Once, there were Galaxy leggings. Then, platform sandals and AirForce Ones. Soon after, bike shorts took over our wardrobes. More recently, fashion trends have switched gears, harkening back to anything with a ’90s slant. Though social media has undoubtedly accelerated their time in the spotlight, fashion trends will always come and go.
I’m no stranger to the fast-paced nature of trends. I spent my teen years begging my parents for whatever clothing was on display in the shopping centres I grew up wandering around. It was as though the moment I got my hands on the piece everyone was wearing, it was already out of fashion. As I’ve gotten older, I’d like to think I’ve become a little more discerning when it comes to personal style but it leaves me wondering: is anyone totally immune from a fashion trend?
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Sometimes, certain styles are popular because they are iconic, so it makes sense they might carry mass appeal. Call it outdated but I will forever cherish my Boho-era dresses and skirts.
The catch with fashion trends is that you don’t want to ever lose yourself in an endless pursuit, or end up with a discarded pile of clothes in your wardrobe because the trend (as it inevitably will) has passed.
As Fashion Journal contributor Rosa-Lee O’Reilly put it, “It’s the person who makes an outfit, not the pieces”. What you do with your old, retired pieces is the true test of personal style. So, for some inspiration, we reached out to 11 of our favourite creatives to see how they’re styling pieces that are no longer in vogue.
Bella De Almeida Reis, marketing executive at PayPayl Melbourne Fashion Festival
As my co-worker put it, these are my ‘Sue Sylvesters’. If bold, red tracksuit pants gained attention in the early 2010s during Glee, did they ever really go out of style? I don’t think so.
A few years back, there was a resurgence in sportswear as casualwear and I knew I had to jump in. Recently, I’ve found that my personal style blends tailored and fluid pieces and these straight-leg tracksuits add that ideal contrast. Finding them in a vintage store last year means they’ve already outlived their original trend, only for me to repurpose them into a wardrobe staple. Consider it proof fashion doesn’t have to expire with trends.
Harry Reid, content creator and lawyer
I like to think I’ve gotten to a place with my personal style where it’s not heavily trend-driven, however, styles obviously get popular for a reason so there are a few exceptions that make their way into my wardrobe. One that comes to mind is this pair of Jaded London jorts which were actually a gift from my brother.
While jorts are still trendy, especially in the inner north of Melbourne where the uniform is oversized everything, I feel like they’ve reached their peak. Regardless, I still like to come up with different ways to put my own spin on the trend. Most recently, I was going for a David Beckham-inspired look, brought on by the psychosis-inducing process of growing out a bleached buzzcut and I thought the jorts would be perfect. I then just had to gay it up a little with a child’s size polo, an excessive amount of jewellery and an adorable Burberry handbag.
Rosa-Lee O’Reilly, writer
Tiger print has long felt retired from the fashion zeitgeist, yet it’s a print I gravitate towards when I feel like spicing things up. Trends tend to bore me and are usually very overpriced.
This beautiful tiger print bag came into my life over five years ago and has holes in the lining because I have used it so much (how all of our items should be). I’m styling it here with a thrifted jacket, Beaularés baggy jeans, vintage Steve Madden biker boots and an old Karen Walker scarf. I see items of clothing as a living ‘being’, not just part of a brand. I’ve always admired how Devon Lee Carlson wore tiger print like it never went out of style. Fashion is about bravery – it’s the person who makes an outfit, not the pieces.
Ella Jackson, designer and founder of Catholic Guilt
This is a silk Ovate dress from around 2011 to 2012. It’s been so long since I bought it now that it’s probably come back around into style again but it’s something I’ve consistently worn for over a decade, whether it’s trending or not. It’s starting to show some wear and is torn away in parts but I love the distressed aesthetic it has.
I think sheer dresses like this can be a bit boring alone so to make it a bit more interesting I’ve styled it with some sheer silk pants from Lilith Viper circa 2018, a chunky belt I found at an op shop in Paris and have wrapped some leather thonging around my hands and neck. I always add either leather thonging or chain to looks when they feel like they’re lacking something.
Daniel Mizzi, writer
I’ve been told – or rather, warned – that no one should suffer the sight of a man’s bare ankle. Perhaps that’s why men in capris pants have never been ‘trendy.’ Yet, my Achilles’ heel remains this very weakness: I love capris. To make matters worse, the pair I own are bright red velvet, with ruching sewn into the side seams, appearing perpetually creased. Not only do they call my taste into question, they suggest I don’t own an iron (one of those is true).
