Every generation thinks it’s the first to discover something cool—and millennials are no exception.
Millennials get a lot of credit for being trendsetters, disruptors, and pioneers of the modern age. But as it turns out, many of the things they proudly claim as fresh ideas were already staples in their parents’ lives—just dressed a little differently. The packaging may have changed, but the core habits, hacks, and hobbies? They’ve been around longer than TikTok has existed.
It’s kind of funny when you realize how much reinvention is just rebranding. Record players became vinyl. Camping turned into glamping. Houseplants made a comeback, but their boomer moms were the original plant ladies. What feels like innovation is often just a revival with better marketing. Here are 14 times millennials got excited about something they thought was new—only to find out their parents had already been there, done that, and didn’t even need a filter.
1. Living in vans and calling it freedom was already a thing in the ’70s.
Van life seems like a bold new way to escape the system, explore the world, and live with less. But before Instagram made it beautiful, boomers were doing it raw, according to Anna Prendergast at Roadbook. They called it traveling cross-country in a VW bus with a sleeping bag and a backpack full of PB&Js.
Boomers turned wanderlust into a rite of passage long before hashtags existed. They hit the road for self-discovery, music festivals, and a chance to avoid anything that looked like a desk job. Millennials might have Wi-Fi hotspots and minimalist décor, but the spirit behind van life isn’t new. It just got a social media upgrade.
2. Bringing vinyl back didn’t make it yours.
There’s a certain pride in discovering the warmth and ritual of vinyl. It feels retro and authentic compared to lifeless digital playlists. But before millennials began hoarding turntables and crate-digging rare pressings, boomers were spinning records every weekend—and usually for a lot less money, as reported by Jilayne Jordan at Camoin Associates.
What’s ironic is how many millennials dumped their parents’ old records, only to hunt down the same albums years later in overpriced reissue form. The love for analog is real, but it’s not revolutionary. Boomers didn’t “bring vinyl back” because they never really let it go.
3. Thrifting clothes used to just be called being broke.
Wearing vintage is cool now, as stated by the Vogue Institute of Design. It’s a statement. A rejection of fast fashion. But for their parents, secondhand shopping was less about aesthetics and more about stretching a tight budget. They didn’t comb through racks for ironic T-shirts—they were just trying to clothe the family without going broke.
Boomers knew how to make old clothes work. They patched, hemmed, and layered their way through trends without needing a curated thrift haul video. For them, it wasn’t fashion—it was survival with style. Millennials turned it into a movement, but it started as necessity.
4. Making your own sourdough doesn’t mean you’re the first to bake.
Millennials embraced sourdough like it was an ancient secret rediscovered during lockdown. Suddenly, everyone had a starter, a banneton, and strong opinions about hydration ratios. But their parents—and their grandparents—were baking long before it became trendy or Instagrammable.
Homemade bread wasn’t a hobby for boomers; it was just part of life, especially in households where budgets were tight. They didn’t measure fermentation times—they just knew when it felt right. Millennials added hashtags and bragging rights, but the flour-dusted kitchen is old news to those who came before.
5. Houseplants weren’t invented in the digital age.
Fiddle-leaf figs and monstera leaves now fill millennial apartments, complete with ceramic pots and detailed care routines. But their parents had spider plants and ferns lining every windowsill in the ’70s and ’80s, thriving without apps or humidity meters.
Boomers were into houseplants as a way to brighten up their homes, clean the air, and stay connected to nature. It wasn’t about aesthetics or TikTok tutorials—it was just what people did. Millennials might think they’re starting a green revolution, but they’re really just repotting the past.
6. Drinking out of mason jars isn’t the radical lifestyle shift you think it is.
Using mason jars for iced coffee, cocktails, and even salads seems like peak millennial resourcefulness. But long before anyone put a reusable straw in one, boomers were canning peaches, tomatoes, and green beans in those exact same jars.
For their parents, mason jars weren’t cute—they were containers for hard-earned harvests. There’s something kind of funny about seeing them turned into symbols of eco-conscious chic, when their original purpose was good old-fashioned preservation. Millennials added flair, but boomers did the groundwork.
