History Repeats Itself and So Does Fashion
Quite often I find myself “shopping” in my mother’s closet only to stumble upon a boxy blazer or a charismatic colorful clutch. Curious as to how my mom has better style than me, I inquired where she purchased these pieces. She reminisces about the 90s and reminds me that while these trends may seem new to us Gen Zers, they are anything but that to people her age. Low-rise jeans and leather jackets have been around as long as most of us have been alive, and it just happens that we are now witnessing their rebirth into the fashion world.
The recycling of fashion is not a new phenomenon. Interestingly enough, we have been recycling fashion trends for hundreds of years. Even basics like turtlenecks date back to the 1300s.
While fashion trends usually repeat themselves every 20 to 30 years, today, we are seeing styles reemerging from almost every decade. Corset tops inspired by the 1900s; silhouettes from the 1910s; satin slips from the 1920s; statement luxury jackets from the 1930s; boiler suits from the 1940s; pearls and heavily beaded jewelry from the 1950s; go-go boots from the 1960s; bell bottoms and platforms from the 1970s; leather jackets from the 1980s; claw clips and monochrome sets from the 1990s; and, mini skirts, low rise jeans and vibrant colors all from the wild 2000s. Because of society’s inclusivity of fashion despite the decade, you can argue that everything is in nowadays.
You may ask why this revival of fashion occurs, and that is because society loves nostalgia. We are constantly reminiscing, sometimes even before the moment is over. Rebirthing fashion trends allow us to incorporate a little bit of nostalgia into our lives as well as a deeper appreciation for movements from the past.
I love this concept because it enables us to better understand history through a fashion lens. It also allows us to be a little more sustainable and shop at vintage thrift stores or even in our parents’ closets. If we are recycling fashion trends, we might as well recycle the items themselves, too.
This blast from the past allows us to pay homage to some fashion icons who have been rocking and recycling fashion for years. Let's take a look at some timeless trends that have been reused and recycled:
Image source: We Are Handsome
