By Anne Collier Phillips

Fashion trends tend to be something new and never heard of before, but some of the most recent fashion trends are breaking that barrier. They are not new but rather re-inspired trends from earlier decades and have resurfaced from social media, like Tiktok, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Actor and singer Harry Styles shows clothing doesn’t have a gender. Photo credit: Harry Styles’ official instagram @harrystyles.

Some of the biggest fashion trends of 2020-2021 include corsets, curtain bangs, layering turtlenecks or collared shirts, and chains with pearls. These trends are from previous decades that most of the people making the trends popular, Generation Z, did not experience. Collegiate sophomore Georgia McManus (’23) says, “I think that these recent trends are our generation’s taking on older styles that have already been popular.”

Social media really plays a crucial role in fashion, since we are in such a modern era with technology almost everywhere you look. Brooke Mattingly (’21) says “Over the past year I feel like more people have branched out and found styles that suit them best with the help of big fashion influencers. I also think TikTok and Pinterest play a big role in the fashion trends, because people are always doing hauls, sharing places to shop, and showing how to style clothes.” Some of the biggest fashion influencers that most of Gen Z looks up to started out on Youtube, such as Emma Chamberlain. 

A popular corset that trended on Tiktok for many weeks. Image credit: Kranchungel via Amazon.com.

Another icon in the fashion world is singer/songwriter Harry Styles. While Styles identifies as a cig-gender male, and the idea of clothing not having any gender is very prominent in his wardrobe*. The clothing industry tends to be binary, and schools sometimes create dress codes that sexualize young women and reprimand them for having a normal female figure. So many of the recent 2020-2021 trends have been more about clothing not having any gender and just forming into certain aesthetics. Ava Messer (’23) says, “I love how clothing isn’t limited by gender norms, and people can express themselves without being confined by what society determines is ‘feminine’ and what is ‘masculine.’ Although I do identify with she/her pronouns, I enjoy experimenting with different patterns and styles, regardless of whether it is typically thought of as masculine or not. I feel just as powerful in pants as I do a skirt. I think more people should experiment with their wardrobe as well, because it’s so freeing.”

Modern corset adaptation by instagram and Tiktok influencer Jillian Dearwater. Photo credit: Jillian Dearwater.

The first corset was made in the 1500s. The Museum de Young and Legion of Honor states, “Corsets are made out of rigid materials such as whalebone, horn, and buckram and are referred to as ‘whalebone bodies.’ A stay or busk is placed vertically in the center of the torso to keep it straight. Commonly worn with shoulder straps, the corset extends the length of the torso, stopping just above the pelvic bone.” Catherine de Medici, Queen of France, then popularized the corset and took it to France, considered by some to be the fashion capital of the Western world. British writer and inventor Roxey Ann Caplin is credited with inventing the Victorian-style corset that used tight lacing to slim the waist and support the bust without the need for straps. Today, that style of corset is what has become so popular. The Netflix original series Bridgerton, based in the Regency era, followed by the Victorian era of the 19th century, may have influenced the return of this fashion item. 

Actress Goldie Hawn with her iconic curtain bangs. Photo credit: Speakers Associates.

Bangs are always thought of as a hairstyle you choose when you want to feel crazy in the moment but utter shame the next day. Curtain bangs are quite the opposite.They require a middle part, thick face-framing pieces of hair that swoop out from the face with a shaggy, effortless look. Curtain bangs were a dominant trend in the 1960s and 70s. The most popular stars of this hairstyle in the last few decades of the 20th century included Goldie Hawn, Farrah Fawcett, Bridgett Bardot, and Stevie Nicks. This trend seemed to all of a sudden appear everywhere with nobody knowing how it restarted. With the middle part becoming wildly popular, cutting a few short micro bangs was an easy next step to transition into the thick curtains swooping away from the face. 

Maybe people were more inclined to take risks with their hair in COVID-19, as it was easy to hide at home away from the public eye. Katie Mulligan (’21) says, “As for curtain bangs, I cut some for myself in November, and it was one of the best hair decisions I’ve ever made. They’re very versatile, simple, and casual. Some people struggle going from regular hair to bangs, but this is a simple transition that compliments everyone.” 

Emma Chamberlain in a white turtleneck and gold chains.
Photo credit: Emma Chamberlain via instagram @emmachamberlain.

A turtleneck used to be thought of as a shirt your mom made you put on when it was cold outside, but you complained that it was too itchy and embarrassing. Although Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson did manage to make them a cool look in the 90s. Recently, turtlenecks have gained popularity when it comes to layering clothes in a more fashionable sense and less for weather. The turtleneck was first popular in the 1860s, when polo players began dressing in them while playing, giving it its original name, the “polo neck.” Lottie Stefanovich (’22) says, “You rarely ever see me without one [a turtleneck] in the winter!” 

Chamberlain layering a sweater and a white polo
Photo credit: Emma Chamberlain via instagram @emmachamberlain.

Another item popularized by polo players were collared shirts, an example of an item that used to be categorized as for the male gender but is now popular with all genders. Collared shirts is another item that layering has become popular with as well. These two items can be seen paired together or most commonly paired under sweatshirts, sweater vests, or graphic t-shirts. Turtle necks and collared shirts have become a staple in one’s wardrobe. Much like curtain bangs, these layering trends just appeared and thrived through social media. 

Collegiate junior showing off necklace including both chains and pearls, the best of both worlds.

Another layering pair, chains and pearls, have become a popular accent to one’s outfit. Wearing pearls first started all along the Persian Gulf, on the coasts of India and Sri Lanka, and along the Red Sea, as there was an abundance of oysters beds there. Saltwater pearls were categorized as Japanese pearls, while freshwater pearls were categorized as Chinese pearls. In 1893, Kokichi Mikimoto created the first pearl necklace. Later in the 1920s, pearl necklaces became very popular with women and associated with flappers. Teddy Pollard (’22) says, “the pearl trend is really cute, especially since everyone can work them. I love adding and layering chain necklaces with them, but I definitely prefer silver over gold.”

Fashionable Collegiate student taking part in layering.

Yet another fashionable Collegiate student taking part in these fashion trends.

Fashionable Collegiate student layering a turtleneck with other clothing items

Styles with a pearl necklace. Photo credit: Harry Styles via instagram @harrystyles.

Chain necklaces were first formed in 2500 BC, when the ancient Egyptians traded gold and silver links together. In the 1990s, they became a staple in hip-hop fashion. Now, chains and pearls are commonly seen together as layering them has become very popular. Layering chain-style necklaces had been popular for many months before pearls came back in style. What kicked off this trend was the discovery of a popular pearl necklace with a diamond encrusted planet charm.

* This article has been updated.