I style them with a T-shirt and depending on the occasion, I’ll pair them with either heels or flats. I wear them not to be contrarian but simply because I’m fond of them. I don’t mind if people shoot a dirty look at my ankles, so long as it’s not an arrow.
Jess King, model
Fashion’s obsession with ‘heroin chic’ is back but my body isn’t a trend and I won’t dress like it is. Curvier women are always told to highlight their smallest parts, to cinch, shape and ‘flatter.’ But I refuse to limit myself. I love oversized jackets, relaxed fits and even low-rise shorts – styles we’re told don’t ‘work’ for our bodies. The truth is, confidence makes anything look good.
This outfit stays in my wardrobe because it makes me feel strong and effortlessly cool, regardless of trends. Fashion should be about self-expression, not restriction. Instead of following outdated rules, I choose to wear what makes me feel like me because confidence will always be in style.
Mattie Gouman, fashion content creator
My personal style always includes a pop of colour. Anything with a frill or fun colourful texture has my name written all over it. My style has never particularly revolved around trends but I think everything comes back around in fashion eventually. I’m not one to go out and purchase the newest bubble skirt just because – I stick to pieces that I like whether they’re trending or not.
However, the Canadian Tuxedo or ‘denim on denim’ trend is definitely one that has always stayed in my wardrobe year after year. A good denim jacket and bottoms styled all-in-one like a set or jumpsuit is my kind of vibe. This is a trend that’s come in and out for many decades but for me are such trusted pieces in my wardrobe due to their longevity. Denim lasts longer than many other fabrics due to its nature and needing barely any maintenance. Clothing can last long well beyond a trend cycle if you love it!
James Parr, model, advocate and writer
Fashion rules? Never met her. I dress for myself, for comfort and for the fun of mixing things up. A little creativity, a little pop culture nostalgia and a wardrobe that doubles as a time capsule.
Today’s look? A ’90s classic vintage Tommy Hilfiger tracksuit pant. Effortlessly cool, they can be dressed up or down but I’m going urban-meets-French-meets-Brooklyn streetwear because, why not? These pieces are new but have a nostalgic undertone, proving one thing: ’90s fashion doesn’t just stand the test of time, it owns it.
Allie Daisy King, writer and social producer
I’m known to be a very colourful girlie and I love a good cutesy fashion moment. As a bow lover for many years, I was elated when they became more trendy because they make me so happy! But now they’ve been deemed a ‘microtrend’ and you know what? I don’t care! These arbitrary trend rules are rotting our brains and our planet.
I love this Lisa Says Gah bow sweater and I wear it on most cold days given it’s the ultimate comfort piece of clothing. For the first cold day of the year I wore it with some denim jorts, knee-high black boots and a matching pink flower scrunchie. I love this sweater just as much as I did when I bought it in the prime of its popularity and I look forward to wearing it for many more winters to come, trend cycle be damned!
Sienna Barton, writer and artist
Corset tops had a real resurgence for a couple of years and I feel like it’s finally starting to die down. As someone with a fuller bust and smaller waist (and fluctuating weight), I love a corset top because the lacing means they always fit. I only have one and it’s a denim corset from Good American but it’s been my go-to top for about four years now. You can wear it with a skirt or pants in the summer and underneath a shirt or turtleneck in the winter.
Waddle, creative director and stylist
Fashion trends are like exes: there’s one around every corner and you always go back to the good ones. Being a plus-size girlie was my style villain origin story! I had to be resourceful and creative with my style. Trends are a great reference, they can inspire and highlight some great colours, cuts and styles. But not every trend is for everyone and definitely not for me. So I cherry-picked from the trends that added or complimented my style and used them to remix my existing looks.
My style is a non-gender-specific mix of vintage pieces and new basics – I’d call it moody, sexy and effortless. This outfit is made up of two gone but never-forgotten trends: flannels and silk slip skirts. Flannels add a chill masc edge to my looks and I use slips to add a sexy femme touch.
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This article The styles people love wearing even though the trend has passed appeared first on Fashion Journal.
2025-03-20 11:04:00
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