Alex Carson
Fashion Trends
It seems as though every decade has its own fashion trend. Most generations believe that they were the ones that started the trends, but what they don’t know is that they are replaying an old trend from generations ago. One example is the bell-bottoms. They were in style in the 60s and the 70s, and then in the late 90s to early 2000s, they were back. 20-somethings were raiding their mother’s closets, looking for their old bell-bottoms from their youth. Recently, we have seen more and more bell bottoms on the runway. Over the years, bell-bottoms weren’t the only style to make a comeback.
Tie Dye
Since we are already talking about the 60s and 70s, we should mention tie-dye. This strange ’70s trend is making a comeback with millennials and it’s catching parents off guard. Decades ago, “hippies” wore tie-dye. When the hippie revolution died down, so did tie-dye. Recently, it has made a comeback. Tie-dye earned a nod from Vogue as a 2019 summer trend. Prada and Micheal Kors have tie-dye collections that they are showing on the runways. The hippie revolution may not have made a comeback, but tie-dye has.
argyle
This diagonal diamond pattern is a popular style for preppies, but its history goes way back. This pattern started in Argyll, Scotland, with the tartan kilts of Clan Campbell. This was an unruly family who opposed English rule and started many violent uprisings. For a long time, argyle had an anti-establishment reputation. Today, it is popular in pretty knitwear.
The Tuxedo
Proms, wedding, and black tie events all require that men wear tuxedos. They have been around since the turn of the century. Affluent men wore black and white suits around Tuxedo Park, New York, which is where they got their name. These men aren’t the ones who started the trend. Historians believe that the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, was the one who started the trend which remains popular today.
The Birkin Bag
In 1983, Hermes chairman Jean-Louis Dumas was sitting on a plane beside singer and actress, Jane Birkin. When her carry-on bag tipped over and dumped all of her possessions on the floor, it caused quite a scene. He created a luxurious leather purse for the actress called the Birkin Bag, and the style caught on. Today, you need to be very wealthy to own an authentic Birkin Bag because they cost thousands of dollars.
Jeans
Just about everyone owns at least one pair of jeans. Even the Royal Family can be seen sporting jeans on a casual day. They have been around since the mid-1800s, but back then, they were known as the pants of the working man. Miners and frontiersman liked the rugged fabric and reinforced pockets. Most of the pants came from Genoa in Italy and were called jeans. Today, they are one of the most popular pants in the world.
The Bikini
Designer Jacques Heim wanted to create a controversial design, which is why he invented the bikini. He knew that the two-piece design would be like dropping a bomb on the fashion world. He named the design after Bikini Atoll, where the United States first tested nuclear weapons. Historians believe that Heim wasn’t the first to come up with the design. Roman mosaics show women athletes dressed in bikinis. The next time you put on your bikini, you can thank Jacques and the Romans.
Cardigan
These sweaters have been in style for decades. People from Mr. Rogers to Kurt Cobain were known to sport cardigans. The name of the sweater came from James Brudenell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan. When he led the famous Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War, he dressed the doomed troops in collarless, wool army jackets. This is where they got their name.
Capris
Designer Sonja de Lennart first introduced these calf-length pants in the late ’40s. She named them after the island of Capri, where Italian women wore shorter pants due to the hot summers. Today, capris are still fashionable, and they aren’t just for women. Tennis great Rafael Nadal has a few pairs of capris in his closet. Capris come in a variety of materials, even in jeans.
Leotards
Leotards are the go-to style for gymnasts. Women also wear leotards as shirts because they are form-fitting, and you don’t have to worry about them getting untucked. What you may not know is that they have been around for decades. This garment got its name from Jules Leotard, who performed death-defying trapeze stunts. He invented the leotard to keep his clothing from snagging on anything during his performance. He says that he also wanted to use the leotard to show off his buff physique.
