WTF Was With 2010's Fashion?
BY SOPHIA TRIMBLE
Follow us as we deep dive into the sub-genres of fashion during the 2010’s.
26 MAY - 2023
A lot of crazy shit was happening in the 2010’s, including the neon coloured statement necklace.
One of my personal favourite eras of fashion has got to be the 2010’s, also known as the end of the noughties. We were met with some crazy fluorescent colours, studs, stripes, skater skirts and so many more staples that made this era of fashion a bit cringe and unhinged, but ultimately gave us some classics.
At this point in time (2010ish), the world was still recovering from the 2008 recession, and in turn, fast fashion started to appeal more than ever. People needed cute, cheap clothes, and quickly. As a result of this rising lust for inexpensive, en-vogue garments, the trend cycle started to speed up. I wanted to bring this up because as we know, we are in the midst of yet another recession, which means the fashion might get… questionable again.
Tumblr was such a big influence on fashion during this period as it gave access to millennials who were starting to explore fashion and find their niche. Dozens of groups that began to branch out and started to group with others who shared their desired aesthetic. We all remember the scene kids, hipsters, pastel goths, grunge, and boho girlies; all of these sub-genres of fashion became what we know them as now with the help of Tumblr.
Staples of the era included; the dreaded statement necklace, waterfall skirts (high/low skirts), infinity scarves, chevron print, plaid shirts (worn tied around the waist), moustaches, denim shorts with leggings, and the list goes on. As for shoes, converse, vans, suede wedges, sneaker wedges, or any quirky pump you could get your hands on (bonus points if they were studded) were the go-to. Top it off with a flower crown for accessories, and we have our perfect 2010’s inspired fit.
The makeup industry really started to flourish during the 2010’s too. Do you recall the bold lipstick trend? We opted for bright pinks, shades of purple, and even blue. Special mention to Mac’s lippy shades ruby woo and heroin (frequently seen on Lorde at the time).
Now for the question we’ve all been dreading, will any of these 2010 trends come back? I’ve got news that some of y’all may not like… the answer is yes. Slight variations of these 2010-esque trends have already been slowly worming their way back into mainstream fashion in 2023.
Asymmetric peplum style tops have been spotted in a particular NZ fast fashion store that happens to have a cult following. So it won’t be long before peplum tops are back. We are also witnessing the statement necklace come back into fashion. Not at all like the 2010’s fluoro statement necklaces that may spring to mind when the words “statement,” and “necklace” follow each other in a sentence, but dainty jewellery is definitely making room for larger pendants.
Also, how about the chevron print (hear me out) crocheted or knitted? Instead of thick block lines in two hues, we’ll be seeing it with thinner lines and various shades of the same colour. We’ve already been seeing chevron in pretty pastels, blues, oranges, yellows and white too. Old habits die hard I guess?
There is no doubt the 2010’s were a pretty polarising time for fashion. But, love it or hate it, fashion is cyclical, so it’s without a doubt we can expect particular pieces from the 2010’s to slowly filter their way back into mainstream style, and we may not even notice it! Every era of fashion brings us some whacky trends and some wonderful ones too that are then turned into classics. Trends come and go, my best advice is that fashion should feel fun, and if you like it, wear it!
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