Dear 2010s, We’ll Definitely Remember These Trends
Written by Maxine An
With the start of a new decade in just a couple of weeks, it is important to look back at the fashion trends that have left an imprint on society these past 10 years. How will we visualize what the 2010s were like in 30 or so years? A variety of styles have been introduced during this past decade and many still thrive today. Let’s look at the top 12 trends from the 2010s that influenced the fashion world.
I. Bucket Bag
Photo courtesy of PurseBlog
This bag basically holds everything but is still trendy and stylish. You can throw anything in it, but from the outside, its elegance and sophistication holds the bag together well. For example, Vogue said that the Mansur Gavriel bucket bag, priced at $595, was the top must-have accessory and a well-known fashion brand name at the time for their product design in 2012. As seen owned by Alessandra Ambrosio, this brand’s bucket bag was loved internationally by European fashion brands and this demand helped this trend grow popular worldwide. While minimalism is now the newest trend to follow, it was the opposite at the beginning of the 2010s, when over accessorizing and having more was the “it” style.
II. Stan-Smith Sneakers
Photo courtesy of DailyMailUK
Sneakers have never fallen out of style, but during the 2010s, anyone and everyone, including Karlie Kloss, could be seen showing off their Adidas Stan-Smith sneakers. Adored by the youth, this massive breakthrough product was plain white sneakers, embellished with a simple speck of color by the heel of the shoe. White sneakers were not new, but the style of these Stan-Smiths spoke to the minds of the new generation. The minimalist approach combined with a playful tone was a creative way to indulge consumers from any age group.
III. Galaxy-Patterned Leggings
Photo courtesy of DailyMail
I remember how everyone wore purple galaxy-patterned leggings in 2013 when I was in middle school. It was the newest trend at the time and the easiest clothing to pair it with was a fitted black shirt along with white sneakers or black boots. Lotus Leggings, a seller of galaxy leggings, said that the print was originally inspired by NASA so that teenagers could wear the galaxy on their legs. These leggings could be worn at the gym or a casual outing as a statement piece, while still accommodating those who want that comfy and laid-back look, such as Emma Roberts. It may have seemed like a lot to capture on just a pair of leggings, but this style quickly caught on.
IV. Wedge Sneakers
Photo courtesy of Vicinito
Need a little extra height in comfortable shoes? Wedge sneakers were the perfect way to achieve that when they were first introduced as a huge trend in 2012. This was a great style since wedge sneakers could be worn for any occasion since they paired nicely with most outfits. Brands like Guess, DKNY, and Steve Madden followed this trend and began to produce similar products to accommodate this demand. Every woman wants a comfy high heel, especially Miranda Kerr, and this sneaker was the perfect answer to that.
V. Athleisure
Working out and looking cute merged together with the rise of athleisure brands such as Lululemon, Adidas, and many more. They were able to combine gym clothing with work attire, a desired fashion that spoke to the new generation. Many celebrities have created their own lines of athleisure, such as Beyoncé’s Ivy Park and Julianne Hough’s MPG Sport. These brands grew mainly in 2016 because of the newly growing fitness culture among the youth. It was and is still easy to go from class or work straight to the gym because of the concept of athleisure.
VI. High-Low Dress
Photo courtesy of Billboard
Taylor Swift’s red-carpet gown from the Grammy Awards in 2015 is an iconic example of when high-low hemlines were brought back into style during the 2010s. The elegance and sexiness of her gown was on-point and I remember gushing over her look when I first saw it. More on the everyday side, bright and feminine colors were usually associated with the high-low dress as women wanted to express their individual style and fashion choices. The mixture of long, exemplifying sophistication in the back, matched with the short, reflecting edginess in the front allowed women to show both sides of their personality.
