The Best Fashion Trends of 2020
By: Gitte Alexander
Tags: Fashion, Style

It’s been a long, tumultuous, patience testing year for all of us. It has been an equally long year for fashion. The trials of social distancing and telecommuting has tested people and fashion brands across the globe in the most unprecedented ways. From the closing of Barney’s earlier this year to the return in prominence of the video presentation to AI simulated models, the pandemic brought out the creative in people. It also brought out a lot of anger, frustration and misanthropy. All of these things helped shaped the trends that would stock the front cover of editorials, and Twitter, for years. Without further ado, here are the best.

Chunky Soled Boots

Cheating because these had been big for a while now(also cheating cause it’s just one item of clothing), the chunky boot trend is a natural progression from the FILA dino-stompers of a couple years back. But better because it was actually a 90s trend(because literally everything was invented in the 90s) that was revived in an almost absurd or ironic way. Yet it somehow became one of the coolest, most punk things to ever touch streetwear, without being too hypebeasty or high fashion. Bonus points goes to over-laced combat boots for bringing an underrated approach to exo-skeletal footwear.

Cottagecore

A HUGE trend this year with the rise of Tik-Tok fashionistas and the smuggling in of vintage styles to the runway, this one is particularly unique and outstanding for finally not being a straight exhumation of 80s or 90s streetwear. Many of the fabrics and silhouettes to come from this were very innovative but by far the most refreshing thing to see this year was the return of prairie dresses. It was so genuinely different for once and for that it deserves to be remembered as one of the greatest of 2020.

Rockstar Jewelry

Pioneered by on of the greatest rockstars of today, Harry Styles, the style of loud, gaudy metal jewelry, on men especially, was one of the most eclectic to appear in the last couple of years. Big statement rings, punctuated by midis on every finger, had people looking like Phoebe Buffay in the best way possible. Mick Jagger style stacked bracelets and large piercings and shiny chokers were equally as evocative and awesome. This, like many punk/rock based trends, will never get old, but certainly takes a little je ne sais quoi to pull off.

Workwear

A style that has been developing for years, workwear has crossed paths with a few different streetwear corners and turned into something particularly unexpected. Some of its best elements include harder fabric jackets, with many traditional jacket styles like trucker, chore and harrington being popular as well as many looser pant cuts becoming popular. Corduroy, light wash denim and twill, lend their resurgence in pants largely to this trend.

Academia

Last but not least, it is difficult to say that the popularity of academia styles in streetwear is unrelated to Gossip Girl(especially with the upcoming reboot). Anyone with a Tik-Tok account is probably all too accustomed to seeing white collars poking out of sweaters or pleated skirts by now but that detracts nothing from the chicness of this trend. If you were a fan of Gossip Girl’s costume design when it aired then you would totally understand what makes this trend so awesome. It’s badass while being confined to a region of fashion that most people would consider unexpressive or bland. Too perfect.

There were many other trends, but not every single one could be included obviously. Many were based on the same formula of reviving old 80s, 90s and now 2000s looks and while some listed here do to, it is less insultingly unimaginative and actually exciting to see with interesting takes on and off the runway. At the end of the year, fashion is not just about creating it’s also about the materials. Sometimes those materials have been used before, but what changes opinions or catches eyes, is how it’s been switched up. Or maybe we just think too hard about this and should let things look nice and run its course. Either way fashion this year didn’t have surprises as big as some would have wanted but they were the right surprises nonetheless.