If 2010 is heralding a new era in fashion, how will the 00’s be remembered? Will we look back and think of it as the decade that wanted to be the 60s again but couldn’t quite achieve it? Certainly the 90s had no clear definition of what it wanted to express. Perhaps the 00s will be a tribute to the resurrection of previous fashion eras that did not understand their influence at the time.
The 70s and 80s were admittedly not aware that they were making any kind of fashion mark. More than that, the attitude was not so much, “Look, we’re living in an important fashion moment,” so much as just “we’re living in the moment.” It’s only in looking back, from the 00s, that the styles and times begin to define themselves clearly.
The 00s did not bring about big social change as did their predecessors, and neither did the styles or trends. Some would say it was a confused era without a clear identity and was all about recycling the past trends. However, this decade was all about the globalization of fashion, and creating affordable styles in both high and commercial fashion.
It began with a continuation of the 90s, only in a more concise expression. The unisex styles of the previous decade gave way to a more feminine appeal, with skirts and dresses making a comeback. The pantsuit, once a staple even for more formal affairs in the late 90s, peaked in the early 00s and eventually fell by the wayside completely.
The hiphop culture had a major influence on fashion in the 00s. The oversized baggy pants and bandanas survived through the entire decade.
Gangsta rappers made fleece track suits all the rage, as well as jerseys and a mix of sporty urban and Ivy League styles. All this bagginess lost its appeal, however in 2007 when form fitting fashions and skinny-fit jeans became popular among hipsters and Scene kids.
2003 saw the emergence of the “boho” style for women, consistently mostly of flowing skirts and reverse seams. This heralded the return of brighter colors as well. This led into a more sophisticated urban look in the middle of the decade, which remained strong throughout the rest of the 00s. Preppy styles made a comeback at the end of the decade, as did the return of the neutral colors of white, black and gray.
Capri pants returned, resurrected from the 60s, with pant legs that stopped below the knee. Grunge looks from the 80s also found its way back, bringing with it camouflage and plaid fabrics. Even the 1950s were represented in the nappy fashions made popular by Buddy Holly, which merged with the punk stylings of the 70s.
When we look back on the 00s, it will undeniably be remembered as the decade that recycles all that came before. This set the stage for the 2010 to be the year that integrates and unifies the global mentality, and creates an entirely new standard.
