History has always repeated itself, and fashion is no exception to that rule. While every generation has their signature look, no one has ever thrown out their entire wardrobe because they entered a new decade. And when those pieces find their way out of whatever closet-corner or thrift store they were biding their time in, they create some really cool fashion moments. In this article, I’ve listed some of the best:
1. ‘80s Does ‘50s
Here lies the Sodapop Wheeler of it all (iykyk). In the 1980s, the punk movement was in full swing. In response, the Ivy League preppy aesthetic of the 1950s swung right back in with it. Long circle skirts, cardigans, and button up shirts were taken from the schoolgirls of the ‘50s and worn by the female professionals of the ‘80s. Bobby socks and Keds were replaced with slouchy socks and Reeboks, but the core style remained the same. The whole aesthetic was satirized in Lisa Birnbach’s 1980 book: The Official Preppy Handbook.
2. ‘90s Does ‘70s
As the world moved into the computer age, fashion and culture took a twenty-year trip in the time machine. Bell bottoms, halter tops, and a whole lot of dark wood and fur began to float around once again. Along with movies like Boogie Nights and Dazed and Confused, plus shows like That ‘70s Show, the free-spirited nature of the ‘70s was exactly what was needed at the end of the 20th century.
3. 2010s do the ‘60s
Originating in the ‘80s, Twee mashed up all the best parts of ‘60s fashion. This style came back hard in the 2010s. For all my former Buzzfeed kids (a.k.a. current HerCampus readers), imagine if Twiggy was on Ladylike, and you will get the picture. Peter Pan collars, shift dresses, polka dots, funky tights, this era was pretty much whatever Zooey Deschanel was wearing.
4. Modern 80s revival
The ‘80s have been back since 2019, and they manage to come back in a new way every year. First it was scrunchies, then mom jeans, then Canadian tuxedos and giant hair. Summer of 2019 and season three of Stranger Things seemed to spark this interest, and it has grown so much that I truly think it will go down in history as part of the fashion DNA of the 2020s. While the high rise mom jeans of 2020 have been traded out for lower and baggier models, if you squint and look around, it looks a lot like 1986.
5. Y2K Historical
This style is the reason for the article, and by far my favorite. For some reason, in the early 2000s, people started dressing like they were hundreds of years in the past. While this was mostly in movies, it happened in real life too. This era can be divided into two subsections: Medieval Revival and Modern Baroque. Medieval Revival is Ella Enchanted, it is Shrek, and to a lesser extreme, it is 10 Things I Hate About You. Modern Baroque can be described in one sentence: blue converse on the floor in Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. Both of these styles took historical silhouettes and blended them with modern pieces, creating something very cool.
Closing
Now that you know how much fashion history really repeats, I am sure you will notice it in the world around you. Wear something old, make it new, and remember that none of us will ever be as cool as those blue converse from Marie Antoinette.