It’s well known that trends come and go.
And social media loves a throwback – it’s what brought Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams’ back into the top 10 after almost forty years.
Fashions are cycled and recycled, and as lockdown put a dampener on the evolution of popular culture, innovators turned to the past to find the direction of the future.
With that in mind, this article is a simple reflection on the golden era of retro exploring a handful of trends that were made cool again this year.
- Fashion
It goes without saying that social media has a major impact on aesthetic trends, and TikTok is arguably one of the biggest digital influences on Gen Z, shaping the streetwise fashions of the century.
So when the resurgence of late 90s-early 2000s fashion emerged on the app during lockdown, it was hardly shocking that it took off so quickly. Pastel eyeshadow, low rise jeans and spaghetti straps were back in the mainstream before you could say ‘Paris Hilton.’
You only have to step in Primark to see that the shamelessly garish colours and bizarre combinations of the 90s and 2000s are back with a vengeance. But with countless fashionistas never once failing to make them stylish, who are we to argue?
- Wheels
Remember when wheelies were The Thing? Those little trainers with a wheel in the heel?
Well, they aren’t quite back in full force for the over-12s, but you can barely walk down the street without someone riding by on a skateboard or scooter.
And while these aren’t exactly trends that have gone away and returned, it’s safe to say there’s been a significant increase in them in the post-lockdown era.
Enter Yvolve – a manufacturer who has cornered the market in children’s transportation with products such as the Y Velo Pro, whilst simultaneously mastering adult-innovation in the industry.
If nothing else, it proves that retro never gets old.
- Shoegaze music
The musical genre once championed by the likes of Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine and Lush had fallen rather out of favour as different forms of the dreampop genre took over.
But it seems that shoegaze is making a comeback thanks to TikTok and Generation Z, whose newfound interest has revived this unique incarnation of 90s alternative music.
While TikTokkers are discovering the classics of the genre, local acts like Leeds’s Pleasure Centre are gaining traction as a favourite on the Yorkshire gig scene, seeing this slightly forgotten genre become a new darling of modern indie.
Are you starting to feel a bit Back to the Future? Noticing the retro resurgence? These are just a few reasons why you might have seen a few familiar trends from decades gone by recurring.
What classic styles have you seen come back? Let us know in the comments below!
