When it comes to shopping for clothes, it seems that flipping through catalogs — or even browsing the racks in stores — has been replaced with a very 2020s shopping practice: influencer hauls.
In the simplest terms, this refers to a type of video that influencers make when they’ve purchased (or been given) a large quantity of clothes and accessories, either from one brand or a variety of mostly fast-fashion retailers. In the videos, they try on each item from their shopping “haul,” show how they would style it, describe what they think of the fit and look, and sometimes even ask for opinions about whether they should keep or return it.(See this, this or this.)
These try-on videos, which are very popular on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, have been subject to criticism for encouraging excessive consumption, promoting waste and unsustainable practices, and coming off as inauthentic or hypocritical at times.
If you can’t stand this trend, you’re not alone. We’ve rounded up 25 frank and funny tweets about influencer hauls.
thin ppl on tik tok doing $900 shein hauls like........why lmfao if you can afford to spend $900 on shein you could just buy better quality clothing
— dash • they/them (@thedigitaldash_) April 13, 2021
INFLUENCER DOING A SPONSORED HAUL VIDEO: ok so the shirt didn’t fit my arms, smelled like a Mylar balloon, and a button popped when I breathed but I love it so much!!
— Abby Barr (@1AbbyRoad) September 10, 2020
just saw an influencer's 'thrift haul' girlie bought a corset top for 1200 bucks and everything on that list was over 700 bucks that is not thrifting bestie that is literally shopping
— ???? (@frootzi) March 17, 2021
I have an influencer joke, but you can get 10% off with code COX at 1500DollarChair dot com when you click the link on my newest shopping spree haul unboxing and reaction video.
— Jesse Cox (@JesseCox) July 26, 2020
idk who needs to hear this but a low income person buying a few things from h&m / a fast fashion company and keeping it for years is a lot more sustainable than ppl who do several hauls a month of "sustainable brands"
— sunny maria (@sunnynacia) May 26, 2021
You watch one Instagram model's bikini haul try-on and your YouTube suggestions suddenly turn into "Here, watch this next you horny ass degenerate."
— Wavy Hideo Kojima (@dotwavisito) December 4, 2019
This outfit gives me YouTube influencer Zara haul vibes https://t.co/AV9adbxIig
— tamaraadjoa. (@Ohema_Tamaraa) June 13, 2021
I will claw these eyes right out if I have to sit through one more influencer's fast-fashion loungewear haul.
— Kate ✨ (@Bed_Forever_) April 3, 2020
Just. Wear. Pyjamas.
Real talk, if you're an influencer and just do fast fashion hauls and nothing else then you don't deserve the platform you have.
— Georgie✨ (@afterdarks) April 17, 2019
Who gives a shit about the 8 tops you got from Boohoo when the earth is going to boil?
I just watched an influencer video entitled “coronavirus haul” and yes I am ready for the illness to take me now
— Amanda Richards (@amandakater) March 11, 2020
I hate when I’m clicking through Instagram stories quickly and I accidentally vote on a poll. Sorry Jessica, I don’t actually think you should do a live “try-on haul” tomorrow.
— Amelia Weller (@Amelia_Whitney) November 12, 2019
I love watching influencer "hauls" and content as much as the next person but I'm getting tired of this theme of constant consumption. $$$$ worth of makeup and shopping constantly is not relatable to most and not as entertaining as it once was.
— Rachel Thexton (@rthexton) May 5, 2020
An influencer with over 100k admitted to returning most of the clothes from her hauls because ‘its unrealistic and she can’t afford them’...then don’t buy them? Don’t continue to promote overconsumption? And acting like fashion is disposable? What the actual fuck?
— Em???? (@EmilyyBecca) January 13, 2021
i know that some people only have access to fast fashion but to make full hauls of shein /prettylittlething / missguided / fashionnova etc is v fucked up specially if youre an influencer
— : (@mmmrian) December 22, 2020
These outfit try-on videos that Instagram bloggers do crack me up and I don’t know why. They all do the exact same poses, I find it so awkward.
— Stacey (@stacefenn) July 9, 2019
I have to keep reminding myself that I cannot make a judgement on a brand’s actual clothing aesthetic or range based on YouTube influencer’s hauls. Why can’t none of them dress?
— Je suis Squidward (@SoualiganAmazon) April 26, 2020
Only the hardcore fashion girls pick decent items.
