@sryrstress – yes, giant white athletic shoes are in, BUT ONLY ON YOUNG WOMEN and possibly men, I dunno. On anyone else (i.e. moms and dad) they are still laughingly lame.
Yea, I don’t get it either 
After all the time I spent trying to direct my kids to the less expensive Champion clothing and they turned up their noses in favor of the more popular and more expensive Nike and Adidas NOW Champion is popular? Now that they’re buying their own clothes!
Yesterday I ordered several of the collapsible coffee cups that were mentioned in that gift catalog. I think my college kids might actually use them, my main criteria for “in” gifts.
We had a gift exchange at my tennis Christmas party. There were 2 Hydroflasks, a Yeti and two or three knockoffs. The Hydroflasks and Yeti were “stolen” multiple times, but the knockoffs were not. Also popular were comfy throw blankets and a “fluffy” fleece vest.
For my family I have bought Lululemon, Patagonia, Ugg slippers, and a Ugg throw blanket.
Popular at my gift exchange last week - nice vinegars, wool throw blanket and beeswax wraps. I thought the beeswax wraps were a great idea. I came home with the wraps and a bag of paper white bulbs that were beginning to sprout.