Reinvented
Whether you are traipsing around a heaving St David’s on a Saturday afternoon or browsing your favourite brands online from the comfort of your home, it’s hard to refute the twenty-year rule; that is, that fashion trends resurface every twenty years. In recent years, we have seen an early 2000s revival right on cue, with every major retailer jumping on the Y2K band wagon. Boot cut jeans, colourful sunglasses, tube tops, shoulder bags—sound familiar? Soon enough, the early 2010s will be the next big thing. Galaxy leggings. Chevron Dresses. Owl necklaces.
Seriously scary stuff.
So, does that mean that fashion is never reinvented? Is it simply an endless cycle of rise and fall? I would beg to differ.
Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, and popular culture such as the latest Netflix blockbuster, allow trends from bygone eras to be reinvented in ways never seen before. Take for instance the wildly successful Netflix series Bridgerton and the resurgence of early-19th-century Regency style. Online, the aesthetic has become known as “Regency-core” and is characterised by corset tops, puff sleeves, empire waistlines, and a romantic colour palette. Born out of the popularity of the series, this trend is not a replication of Regency fashion, but rather combines modern tastes and silhouettes with early-19th-century elements to create an interesting hybrid that appeals to today’s consumer. Undoubtedly, trends aren’t restricted to the revival of one decade. Instead, it is the case that multiple decades, or more often, “aesthetics”, experience a resurgence at once, giving rise to mixing and matching. Although fashion may repeat itself to an extent, trends always feature a fresh interpretation.
As well as being influenced by social media and popular culture, fashion trends also reflect society’s ever-evolving attitudes and values. Let’s consider shoulder pads, a staple of 1980s power dressing, which have made a comeback in women’s fashion. Where the oversized ’80s silhouette symbolised the need for women to assert presence in male-dominated spaces, the refined, smaller shoulder pad of today represents the progress made towards gender equality in the corporate world. This shift marks not only a fashion evolution, but also a social one, as women no longer need exaggerated styles to command respect and authority.
According to Vogue Business’ Madeleine Schulz, “-cores” and micro trends are on the decline. Forecasts predict that Gen Z are rejecting trends that follow specific aesthetics in favour of fashion that functions for day-to-day life. This could mean that fashion trends will become increasingly original and non-conforming, rather than following resurgence patterns. Designers will need to steer away from recycling decades, aesthetics, or micro trends to align their brands with modern sustainable values. But don’t wave goodbye to “Frazzled Englishwoman Autumn” just yet...
Revived
Fashion is a cyclical cycle where past trends are revived as a new spark is created through societal and cultural climates of the time. As a result, a new light is shone on past styles, which may have been not considered as highly as it does in the present.
With the rise of social media, trends tend to resurface at a much higher rate as our attention spans are constantly craving the newest and best thing. As a result, we are left with the resurfacing of trends under new names and slight changes to appearances, yet at its core these trends are still true to their origins. Because of this, the memorable nature of these trends tend to have higher appeal as people are more drawn to things they are familiar with than things they are not.
The consumers of social media now have easier access to connect and buy from brands and fashion designers who are abiding with the latest “blast from the past” style choices which in turn means that more people are able to participate and bring popularity to the resurfaced trends; however, the negative side to this is that it encourages fast-fashion culture. This is why it’s important to recognise how to be mindful and sustainable when wanting to join in with the latest trends, which can be achieved by shopping second-hand, like in charity shops.
When looking at the cyclical nature of fashion trends, it is easy to spot that nostalgia is a key factor when it comes to which styles are brought back to present. As people enjoy reminiscing on their younger days, it brings back radiant memories, and for the younger generations, the style choices may reflect their favourite TV shows or movies, making them feel like they can be a part of those worlds through what they wear and how it makes them feel.
I bring this up because even in the rapid, digital age, a part of us craves the simpler and calmer times. It is why we feel the need to reflect, even through the fashion industry—whether that’s through ’70s patterns and colours, ’90s minimalism, or the glitz and glam of the early noughties.
I would say that certain fashion trends are slightly altered to keep up with the current climate, but their true essence will always remain the same, which is why we go back to them.