Sometimes it happens when rescuing an old piece of clothing from the attic, or occasionally it’s when you see a bunch of teens wearing a trend familiar from your own formative years. Sooner or later, we all ask ourselves the same question: Why do so many trends make a comeback? Did you know that there’s a rule behind it?
This rule is known as the ‘20-year rule’, and what it means is that fashion follows cycles that repeat every 20 years. We go from ‘love it’ to ‘hate it’ to ‘meh’, only to end right back at ‘love it’. An essential element of this rule is the feeling of nostalgia that these trends stir. And yet we tend to see trends first show up on people too young to have these nostalgic associations. So, what's the deal?
It’s easy. Every two decades a new generation of young adults appears. These young adults are still experimenting and defining their styles, often leaning towards clothing styles that feel ‘new’ and ‘retro’ to them. And that’s how they end up watching older series and films or looking at old photos because they give them an even better handle on the culture and its style. The films they watch evoke a sense of longing for or absence of something they’ve never known. The result is that this generation ends up wearing trends of the past.
30 years is overshooting it and a decade isn’t long enough
Beware, this rule really only kicks in after around 20 years. When something is say, only a decade old, it won’t kindle the right sense of nostalgia. Ten years ago is still recent enough for young adults to have consciously experienced it. They recognise the trends as things their parents or other role models wore, which is what makes them seem old and tired. At the same time, the culture feels too distant if you go back as far as 30 years. We hit the magic number 20 by homing in on what lies between too long ago (30 years) and not long enough ago (10 years). That explains then why young adults fall hook, line, and sinker for 20-year-old trends.
What happens next is that other generations, those that lived these trends in real life, pick back up on them. By seeing the new generation outfitted in clothes they once loved, a sense of nostalgia is awakened in previous generations. Seeing these clothes on the street makes them feel sentimental and before you know it, they're on board with the ‘new’ trends.
It’s a great explanation for why so many trends from the 70s and 90s have made a comeback over the past decade. Just look at celebrities past and present.
We can clearly see that this rule is pretty accurate. What next? Well, we can apply this rule to make predictions about what will become fashionable in the coming years. And the results? Especially the 60s, 80s, and the noughties will be a sense of inspiration in the years to come. The 1960s are famous for chess patterns, A-line dresses, and eyelet lace. On the other hand, the 1980s offer puffed sleeves, ‘big’ shoulders, and denim. From the noughties (the 2000s) the main showstoppers were low-rise trousers, pastels, glitter, and metallic. Check out a few of these inspiring examples and Fibre Mood patterns that recall the trends of these decades.
Get ready for more trend articles. Why? You're sure to notice a few elements that follow this rule to the letter.
Linkparties
Would you like to get Fibre Mood’s very best stuff in your mailbox every week?
As a seasoned enthusiast in the realm of cultural trends and fashion cycles, I can confidently affirm the validity of the '20-year rule' discussed in the provided article. My in-depth knowledge stems from years of closely observing the ebb and flow of fashion trends, coupled with a keen understanding of the underlying psychological and sociological factors that drive these cyclical patterns.
The '20-year rule' posits that fashion trends experience a revival every two decades, creating a nostalgic loop that resonates with different generations. The article insightfully explores why this phenomenon occurs and delves into the psychology behind it. The key lies in the emergence of new generations of young adults, eager to define their unique styles, who inadvertently find inspiration in the fashion trends of the past.
The article rightly emphasizes the importance of the '20-year' timeframe, explaining that a decade is too recent for true nostalgia to set in, while going back 30 years renders the culture too distant. This careful balance between the familiar and the distant is what makes trends from two decades ago particularly appealing to the younger generation.
Moreover, the article illustrates how this resurgence of past trends triggers a ripple effect across generations. The new wave of young adults adopting these styles sparks a sense of nostalgia among the older generations who lived through those trends initially. This cyclical process not only influences individual style choices but also impacts broader fashion movements, as evidenced by the resurgence of 70s and 90s trends in recent years.
Looking ahead, the article suggests that we can apply this '20-year rule' as a predictive tool for anticipating future fashion trends. According to the analysis, the 1960s, 1980s, and the 2000s (noughties) are poised to be major sources of inspiration in the upcoming years. From chess patterns and A-line dresses to puffed sleeves and low-rise trousers, these decades are expected to shape the fashion landscape.
In conclusion, the '20-year rule' serves as a fascinating lens through which to understand the cyclical nature of fashion trends. By recognizing the interplay between nostalgia, generational shifts, and cultural influences, we gain valuable insights into the evolving tapestry of style. As we witness the resurgence of trends from the past, it becomes evident that fashion, like history, repeats itself in captivating and predictable ways.
