Written by: Chloe McAuliffe
“Pics or it didn’t happen.”
Is a trend really a trend if it doesn’t go viral on a social platform? Whether you had an eye for photography or a major green thumb, 2010 offered us everything from the rise of Instagram to the driving force of sustainability and going green.
As we soar into the roaring 2020’s, we cannot help but reminisce on some of the most pivotal moments in America’s cultural, social, political and economic climate. However, you cannot define a decade without acknowledging the fashion trends that went along with it.
Coming from a sweaty workout sesh with no time to change? No problem! Pop on an oversized blazer amid your sports bra with some biker shorts paired with heels or chunky sneakers and you are good to go! As we all know, the '80s was known for their exercise outfits and jazzercise looks. But who would have thought that a style like that would develop into everyday trendy wear? Although Lululemon was on the rise for all things athletic wear, they failed at making a strong enough statement to push the athletic look for an all-day occasion. Even though yoga pants for women and joggers for men were huge closet staples, athleisure didn’t hit the main streets until 2014 when Beyonce partnered with TopShop to create the brand Ivy Park. Creating a brand fully composed of wearable sweats for any event completely blurred the lines between sportswear and lifestyle. It became the new IT look to throw on an oversized baggy sweatshirt with leggings and a chunky sneaker. Some of today's top athleisure brands are KITH, Lululemon/Athleta and Nike.
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Fashion collaborations are known to enhance the “cool” factors of brands among millennials and also help smaller brands burst into the fashion world unscathed. Fashion collaborations have been around for a long time, but they never became a huge deal until the most recent decade. In 2011, Versace paired with H&M to make a colorful and vibrant print line with a tropical feel that made an exuberant statement. Even though this collaboration did not get a ton of buzz, later down the line collaborations were all the rage.
Starting in 2015, Hermes X Apple Watch came out with a fascinating product that mixed two of their most popular items in one. Following that, the runways at Fashion Week in 2017 were taken by storm when two very different fashion companies came together and created a masterpiece. Supreme, a mainline streetwear apparel company, and Louis Vuitton, a high end retail kingdom, collaborated on a fashion line that flooded the streets of New York, LA and beyond. Crocs X Chistopher Kane also strutted down the runway in Spring 2017, showing off their extraordinary collab on the rubber shoe and giblets. Other memorable fashion collaborations, specifically in 2018, are both Serena Williams X Off-White X Nike and Virgil Abloh X Nike “The Ten.”
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What was once a look reserved for the hip hop culture and “street” kids in the '70s has now made a prominent return- and it’s all about being a hypebeast. Roaming the streets of LA, New York and especially Tokyo, hypebeasts pretty much dominate the streetwear game. While these fashionistas have hid in the shadows for years, streetwear made its big return in 2013 when Givenchy styled their red carpet client in an all black look with Bambi, a Disney character, plastered on the front of it. This iconic look got everyone talking, starting the high end fashion breakthrough for streetwear in 2017. Streetwear completely turned high fashion upside down, forcing retailers to rebrand by thinking outside the runway and looking to the streets. The elegance and luxury vibe soon became grunge. Streetwear ranges anywhere from a large graphic tee to a black combat boot plastered in gems. Not only did this trend emerge in fashion but it created an attitude and personality to go with it. After America faced ridicule for dressing “too comfortable,” society took a turn for the better by turning comfort into the IT look. Companies such as Supreme hit the ground running with their distinct looks, and Stussy gained a large fanbase as well. Other companies such as Obey and Carhartt are also streetwear brands to be on the lookout for. Streetwear is leaving the decade of 2010 with confidence and a gash in the traditional roles of not only fashion but societal norms in general.
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So… how functional are mini bags? Well, for most, a classic iPhone cannot even fit, but maybe you could get your favorite lipstick in there. For as small as mini bags are, they sure have dominated the fashion game. The evolution of bag size began to significantly decrease from large duffle-sized handbags, to crossbody Hermes’, to the long shoulder bag look, eventually landing on the tiniest 4.5 by 3.5 inch purse. Although it was a slow descent into this small yet enormous trend, the tiny bag trend officially began in 2018 with Jacquemus Chiquito. Designer Simon Porte Jaquemus first came out with a mini bag that was perfectly sized for the iPhone, but after the media hype it received for its size, the designer took it to the next level. Other brands followed with their own designs of the teeny bag, such as Balenciaga. The tiny bag made its appearance at many events and certainly had cameos in many pictures on social media. From being paired with extravagant looks such as Lizzo carrying a micro bag to the American Music Awards in 2019, to Instagram influencers posing with them at a coffee shop, the tiny icon made big statements.
