Sworn-off Trends that are Making Comebacks

By Molly Reinhard

Have you ever heard your mom, aunt, or grandma express their regret for donating their old clothes that have made a comeback as popular trends today?

Well, there’s a reason for that.

More and more, we’re seeing fashion trends from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s continue to resurface onto the fashion scene. We once vowed to never wear scrunchies, shoulder pads, and flare jeans ever again, and yet they have all emerged from the depths of fashion hell to become some of the most popular trends of today.

You might find yourself wondering how these trends became so popular once again. Turns out, it’s all about the cycle of fashion trends. With fashion, what goes around comes back around.

REFINE’s fashion director Diana Garcia took the time to explain why we’re even considering giving lowrise jeans an ounce of our attention once again.

Garcia is also the president of the Fashionable Entrepreneurship Technology Communication HQ, or FETCH, at Temple, a club focused on media and communication related to the fashion industry.

“If you want to know what is coming up as a trend in the fashion world nowadays, all you have to do is look at what was trendy 10 years ago, or 20 years ago,” Garcia said. “Fashion has a way of repeating itself.”

But how exactly does this happen? How do these trends evolve from being unwearable to incredible?

Garcia explained that by pairing older trends with more modern ones, these trends can have their time in the spotlight once again.

“Previously hated trends come back in style today by being paired differently or by people just having a new perspective on it,” she said.

We’ve discovered that the styling of the trend is everything. All of the 2000s trends that are popular today are put together in new and exciting ways that are more consistent with what’s accepted in 2020.

Garcia’s favorite fashion trends currently consist of animal print, monochrome outfits, overalls, and holographic jackets. Garcia also emphasized the power of hair and beauty trends in fashion.

“I think it’s interesting because when we think of trends we often think of clothing, but lately I’ve seen trends in accessories, hair and even makeup,” Garcia said. “One trend that I’ve been loving that’s coming back is flipped hair from the ‘70s. I think it looks super timeless and puts together any look.”

Katie Page, a sophomore economics major and self-proclaimed fashion aficionado, also mentioned her love of accessories when talking about her favorite fashion trends.

“I’m going to sound like a VSCO girl but my favorite trend is scrunchies,” Page said. “They’re the most practical accessory because I have to put up my hair throughout the day anyway. I love getting fun ones that are sequined or holographic.”

Along with scrunchies, Page had many thoughts about today’s trends and what she hopes to see in the future.

“I used to think cowboy boots were ugly but I like them a lot now. I love how fringe, cowboy boots, and other western details are making their way into mainstream fashion,” Page said. “I really want to see legwarmers make a comeback, too, I feel like they’re so cozy and I want it to be socially acceptable to wear them in public.”

Maddison Synder, a junior public relations major, shared her thoughts on a trend that went from cringe to cool.

“I actually love flare jeans. I absolutely hated them and thought only skinny jeans were acceptable to wear, but now I love them and wear my black flare jeans all the time,” Snyder said.

When it comes to fashion trends, only time will tell what trends will resurface in the future. But according to the cycle of fashion, there's no doubt that what’s coming next will continue to be 2000s inspired, bigger and better for the rest of 2020.

Cover image by Elaine Rystead on Unsplash