Help! I’m Stuck in the 21st Century
Image Courtesy: V Magazine
The classic saying, “the good old days,” has been used for years when referring to music, television, movies and just life in general. People use this phrase constantly to reminisce on what once was. While it may not be possible to completely bring the good old days back, the rise of The ’70s and ‘80s styles in 2021 and ‘22 might just do it. Trends are always coming and going, but influence from these two decades has been a recurring theme throughout this past year, and it is only going to continue going into 2022.
The ’70s were all about fun, fashion and liberation. From the Women’s and Gay Rights Movements to the Peace Movement, The ‘70s worked to make real change across the world, while looking great doing it. Groovy patterns, flared pants, bell sleeves and bold colors flooded the fashion scene, and we see these same details in the popular clothing of 2021, but with a modern twist.
One of the first trends we saw reflecting this decade was the sweater vest, which took over during the last few cold months of 2020. Men and women alike rocked this trend last year and will continue to this fall specifically when it comes to layering. Over turtle necks, button-ups, or even just regular, old t-shirts, the sweater vest elevates an outfit, adds a layer of warmth, and ties in The’70s flare that we’ve been seeing more of.
Another popular trend taking inspiration from The ‘70s is the many variations of wavy, abstract prints being incorporated into the latest pieces. Jeans, dresses, skirts, sweaters, tops and more are coming out with a plethora of rich colors and crazy designs that come from the grooviest decade out there. This recurring theme is one of my personal favorites throughout this past year and going forward. Especially coming out of 2020 where, for the most part, we only wore simple sweats (which I also love, don’t get me wrong), this is something different and eccentric that celebrates breaking out of quarantine. Overall, the best way I could describe this upcoming year’s style is eclectic.
One designer we see really bringing The ‘70s to the 21st century is Alessandra Rich with her Fall/Winter 2021 collection. As said by L’Official, “Rich combined bold patterns and textures to channel the eclectic spirit of The '70s”. With her use of bold colors and varying textures, she captures the true soul of the decade, and I’m curious to see how other designers modernize these iconic looks as she did.
Following The 1970s, The ‘80s took the world by storm with their bright neon colors, big hair and over-the-top silhouettes. Some of the most important fashion icons of our time came out of this decade such as Madonna, Elton John and Princess Diana. Big and bold everything was the main trend of this era, but there were still lots of styles that had a more tame approach while staying memorable today. Gone are the days of skinny jeans being the hottest pair of denim on the market, wide-leg jeans have come back in full swing as an ode to The 1980s. Whether it’s on the runway or out on the town, these jeans are being worn with everything from crop tops and sneakers to oversized blazers and heels.
Another big trend over the last couple of years is biker shorts. As our late, great Princess Diana always wore, this iconic ‘80s clothing piece has been a staple throughout 2021. Not only are they being worn as athleisure, as Diana would wear herself, but they’ve also been dressed up to fit a variety of occasions. Zeitgeist said it best, “by mixing them with ‘90s minimalism, modern streetwear, and gender-fluid tailoring, this new generation has refreshed ‘80s fashion in a way that feels both nostalgic and innovative”. Gen Z is taking the foundation set for them forty years ago, and making it their own with a modern twist.
Don’t get us wrong, the 21st century has brought us a lot of iconic fashion choices, but nothing can beat a classic. The good old days of The 1970s and ‘80s have made a splash this past year in fashion, and are only continuing to grow in popularity. I’m curious to see what trends continue to pop up, but for now, you can find me walking around campus wearing my wide-leg jeans, sweater vests, and any other bold, colorful item I can find.
Strike Out,
Writer: Haley Wolf
Editory: Nahdia Johnson
Graphics: Strike UGA
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