Now You’re Just Some Trend That I Used to Know
Written by: Taylor Kim | Collage by: Taylor Kim
Feeling nostalgic for a simpler time when trend cycles weren’t as quick as they are today.
You’ve been seeing Y2K fashion trends everywhere for the last two years but get ready: a resurgence of early 2010s fashion is right around the corner. Are you prepared to relive the awkward times of calling everything swag, planking, and crackle nail polish? Let’s look at the most popular style aesthetics reblogged on Tumblr or posted heavily filtered on Instagram.
Swag: 2011–2013
The Icons Zendaya, Tyga, Becky G, Justin Bieber, Rihanna
The Closet Snapback hats, camo print, wedge sneakers, Jordans, flannel shirts tied around the waist, denim jackets and vests, Timberland boots, Chicago Bulls merch, letterman jackets, drop-crotch pants, shades or lensless black glasses, studs, hoop earrings for women and studs for men
The Review I’m hoping Swag fashion never makes a comeback because I can’t believe we, as a society, let people walk around looking that ridiculous. Lovers of Swag fashion would be spotted wearing an oversized snapback that probably said “I ❤️ Haters,” or Obey on it – don’t be surprised if it was worn sideways and barely on their head. Swag outfit pictures usually consisted of people facing down so that their snapback cap was fully visible, overly filtered. Everything had a yellow-green tinge and was edited by mirroring the image or cropping multiple images of the same outfit into a single photo. People in the Swag community said the words “swag” and “YOLO” in excess. I also noticed everyone seemed obsessed with all things Michael Jordan affiliated – Jordan sneakers and Chicago Bulls merchandise. The music video for Mike WiLL Made-It’s “23” featuring Miley Cyrus is a time capsule of the Swag era.
Twee: Late 2000s–Early 2010s
The Icons Zooey Deschanel, Taylor Swift, Suzy Bishop from Moonrise Kingdom, occasionally Alexa Chung, YouTuber Zoella
The Closet Peter Pan collars, oxford shoes, button shirt dresses, pinafore dresses, skinny belts, polka dots, bow ties, bowler hats, blazers, cardigans, animal motif patterns, pea coats, leather messenger bags, peplum hems
The Review Remember back in the early 2010s, owl and fox motifs seemed to be everywhere – on necklaces, on patterned blouses, on bags, etc. Peep the fox on T-Swift’s sweater from those oh-so iconic paparazzi photos of her date with Harry Styles (if you were a middle-school girl during those years, you know exactly what I mean). Peter Pan collars and bow tie blouses dominated the racks of fast fashion stores. I remember how inspired I was by Twee fashion, and I often wore a Peter Pan collar blouse with my hair in a sock bun. Twee style mainly referred to ultra-feminine preppy styles, and tights under dresses and shorts were typical.
Tumblr Girl & Soft Grunge: 2014
The Icons Sky Ferreira, Kylie Jenner, Lorde, Matty Healy
The Closet Grid patterns, jelly sandals, tennis skirts, creeper platform shoes, Doc Marten boots, denim jackets, band tees, knee-high socks, choker necklaces, plaid flannels, turtlenecks, leather jackets, high top black Converse, mesh tights, black and white stripes
The Review 2014 was the year of the melodramatic teen. Teenagers were navigating adolescence, and the rise of social media allowed them a medium to release their teen angst. Stores like American Apparel and Urban Outfitters were rife with teens shopping for 90’s grunge-inspired clothing in mainly black and white color palettes. A 2014 Tumblr Girl was sure to have a Crosley record player and her vinyl collection of indie alternative artists like Arctic Monkeys, Vampire Weekend, and Lana Del Rey displayed nearby. Though the soft grunge aesthetic was usually devoid of color, pastel accents were acceptable, and potted succulent cacti would balance the minimalist home decor. If you logged onto Tumblr during this time, you’d be met with a slew of existential quotes on a bathroom wall in scrawled handwriting, or stitched onto a plain t-shirt, or in the form of a neon sign.
Festival: 2010–2017
The Icons Vanessa Hudgens, Florence Welch, Brooklyn Beckham, Gigi Hadid
The Closet Flower crowns, fringe vests, crochet dresses, and crop tops, studs, body chains, gladiator sandals, flash tattoos, maxi skirts, Aztec and Navajo inspired patterns, round sunglasses, fanny packs, bolero hats, cropped denim jackets, and shorts, western boots
The Review Western Bohemian style could be found at California’s Coachella music festival, but this style could also be seen at other festivals like Glastonbury in England and Lollapalooza in Chicago. A strong influence was 1970s Western wear, hippie culture, and an evolution of 2000s boho-chic fashion. People channeled their inner “flower child” with handmade flower crowns and crochet clothing. Remember, on Tumblr, people were photoshopping male celebrities wearing flower crowns. There was an embarrassing amount of blatant cultural appropriation of Aztec and Navajo indigenous culture, with many non-indigenous people, especially celebrities, wearing turquoise jewelry and feathered headdresses. On another note, I can’t imagine dancing in long layers of fringe; wouldn’t you get tangled up in the crowd around you? This is a genuine fear of mine since I’ve seen it happen to someone who wore an all-fringe dress to a high school dance. Let me tell you; it was an awkward escape.