While past decades have left their marks with iconic fashion staples like bell bottoms, leg warmers and animal print (to name a few), it is harder to pinpoint any lasting trend of the 2020s. Y2k kicked off the decade, but as the name suggests, the craze is simply a revival of the aesthetic of the early 2000s.
This resurgence of the y2k aesthetic is what many people know as the 20 year rule in fashion — styles that were popular 20 years ago will gain popularity again. If fashion is still progressing, why have we not seen any defining trends of the 2020s?
What is a micro trend?
Hyperconsumerism, thrifting and reselling have characterized the last few years of fashion, but these habits don’t exist in a vacuum. With the increase of TikTok usage, the fashion world has come to know a phenomenon unique to the 2020s: microtrends. A microtrend is when a certain stylistic choice becomes popular for only a short time period, eventually being replaced by a cooler, newer style.
Microtrends are easily forgotten. Whether it’s one person finding a dusty Concho chain belt in the back of their closet, or the entire fashion world collectively dropping a style they’re done with, modern consumers have created a whole new meaning to their definition of “style.”
Many people style themselves in order to make a statement, but will anything be remembered in 10, or even five years if it doesn’t last more than a couple of months?
Obstacles for the 20 Year Rule
The difficulty with preserving the 20 year rule is the need to have trends that define the modern era, of which right now there are none. Every type of trend is happening at the same time because we have the ability to buy anything from around the world. The overexposure of choices is killing the potential for trends. A few styles need to sink their anchor in the sea of fads that disappear in the blink of an eye.
That isn’t the only problem that prevents new styles from lasting; the quality of affordable clothing has steadily declined. Many brands previously known for their quality have started primarily producing garments made with materials like polyester.
Cheaper materials not only feel less comfortable, they disintegrate more quickly than garments made with wool, cotton and real denim. This quick disintegration of material is perfect for microtrends and hyperconsumerism, but a real villain for lasting styles.
Anyone who is into buying secondhand knows that online resellers have become an issue, too. Whether they inflate the price of thrifted clothes or wear an item once and sell it to avoid repeating outfits, many resellers contribute to the fast and wasteful cycle that the modern fashion world has come to know.
These problems clearly pose a threat to the 20 year rule, but can we make the claim that the theory is really done for? The comeback of the y2k aesthetic gives us hope, but only time will tell. We need to solidify some trends in the 2020s and keep an eye out if people start wearing statement necklaces again in 2030 (VALLEY is watching you, Katy).
Do you think the 20 year rule is over? Let VALLEY know by tweeting @VALLEYmag on X!
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