A recap of 2020’s most iconic fashion trends

American Apparel

The good the bad and the uglY:

A recap of 2020‘s most iconic fashion trends

Instagram @badgalriri Asap Rocky in GQ Magazine

Undeniably, 2020 has not been a normal year for fashion. Adapting to a pandemic, the world of fashion has changed indefinitely. With cancelled shows, changing consumer habits and the rise of loungewear, the ‘stay at home’ message has been at the forefront of fashion. This year, has seen an emphasis on comfort, DIY and adaptability. Here’s a recap of 2020’s biggest trends: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Tie-dye:

This nostalgic trend dominated lockdown fashion, with everyone sporting brightly coloured homemade creations. Hoodies, joggers, tops, socks, underwear, you name it, everything was being tie-dyed. But tie-dye wasn’t just a trend, it was also an activity, and it seemed as though the boredom of lockdown brought on a DIY element to 2020 fashion. Despite not being everyone’s cup of tea, tiedye has definitely become one of the most memorable trends of the year.

‘Y2k’ revival:

With a 20-year style cycle bringing the fashion from the 2000s into the 2020s, ‘y2k’ fashion has made a massive comeback this year. Noughties staple brands like Juicy Couture and Von Dutch have resurfaced, with even major high-street brand Urban Outfitters collaborating with Juicy Couture for several highly popular, exclusive collections. A highlight of 2020 fashion was the matching tracksuit making a comeback, combining the y2k revival with the ‘stay at home’ loungewear of 2020. Don’t expect the ‘y2k’ trend to go away any time soon, as 2021 brings expectations of even wilder noughties staples, including the exposed g-string and low-rise jeans.

Tennis skirts:

Speaking of trend revivals, the tennis skirt was back in full force this summer. Scrolling through Instagram in summer 2020 felt like scrolling through your 2014 teenage Tumblr dashboard, with everyone wearing tennis skirts and the sweatshirt and collar combination. Although

American Apparel is no longer on the scene, its legacy lives on through thepopularity of the tennis skirt.

Everything brown:

A more neutral colour palette ruled late 2020, and the colour brown defined winter fashion. Brown became the new black this year, with everyone sporting brown tops, trousers, jackets and more. The popularity of the 70s inspired colour craze has even made it more expensive. The brown North Face puffer jacket is selling for £500 on depop, with everyone wanting to get their hands on the most coveted outerwear of 2020.

Sweater vests:

The colder months of 2020 introduced the biggest knitwear trend of the year: the sweater vest. Despite previously being seen as ‘ugly’ or ‘uncool’, the sweater vest has managed to become one of the most coveted items of clothing in 2020. Celebrities including Harry Styles and Bella Hadid have pioneered the trend, turning ‘grandad chic’ into the newest look. The oversized sweater vest and shirt dress combination has dominated Instagram feeds, and will most likely continue to do so in 2021.

The main takeaway from 2020’s trends is how we can adapt to new situations through fashion. Despite the obstacles the fashion industry faced this year, lockdown looks redefined the trends of the year, with the ultimate goal of comfort changing the fashion landscape for the foreseeable future.

Britney Spears in Cos mopolition

Vogue

Natalie Mellor

NastyGal

2021 trend predicitions:

It‘s out with the old...

The North Face

Von Dutch Missguided Urban Out tters

...and in with the new

tyger bc Paguro Upcycle

Burberry The tumultuous year of 2020 saw us all unexpectedly trade in our hopes of Roaring 20’s chic for the undeniable comfort of pyjama bottoms and sweatshirt combos. Although we have been conditioned to the ease and lack of e ort of joggers and baggy hoodies due to spending the majority of the year inside, the year ahead looks promising in moving us out of this fashion slump. So, what trends are going to transition us from the woes of 2020 to, hopefully, a brighter 2021?

Von Dutch caps, tiny sunglasses and baby doll t-shirts: the in uence of y2k fashion has undeniably in ltrated our wardrobes over the past few years. With Juicy Couture tracksuits and the revival of brands like Fiorucci growing in popularity, this 2000s Bratz doll-esque aesthetic doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Speci cally, low-rise/ mid-rise bootcut jeans seem to be in store for the next year. Before panic sets in, swapping out your high-rise baggy jeans for a skinnier, more tted option may just be the answer to updating our everyday out t choices. Radiating big Destiny’s Child, Britney Spears energy, authentic 2000s brands like True Religion are the best port of call for acquiring the perfect low-rise look.

As we move optimistically into a new year, the transition out of homebody, minimal e ort out ts doesn’t have to be drastic. Spicing up a simple tracksuit with a few touches and calling it an acceptable out t to be worn out in public is exactly what 2021 needs. Smaller businesses have taken advantage of people’s desire for comfort and have grown exponentially on platforms like Instagram over the past year. Incorporating the trendy y2k in uence on casual tracksuits, brands like @unknownuk and @tygerbc are examples of brands bejewelling hoodies, joggers and t-shirts to achieve a subtler ode to 2000s fashion. Understated yet distinctive, swapping out your faded, overly worn trackies for an Unknown London tracksuit can be the perfect transition for all your casual, streetwear needs. Though a Juicy Couture bejewelled tracksuit can be tempting, supporting small fashion businesses is the key to creating a unique, refreshing wardrobe for the new year.

Though the infamous North Face pu er will forever hold a soft spot in our hearts, switching up your outerwear can elevate your new look for 2021. Swapping out this exaggerated silhouette for a trench coat can add that extra touch to an otherwise simple out t. Compatible with pretty much everything in your wardrobe, a neutral mid-length trench can create the illusion that you’re actually making an e ort on your trip to the supermarket. Experimenting with PVC panelling and contrast lapels, make a statement with something a bit di erent for the new year. With stores like ASOS providing dupes and alternatives for the classic Burberry trench, the supermodel casual look is achievable whilst not breaking the bank.

Adding simple yet e ective touches to your everyday out t through accessories has always been a sure- re way to elevate your look. In 2021, the popularity of resin, home-made jewellery is overtaking the desire for ashy, expensive accessories. As I mindlessly scroll through my TikTok ‘for you‘ page, I frequently come across people crafting their very own acrylic, oversized rings and resin earrings. Inspired by retro Korean fashion, these colourful, chunky accessories are growing in popularity and many Etsy stores are stocking wide varieties of acrylic accessories. Alternatively, brands like Oliver Bonas are notorious for their vibrant resin earrings, which range from classic hoops to more experimental geometric shapes. Investing in a few, key pieces and adding them to your everyday jewellery rotation this year will undeniably enliven your out ts.

With the aftermath of 2020 still looming as we enter the new year, updating your wardrobe can really act as a reset button for those of us clinging on to the hope for a better year – whatever that may hold. Whether it be retail therapy or a creative outlet, experimenting with a new look with a few simple touches may be what we all need as we walk into 2021.

Hemma Daddral