Why do trends come back every 20 years?
According to the DSN English report on fashion trends, trends repeat every 20-30 years because of “generational changes as well as designers taking inspiration from styles their parents wore.” Children are being influenced by their parents' clothing and seeking inspiration to translate that into “modern” clothing.
Fashion trends are cyclical because we are constantly being influenced by the fashions before us, nostalgia for eras past, the economy, social media, and so much more. But ultimately, what you buy for your closet should reflect your style, what you like to wear, and what you feel most beautiful in.
It's all thanks to the 20-year rule – the time it takes for a trend to die, then become fashionable again. The path forward by way of the past is a well-trodden one, and not just in fashion. The 20-year rule holds true for music, decor, television, film, and art more broadly.
Trends exist through a constant cycle of innovation and emulation. It's the way people embrace one another and interact with each other. People are obsessed with trends because joining a trend means you're part of a group; you are in, you belong. “Some changes are short-lived and they are normally called fads.
Surprise, surprise, all 20-year cycles more or less. This infographic shows James Laver's law of the fashion cycle. According to James Laver, fashion trends come back every 50 years.
Trends come and go but more often than not, many fashion pieces and trends end up repeating themselves. In the past couple years, and now more than ever, the fashion industry continues to track backwards to previous trends from former decades. For example, about 10years ago, skinny jeans were IT.
- CHOKER NECKLACES. Chokers were the de-facto neck accoutrement in the 90s, and everyone wore them. ...
- SWEATPANTS. The athleisure movement has made sweatpants cool again. ...
- RIPPED DENIM. ...
- CUT-OFF JEAN SHORTS. ...
- WIDE LEG PANTS. ...
- PLAID. ...
- LONG, STRAIGHT HAIR.
Why do fashions change? The answer is probably as simple as the fact that people change. Over time, the new replaces the old. People are influenced by popular culture, including athletes, musicians, movie stars, social media, and royalty.
Fashion trends are changing faster than they ever have before, according to experts. Senior strategist at fashion trend forecaster WGSN Allyson Rees told Newshub this is due to "more social networks, social media and just overall content than ever before".
While the 20-year cycle remains true to an extent, the advent of innovative technologies and social media has drastically condensed the life cycle of trends today. Styles from every decade make appearances at seemingly random moments, and a multitude of styles can be popular at the same time.
What is the trend cycle?
The fashion trend cycle refers to the process of introducing and popularizing a new trend, which happens in five key stages: introduction, rise, acceptance, decline, and obsolescence.
Where do the trends actually come from? There are three broad factors that contribute to the creation of a viral trend on TikTok – pop culture and current affairs, 'challenges' (ice bucket but make it 2021) and popular songs.
Fashion trends seem to recur every: 20-30 years. At which stage of the fashion cycle is a trend considered dull and boring because the market is saturated?
- Mom jeans – 90s. ...
- Round glasses – 20s. ...
- Corduroy – 70s. ...
- Chunky sneakers – 80s. ...
- White boots – 70s. ...
- Chokers – 90s. ...
- High waisted jeans – 80s. ...
- Silk scarves – 50s.
What Are Fashion Trends. Fashion Trends stay around for longer – say 3-7 years – they are loved by many and become the staples of most wardrobes and are almost all you can purchase in stores. Trends also relate to the lengths of items such as skirts and dresses (knee-length, midi length, maxi, mini etc.)
However, you need to keep in mind that TikTok trends now don't last for more than 5-7 days and you want to be able to jump on a new trend early on.