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It all started with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson reposting an old photo on instagram. He was sporting a black turtleneck and a fanny pack. Even though “The Rock” originally posted the picture to mock himself and his “poor” fashion choice, the photo got so much buzz that everyone decided it was actually cool to wear a fanny pack. The '80s was known as the golden age of the fanny pack, but the 2010s might take the cake on the fanny pack trend. Back in the day, fanny packs were used for their functional aspect, not for style or look. As the fanny pack transitioned from hiking gear to streetwear, the evolution of this trend spiked interest in how fashionable they could be. Depending on the style you are going for, companies ranging from Lululemon to Burberry have created their own take on the classic fanny pack. Since the trend took off, no one in the decade of 2010 shied away from wearing all types of crossbody belt bags. Compared to mini bags, fanny packs proved extremely functional and easy to access. Everything you need fits into one compartment and does not get lost in a large handbag. So, if you are ever looking for a functional, easily accessible and stylish bag to elevate your OOTD, don’t hesitate to strap a fanny pack around your waist.
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Remember those times you had to wear a name tag for some function or event, and you thought it was annoying because it clashed with your outfit? Well, put those name tags right back on because it’s all about labels and logos. In 2018, brand logos came back full-force in an innovative way no one was expecting. Not only were companies making merch displays with their logo, they were creating entire fashion lines and collections to flaunt it. Beginning the slow to catch on trend, iconic fashion brand Gucci began plastering their logo on everything in 2015 thanks to their Creative Director Alessandro Michele. From shoes, to bags, to sweatshirts the logo was everywhere you turned. So why did logos take off in the decade of 2010? To put it lightly, it is all about the clout. Bloggers, celebrities and influencers all started to wear a simple tee with a designer brand printed on the front because they could, and well, it started a fashion movement. Companies like Nike, Champion and Off-White blew up the scene of must-have logo apparel. Once athleisure logos took off, high end designer brands like Dior created high-top shoes and an asymmetrical bag with just their logo as the print, and it went viral! But don’t be discouraged if you are not repping a designer brand logo, vintage tees with Coca-cola are just as desired.
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To think our dad's horrendous outfit would start a trend was the least thing we ever expected, but it happened. Dad sneakers, chunky sneakers, ugly shoes… you name it and they are called it. This trend turned out to be way more controversial than originally intended. Those who first began wearing the dad’s classic look got ridiculed but the trend carried on. After being resurrected from the '90s, Kanye West decided to take it upon himself to collaborate with Adidas and come out with his own take on dad sneakers in 2017. His release of the Yeezy 700 Boost Wave Runner sparked an interest not only with consumers but other companies. The next chunky shoe to hit the streets was Balenciaga’s Triple S and close to follow was a more streamlined and affordable pair done by Fila. Whether you hate or love the look, you cannot deny the fact that you have definitely tried a pair of dad sneakers on at least once.
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Matching suits and nightwear have always been a style but never really a trend. Everyday people trudge to their 9-5 job in a matching somewhat oversized or extremely tailored suit, not thinking twice about what they are wearing. But now, with matching co-ords hitting the runway, instagram and other social platforms, people strut in style everywhere. Thanks to matching co-ords we are leaving this decade behind in style and will never have to have a mismatched outfit in 2020! We have all done it- stood in our closet for hours on end complaining about how “we have nothing to wear,” “I hate all my clothes” and “none of this goes together!!” But something no one saw coming in the most recent decade of 2010 was to be saved by matching co-ords. This trend was perfectly made for any time of day. Whether you want a cute workout fit to throw on, a brunch date with the gals or an evening out on the town, there is a matching set for it all.
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The bigger the better. As we endure the cold this winter, puffer jackets are definitely a trend we are packing with us. The puffer jacket emerged from Balenciaga’s 2016 collection at Fash Week, but Moncler runs the show. Known for their high end and vivacious fashion coats, especially after their 2018 Moncler Genius launch, they are tough to beat. Their puffer “jacket” stole every eye in the room when the puffer dress, yes that is right, a dress, walked down the runway. Puffer jackets are the perfect down jacket to wear with any style. Whether you go for the cropped option or full length, you cannot go wrong. Puffer jackets hang endlessly on the racks in stores such as Zara, Bloomingdales and Nordstrom from various brands. So, even though they are tough to pack, do your best to stuff one… or five into your seasonal winter closet this year!
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Chloe McAuliffe is the Creative Director and Design Editor for Image Magazine. She is a junior at Texas Christian University, double majoring in strategic communication and design studies. Chloe is looking to pursue a career in fashion.
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