7. Working freelance isn’t a groundbreaking rebellion—it’s been done.
The gig economy feels modern. Flexible. Freeing. But many boomers worked outside the 9-to-5 long before remote work became a buzzword. They freelanced out of necessity, doing odd jobs, selling crafts, or running home businesses just to make ends meet.
For them, it wasn’t about hustle culture—it was about survival and resourcefulness. Millennials might have Fiverr and digital portfolios, but the concept of working for yourself on your own terms? That’s been around since long before smartphones.
8. Decluttering and minimalism are just the updated version of “less is more.”
Marie Kondo made purging joyful, and suddenly millennials were tossing things that didn’t “spark joy.” But their parents didn’t need a philosophy to declutter—they just didn’t buy that much in the first place. Simplicity wasn’t a movement. It was a lifestyle by default.
Boomers valued quality over quantity and lived in smaller spaces with fewer distractions. They reused, recycled, and kept things until they truly wore out. Minimalism might feel fresh now, but it’s a revival of a mindset that already existed—before minimalism had branding.
9. Loving Polaroids doesn’t mean you discovered instant gratification.
Polaroids feel artistic and nostalgic, and millennials have brought them back with genuine affection. But their parents were the first to wave a picture in the air, waiting for it to dry. They used Polaroids for parties, vacations, and school projects before digital cameras ever existed.
Instant photos weren’t curated or posed. They were candid, quick, and often hilarious. The charm millennials love about Polaroids now is exactly what boomers loved about them decades ago. It just wasn’t filtered through a retro app—it was the real thing.
10. Hosting dinner parties wasn’t invented with cheese boards and wine flights.
Millennials love a good dinner party: mood lighting, playlists, themed menus. But their parents were gathering friends over casseroles and punch bowls before it became an aesthetic event. The vibe was different, but the core was the same—connection, laughter, and a reason to gather.
Boomers knew how to host without Pinterest boards or viral trends. They didn’t need artisanal ingredients or charcuterie boards to make people feel welcome. Millennials might obsess over presentation, but the roots of a great night at home with friends are older than avocado toast.
11. Wearing “dad shoes” doesn’t make you edgy—it makes you late to the party.
Chunky sneakers, baggy jeans, and baseball caps are suddenly ironic fashion statements. But boomers rocked that look unironically for decades. Comfort wasn’t a fashion trend—it was just what fit, what lasted, and what worked.
Millennials joke about embracing “dad style,” but their parents wore those New Balances while mowing lawns and running errands without ever calling it a vibe. The only difference now is the price tag and the knowing smirk. The look hasn’t changed—just the context.
12. Using film cameras isn’t as groundbreaking as you think it is.
There’s something special about shooting on film—the anticipation, the grain, the surprise of what turned out. But for their parents, film was the only option. They didn’t choose it for aesthetic—they used it because that’s what cameras took.
Every blurry childhood photo millennials love flipping through was shot on film. Their parents understood composition, lighting, and timing without ever opening Lightroom. Rediscovering film is a cool nod to the past—but it’s a past that never stopped developing.
13. Calling it a “staycation” doesn’t make it new.
Staying home for vacation isn’t a radical choice. Boomers did it regularly because budgets were tight or travel just wasn’t an option. They found joy in local adventures, backyard barbecues, and day trips to state parks long before “staycation” became a trendy alternative to Europe.
Millennials might dress it up with spa kits and homemade cocktails, but the idea is the same—resting without going broke. Calling it something fresh doesn’t change the fact that their parents perfected it generations ago.
14. Playing board games with friends was cool way before game night hashtags.
Game nights are back in a big way—Settlers of Catan, Cards Against Humanity, and themed snacks galore. But long before party games filled hip apartments, boomers were throwing down over Monopoly, Scrabble, and Risk in shag-carpeted living rooms.
It wasn’t about nostalgia—it was about connection. No screens, no phones, just laughter, arguing over rules, and snacks that came in orange Tupperware. Millennials might bring the craft beer and curated playlists, but the essence of game night? That belongs to their parents.