the proliferation of extreme thinness among celebrities, some allegedly achieved through weight-loss medications like Ozempic. Reporter Allison Lax drew parallels to the “heroin chic” aesthetic of previous decades, expressing alarm that this unhealthy body ideal was “trickling down to the masses.” The dramatically slimmed-down appearances of stars like Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande raised questions about the potential impact on younger generations’ body image and health expectations. Lax argued that acknowledging these concerns wasn’t “body shaming” but rather a legitimate worry about public health, describing herself as “angry and betrayed” by the promotion of potentially dangerous physical ideals.
As 2025 progressed, these lifestyle stories painted a picture of a society in transition—navigating new technologies, redefining relationships, and reconsidering traditional metrics of beauty and success. While some trends revealed concerning developments in how we connect with others and ourselves, they also demonstrated remarkable adaptability and creativity. Through these lighter stories, The Post offered more than just entertainment; it provided a window into the evolving human experience during challenging times. Whether through abstaining from dating, embracing AI companions, reviving fashion trends from decades past, or pursuing new beauty standards, Americans found ways to express themselves and seek connection, even as traditional social structures continued to shift. These stories reminded readers that alongside the serious challenges of economic uncertainty and political division ran threads of humor, innovation, and the ever-present human drive to find meaning and belonging in changing times.
