Social media has exploded with different distinct fashion trends over the past few years such as cottage core, dark academia and clean girl aesthetic. Each “core” focuses on different styles of clothing, accessories, color pallets, even assigning hobbies and activities to each aesthetic. These trends have since resurfaced over and over again under different names, as the cycle goes on.
Y2K style, also known as the fashion of the 2000s, has begun to resurface; with low rise bottoms, skinny jeans, everything cropped, streaky highlights and micro braids all rising in popularity. This is a recent example of the 20 year rule in fashion. This rule states that fashion trends will be recycled every 20 years. With this in mind, reflecting on past 21st century trends confirms this theory. The 2010s revived 90s fashion, the 2000s with the 80s and so on. Following this theme, the 2030s will see a resurgence of 2010s fashion.
Coquette is the newest fashion trend. This is a rebrand of cottagecore, an aesthetic that first began trending on Tik Tok in 2020. This style follows light colors and simplistic patterns. With this trend, bows have become a recent staple for women’s clothing. Whether it be a physical hair bow or an icon on jewelry or phone cases, it can be seen everywhere. However, this is not the first time an icon has become trendy. Stars used to be the icon seen everywhere, as nail designs, clothing designs or anywhere else. They were everywhere. This is another example of trend recycling. Social media regurgitates trends that have died out, no matter how old or recent, and gives them a new spin. Even before stars and bows, the trendy icon was flowers.
Many clothing trends in the recent decade have had such short lasting times in the spotlight, they are becoming classified as “micro trends”, rising quicker and burning out faster. Because there are only so many new ways to fashion clothing, these trends are forced to pull from past creations. For example, the “indie” fashion trend of early 2020 gained its influence from the years of hippie fashion. These new “must haves” being promoted across all social media platforms are brands’ attempts to “get ahead of the curve”. Other brands will copy, but everyone wants the original. The problem with short-lived fashion trends is it contributes to bigger waste.
Everyone wants to “get ahead of the curve” and be credited for new trends. Someone like Hailey Beiber has done this several times within the past few years. Owner of Rhode Skin, Bieber’s name has been credited for new trends in nails, hair, makeup and skincare. She has become associated with trends with names such as vanilla girl aesthetic, strawberry makeup, and blueberry milk nails. Her “no makeup makeup” look became the new norm in the makeup world, a complete 180 from the heavy makeup norm of 2016.
The rules of fashion are never ending and always changing. Each decade is known for its staple pieces and each year, someone will be seen bringing them back into style. While many social media goers find it important to fall into line with the latest trends, it is most important to find an individual style and let it evolve.
