The Forever Trends: From Fad to Staple

The world of fashion is such a fickle creation, ever-changing and constantly moving on to the next new thing. Every single trend that has buzzed through history up until now had its fair share of spotlight in the eyes of the world and many died down just as quickly as a lit-up match stick unlike the rest. There are trends that were once created and it clung on to the wardrobes of many through generations and most definitely don’t seem to be anywhere close to its demise. In a way, if we may be so bold, there is a side of fashion, once born, there is no death for it, at least not anytime soon. Let’s take a look at a few trends that have successfully made its way all the way into the 21st century and still remains a staple item in the stores and wardrobes of many.

1. 1920 Little Black Dress

A classic LBD is a lady’s best friend because you can fashion it for any given occasion, ranging from a girl’s night out to an elegant dinner date. When your wardrobe doesn’t cooperate with you, you can place your trust in that one black dress that can be accessorized for any event at any time of the day. Before the 1920s, a black dress was worn only for mourning, but everything changed when Coco Chanel printed a simple and classy black dress in Vogue magazine in 1926. Given how women were looking for affordable options and leisurely attires, Chanel’s little black dress became a major buzz through to the 1930s. And ever since, the tradition has carried forward where many known celebrities fashion their very own LBD that stands as a major icon even today. Namely, Audrey Hepburn, Princess Diana, Cindy Crawford and Winona Ryder.

2. 1940 Bikini

The summery vacation staple that women all around the world embrace so vivaciously, was once a topic of heavy controversy. The women’s fashion had moved from being wrapped in layers of fabrics and corsets to a more liberating and unconfined swimwear, which brought about a whole different perspective on life for them. One of the first Bikini style was issued by Louis Reard in 1946, named after the US atomic test site, Bikini Atoll. He was the ice breaker for women while they were stuck in the greys where the long-sleeved bathing suits were deemed old fashion and the revealing two-piece bathing suit was looked down upon with the term ‘scandalous.’ Even though it was not accepted with open arms by many, the time period let the style settle in given how fabric shortage was a big problem after the end of the second world war. It settled quietly and calmly and it has been successfully morphing into many more flamboyant styles for a long time now, embraced by women all over the world.

3. 1950 Polo Shirts

Even though the Polo game roots all the way back to 600 BC in Persia, it was discovered by the English during the colonisation of India. The style was moved back to England in 1871 and caught the pace quickly, but, plenty changes took place in terms of fashion from then till the 1950s, given how the mass were still recovering from the drastic effects of the end of the second world war. With the shortage of fabrics and the fact that the men were ready to lay back and enjoy the leisure of a war-free world, the polo shirts gained a permanent spot in their shelves, simultaneously being added to every man’s wardrobe from then until today

4. 1950 Denim

Around 1860s, Denim was a daily wear for the miners, farmers and cowboys of the west because it was one of the most affordable clothing, felt comfortable and it was much durable, but it truly became a fashion statement in the 1950s when James Dean popularized blue jeans in Rebel Without a Cause in 1955. After that, every other known celebrity hopped in on the trend which brought about a buzzing craze for denims. Ever since Denim has been a predominant clothing in the wardrobes of both, men and women, and by the looks of it, Denims will thrive much longer than many other trends.

5. 1960 Mini Skirts

As the years approached closer and closer to the 21st century, the hemlines rose higher in the women’s fashion. Mini Skirt as it turns out would be considered a daring hemline, but that didn’t stop the British designer Mary Quant from creating the official Mini Skirts in the year of 1964, naming the garment after her favourite car, Mini. Even though it was still a controversial garment, the talks became whispers and slowly muzzled into silence when prominent figures began to fashion the garment in its stunning form starting from supermodel Twiggy, model Jean Shrimpton, Goldie Hawn to Madonna in 1984. Miniskirts made their way boldly into the 21st century as celebrities such as JLO and Britney Spears made a compelling fashion statement, promising enough to swiftly glide into the future.

6. 1980 Sneakers

Inspired by the Basket Ball players of the late 1970s, Sneakers started to emerge as the major staple. It was no longer a sportsman’s accessory but it was starting to become a widely adored style. The NBA players would soon start to match their sneakers to their outfit and the fans prudently updated as well. Sneakers have robustly made its way into the 21st century where not only is it worn by everyone, but it has been accessorised by popular singers and musicians such as Eminem with Nike and Pharrell with Adidas that regenerated the mass craze for sneakers, suggesting its reigns wouldn’t be facing the end anytime soon.