Lately, former stylish clothing styles are making a huge return into the latest looks of 2022. From tube tops in the 1950s to high waisted jeans in the 1970s, beloved traditional trends are now fashionable today. So prepare to blast from the past because all your contemporary clothes were once worn by American sailors, previous presidents, punks, and more.
First, bell bottom jeans and wide leg pants are back in and more trendy than ever. Once worn by sailors in 1817, bell bottoms provided U.S. Navy members the ability to roll the legs of their jeans above their knees while washing on the ship deck. Bell bottoms came back in fashion again in the 1960s-70s. Hippies styled the flare pants with radiant bandana prints, flamboyant tie dye, and floral crowns. Now known as “boot-cut” jeans, the retro pants arrived back in style for the winter of 2022. In fact, 19% of denim in the United States currently derive from flare jeans according to Sidney Morgan-Petro, retail analyzer at trend-forecasting agency WGSN. The trending “yoga pants” also embrace the flare aspect, combining the two concepts of bell bottoms and leggings.
Another garment being reintroduced into mainstream fashion is tennis skirts. Tennis players enjoy training in tennis skirts due to their comfortable nature. Nearly all the skirts possess pockets with elastic bands on the sides that can store tennis balls and are flexible to maximize adaptability and leeway. Glimpsing back into history, the concept of tennis skirts were first introduced in Victorian England around the early nineteenth century. The skirts measured at about floor-length, hindering movement in athletes. Icon Princess Diana was widely-known for her signature tennis skirt look. Nowadays, this attire is also worn for more than just athletic purposes. Pinterest outfit inspirations are filled with pleated tennis skirts, which can be styled with oversized sweatshirts, graphic tees, sweaters, blazers, and more.
Finally, the sweater vest trend is an additional recent fad to hop on and an essential to complete your closet. The vests are offered in a variety of colors, patterns, and material. Sweater vests were originally worn by men beginning in the early nineteenth century, but they surged in popularity during the 1930s-40s. The men’s vests served the purpose of keeping them warm, and wives enjoyed crocheting vests for their husbands following World War I. Even former presidents such as Woodrow Wilson and Herbert Hoover were spotted in sweater vests, which also boosted the demand in the United States. However, the vests are possessed by both men and women nowadays. There are an abundance of ways to style the vests. They can be worn over top of button downs with collars, paired with a classy dress, or even combined with a sleek skirt. However you decide to style them, the sweater vest is the perfect final touch and extra layer of warmth to complete your outfit.
Which of these fashion trends have you participated in? Consider paying a visit to a local thrift store on your next shopping spree, as they possess various authentic and vintage clothing items at a reasonable cost!
Written by Ellie Noh of Richard Montgomery High School”
“Teen Challenge Thrift Store” by vj_pdx is marked with CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.