One decade forward, another backward. It seems no matter how far society progresses, we’re always bound to regress back to old fashion statements. The recycling of fashion has been a constant in the pop culture world for as long as most can remember. This restatement is understandably blended into new clothing eras due to generational influences.
Every 20 to 30 years, when a once adolescent has grown into a parent, their fashion choices tend to influence their own children’s. In recent times, however, it seems every year a new trend from no more than a decade or so ago is back and trending. In fact, facets from nearly every decade in the past 40 or so years are now as popular as ever. And we’re definitely not complaining!
THE DECADE OF NEON
The 1980s are perhaps most notable for their extreme fashion choices. From the blinding colors of the rainbow to large rollers and unusually tight leotards, the 1980s encompasses some of the most memorable and iconic fashion statements in the history of mainstream culture. Their unforgettable voluminous locks and revolutionary styles were so out there, they’re even a little too much for our generation to handle. That hasn’t stopped Gen-Z from cherry-picking what they find to be most chic.
Baggy mom jeans are one of the many refurbished pieces from this iconic decade. From acid washed to patchwork to high-waisted, countless versions of this defining fashion piece are undeniably huge right now. Mom jeans were a staple look that every celebrity, teen, young adult, man, woman – you name it – wore for what seemed like forever. Mom jeans were so deep-rooted and inherent, they even melded their way into ‘90s fashion. The 2000s and 2010s morphed their preference into the prevalent low-rise skinny jeans. However, mom jeans are now back and as popular as ever, and they don’t seem to be disappearing anytime soon.
Other staple pieces that Gen-Z seems to have gotten their hands on include fanny packs, padded blazers, the iconic Dr. Marten combat boots and of course, the emblematic hair. Prepare yourselves, because the mullet is now back and more popular than ever. If it wasn’t clear when Miley Cyrus got her retro wolf cut, the mullet is trending, and not just with guys. Not only is the mullet back, but so is the feathered look, the ‘80s perm and the teasing that made the ‘80s hair as big, both figuratively and literally, as it was.
THE DECADE OF EVERYTHING
The real question is what didn’t the ‘90s have. Defined by its return to minimalism and simplicity, the ‘90s had just about everything. Layered hair with curtain bangs was in, and just about every teenage girl and their mom had the Rachel Green haircut. The ‘90s created an example in itself when they borrowed their renowned signature from the 1970s, a case in point for this evident generational recycling.
The iconic cut has made a comeback another 30 years later, along with various other fashion statements such as bomber jackets, baby tees and chokers. Chokers were brought back most recently in the 2010s. However, they continue to serve as staple accessories that enhance just about every outfit.
Another accessory that has made a return is scrunchies. Scrunchies hit an all-time high in popularity in summer 2019 when just about every teenage girl simultaneously decided scrunchies were the newest thing. Overalls, flared yoga pants and Levi’s blue jeans are several other pieces that were recycled and continue to outline the simplistic and casual perspective that made the ‘90s what it was.
THE DECADE OF Y2K
Arguably the most popular decade for fashion in current time, 2000s fashion trends can undeniably be defined with one word: iconic. There wasn’t a single girl who didn’t have a dozen pairs of low-waisted jeans in her closet, and Uggs were under the beds of millions. While low-waisted jeans have only started coming back in the last year or two, they’re back in full force. As are Uggs, jean skirts and the psychedelic and slightly dizzying vibrant ambiance that comes from the Y2K era. Not only are named brands such as Juicy Couture back in trend, but accessories such as butterfly and claw clips are also more popular than ever.
One of the most popular fashion concepts that derived from the ‘90s and continued into the 2000s is layered clothing. Layered clothing is most clearly prevalent in the schemes of pop culture right now. You name it and it’s probably been layered: dress over shirt, tee-shirt over long sleeves, shorts over pants, skirt over pants. This key style is one of the 2000s most distinctive break-away from other decades. It’s edgy, different, cool and most importantly, it’s unique. And that’s precisely what our current generation defines itself to be.
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