When I was in eighth grade, the hype over ruffled, 80s hair scrunchies was real; you couldn’t be caught dead in my middle school hallway without one on your wrist. Then came my senior year of highschool and with it the famous Zara 90s baggy jean. Now, during my first year of college, I’ve already had to trade out my tried and true Zara jeans for a whole new lineup of 2000s era low-rise pants. So what is the common thread throughout all of these trends? We’ve seen them before.
If there is one constant ideology throughout the fashion industry, one principle we can fall back on, it’s that nearly everything eventually comes back into style. Just this year we saw a revival of countless trends including Uggs, cargo pants, low-rise jeans, Adidas Sambas, etc. Although it’s entertaining waiting to see which styles will make their way back into our closets, there may just be a more distinct rhyme and reason behind these sudden revivals. Heather Newberger, a freelance fashion stylist and author of How to Date Your Wardrobe, explains that “fashion tends to work in 30-year cycles.” Newberger writes, “What we’re seeing on runways today falls right in that cycle,” she continues, “While we reimagined the ‘60s and ‘70s in the ‘90s and ‘00s, today we’re seeing Gen Z reconceptualize these looks.”
While Heather explains the general 30-year rule, we must also consider how social media is throwing a wrench in this ideology. With TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest, amongst other social media platforms, becoming popular platforms for fashion inspiration, trends seem to be coming in and out a bit faster. Some brands are even relying on society’s addiction to social media to market nostalgic collections and capsules. A great example of this would be Heaven, a 90s nostalgia inspired line by Marc Jacobs. Speaking on the collection, Forbes writes, “made with Millennials in mind, this collection also piqued the interest of Gen Z shoppers, who have developed an eclectic and fluid fashion taste mixing vintage references with current trends.” The collection oozes teen angst, and allows Gen Z to harness the authentic 90s aesthetic that is so sought after.
However with all this talk of fashion revolving, I would be remiss if we didn’t also talk about the opposite side of fashion. The trends that seem to never die and are constant throughout time. That oh-so sought after title of timeless. Everyone has different definitions as to what makes something timeless, however there are a few staples that simply cannot be argued. Perhaps the little black dress, turtlenecks, denim jeans, white dress shirts, for example. All are articles of clothing that may be manipulated or elevated, however can withhold the test of time with their sophistication and simplicity. While trends come and go, brands can rely on timeless staples for a sense of security in their sales. Something that people can always invest in when building a capsule wardrobe, or when they are uninspired by the current cycle of trends.
If there is anything that we may rely on within the fashion world, it is the role of time. Whether it be cycling trends in and out of popularity, or creating royalty status for the pieces that withstand these cycles, time is everywhere. So next time your grandma asks if you want her vintage clothes, take them! You never know what's coming back in.