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Who would think you’d be trying to fit into your clothes from when you were five!
by AMANDA ROSENTHAL
graphics by OLIVIA VALCOURT
Wouldn’t it be nice to take a time machine and go back a decade to a time where you didn’t care about what you wore? A time where we didn’t seek for others’ approval and wore what made us happy (even if that meant wearing the same princess dress two weeks in a row). We took risks, mixed prints, and didn’t care if our undies were showing while on the monkey bars. What if I told you your clothes from your youth are making a comeback? In the fashion world this literally is our youth. Matching sets, bucket hats, monochromatic looks, collard dresses, and more are reemerging into the fashion world! It’s time to start looking at your baby photos (I’m sure your mom would love a text asking for them) and start bringing out your inner child. It’s time to ask your younger self for some fashion advice.
Matching Sets and Monochromatic Moments
As you can see on social media everywhere, matching sets are totally in! Specifically, biker short sets. Remember that matching set your mom bought in three different colors? I bet you wish you had them now. Sites like Aritzia, Set Active, Los Angeles Apparel and more have been promoting sets in all different silhouettes and hues for a while now. It’s time to take some style advice from your inner child and wear a cute matching set for an everyday look. Pair it with a basic white sneaker or even a chunky dad sneaker and handbag and channel your inner model off duty look. You can mix and match colors or go for an all-monochromatic look. Monochromatic looks are huge for this upcoming winter and what screams childhood more than wearing an entire outfit in your favorite color?!
Wear an all-monochromatic look in a cute set for a streetstyle look or wear a pantsuit set and some pumps for a night out in the city. Whatever you end up wearing make sure to thank your younger self for having style as a three-year-old.
Fun Prints, Tie Dye, and Graphic Tees
It’s time to revert to Justice. Fun kitschy prints inspired by Limited Too and Justice have been emerging in the fashion world. Frankies bikinis is just one of the major retailers pulling prints inspired by our childhood. Brands are breaking out of their comfort zones by creating collections in wild prints and colors, something you would find in a coloring book. They are coming out with swimsuits, miniskirts, cropped t-shirts, and even dresses in funky prints. On top of that, Tie Dye, from our days at summer camp, has already been super popular these past two summers. Fashion trends seem to cycle back around, so it’s no shocker that as we come out of a global pandemic designers want to pull from our playful and imaginative childhoods. So many childhood t-shirts were filled with non-sense sayings, but now they would totally be in (ok maybe not all the peace, love, justice tops, but you get what I’m saying). Baby tees and graphic t-shirts have been worn by models, influencers, and celebrities everywhere. Sites like Realization Par and With Jean have been a huge source of these cute and flirty tops. It’s time to look through some storage bins to see if any of your baby tees (literal baby tees) fit!
Babydoll Dresses and Collars
Baby doll dresses are the new LBD. Instead of going for something simple and classic, branch out and wear something whimsical like a baby doll dress. Brands like Selkie have made something so youthful and childlike into high fashion. Baby dresses were rocked at fashion week and have been seen on numerous influencers. You can finally tell your younger self that it is socially appropriate to wear a princess dress out in public. Live out your tea party fantasy and rock a cute baby doll dress or make it edgier and pair it with some killer boots. If you are into super girlie trends, then you would be happy to hear that collars are huge for winter! Brands like Ganni are even selling collars separately so that you can pair them with anything: a cute dress, knitted sweater, fitted cardigan, or even a basic tee. It’s time to channel your inner Blaire and Serena and pull off a fun collar, in ode to your preppy childhood self. Our childhood fashion choices may have been riskier or maybe even a bit more eccentric, but you would get dressed in what felt most fun. Currently, fashion is all about embracing changes, being bold, and even a bit playful. Put on what your inner five-year-old self would pick out from your closet and transform back into your youthful self because fashion is currently our youth.
UGIRL 25
UGirl 25