VII. Chokers
Photo courtesy of Vogue
The choker, a simple piece of jewelry worn around the neck, symbolized a sense of elegance and boldness. Chokers are self-explanatory: the necklace is worn exactly around the middle of the neck and is held up with the tightness of the piece of jewelry itself. Teenagers and almost everyone, regardless of age or gender, wore them as part of their everyday outfits but celebrities have been seen rocking this trend for any event-- both formal and casual. Such celebrities include Emma Stone at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015 and Cara Delevingne at Dior’s 2017 “Couturier du Rêve” exhibition. This effortless statement piece adds a perfect final touch to any outfit, whether it is for the day or a night out.
VIII. Palazzo Pants
Photo courtesy of Style Bistro
It seemed that the 2010s were all about comfort and style. The palazzo pants took that to another level with a flowy, printed, and easy-going type of pants. These pants come in a variety of colors and prints and it can be worn to any kind of event, both formal or every day. Blake Lively’s color block palazzo pants from Balmain Fall 2015 paired with a black cami bodysuit showed that she wanted to look good in an effortless way. That was the best thing about these pants: anyone could look stylish without putting in a lot of effort into their outfit choice.
IX. Plaid/Checkered Print
Photo courtesy of Vogue
Plaid, emerging from Scotland in the 1500s, according to Bustle, resurfaced to fit the new generation and culture of the 2010s. Usually associated with cowboys and the Midwest, the plaid print in both tops, bottoms, and dresses made a comeback these past few years. The use of brighter and bolder colors as well designing plaid clothing for any season and event has made it an accepted trend. Both on- and off-the-red carpet looks in 2017 from Sabrina Carpenter, Alexandra Daddario, and Emily Ratajkowski showed that the plaid print could be manipulated in different ways to enhance color, style, and personality for each person. From jumpsuits to midi dresses to matching suits, plaid was influential in fashion in all ways.
X. Fringe
Photo courtesy of Express UK
Heidi Klum absolutely killed it at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards in 2015 with her blue-into-black fringe gown. It was originally designed by a contestant from Project Runway and his reward for winning the challenge of the week was allowing Heidi Klum to model it at a red-carpet event. Fringe’s strongest characteristics— movement, personality, and edge—gives its pieces a fun and lively touch. This trend has been applied to jackets, skirts, and anything you could think of because it was a unique technique that made clothing different. People want to be different so that they can stand out from each other, and what better way to do that than with movement from your clothes?
XI. Crop Tops
Photo courtesy of DailyMail
Crop tops are shorter versions of any shirt. Showing the mid-section of the torso is an easy yet sexy way for women to show off their figures. Crop tops are especially powerful and fitting when paired with high-waisted pants or skirts. Olivia Culpo, in her all white Fendi ensemble, demonstrated the beauty of crop tops with high-waisted pants. However, women of all ages have taken it further by wearing them with bodycon skirts and shorts, which became controversial in terms of their modesty. It introduced a whole new style to the younger generation when showing skin was not considered taboo, but rather an expression of character and personality.
XII. The Naked Dress
Photo courtesy of The Independent
Red carpet events are all about the fashion and celebrity. Many famous faces have been seen rocking the Naked Dress since 2016, donning barely-there dresses that cover the necessary while still showing off their figures. The Naked Dress took off in 2016 with iconic runway looks from Bella Hadid on the Victoria Secret Pink Carpet, Ashley Graham at the VMAs and Rita Ora at the Oscars. Strategically placed mesh and sheer fabrics made the clothing a new fashion trend because it left little to the imagination and exuded the riskiness of celebrity style. Fashion articles that negatively reviewed these “scandalous” outfits saturated the Internet, but anyone who knows anything about fashion knew that the Naked Dress was just about not being afraid of flaunting your body.
After reviewing this past decade’s trends, it is almost impossible to predict what the next decade will bring. Fashion is unpredictable but that is what makes it so wonderful and influential to our culture today. I don’t think that we should ever forget this decade’s trends because history always tends to repeat itself. I won’t be surprised if any of these trends resurface during the 2020s and that goes to show the impact that one trend has on society and the people themselves.
