July 27, 2021 at 06:00AM
Fashion has always been a fast-moving industry, with it’s bi-annual rotation of trends that changes with the season. The birth of the internet, and subsequent arrival of social media, has sent this process into overdrive, with some trends coming and going within the space of a month, if not less. Honestly, it would leave anyone feeling out of breath with the effort of keeping up with it all.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with embracing the flavour of the moment, especially if you’re just experimenting with pieces that are already in your wardrobe, however there is a risk that we end up buying things we quickly fall out of love with, or we miss out on fashion gems because they are declared to be ‘out’. After a discussion with my fellow editors, we could think of a long list of pieces that we love, and were once ubiquitous, but were swept away by the tide of a new season.
Just think of 2019’s slip skirt trend, specifically that Topshop style, which could not stay in stock for more than a few hours. Or the humble biker jacket and skinny jeans which were both noughties staples before being ousted by shacket and mom jeans. I acknowledge that this will hardly be a hot take for some people who have never been lured in by the shiny appeal of seasonal trends, however for those of us who enjoy fashion and its innovations, it can be all too easy to get swept up in ‘newness’. So, in celebration of trends that have been sidelined, each editor has chosen one item that they stand by, regardless of whether they are ‘in’ or not. All together now: Long long the anti-trend.
“I’m not one to listen to what’s "in” or “out” but I was particularly surprised by the sudden disappearance of slip skirts. They were everywhere and then…nowhere! Consdiering they’re so easy to throw on, versatile to style up and far more comfortable than a pair of jeans or trousers, I cannot understand their retail demise, but I still wear my trusty Samsoe & Samsoe blue slip skirt at least once a week. It’s seen me through maternity and onto the other side, and if Zoë Kravitz agrees with me that these bias-cut midis are still in, then I’m in great company. Come join us!“
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“As a teenager of the ’90s, owning a pair of Adidas trousers was quite the coup. If it had poppers, even better. As a result, this desire for sportswear has left me with a fashion hangover of 20 years as I’m still wearing track pants today. I should add, however, that Sarah Harris of Vogue and various influencers were all over the three-stripe Adidas Firebird trousers around 2016, so they’ve definitely made a comeback more recently but they have, inevitably, died off again. I, however, will be wearing them for another 20 years, no doubt.”
“After experiencing a skinny jean hiatus over the last few years, this autumn I’m convinced I’ll be putting them back into my rotation. What changed my tune, you might ask? The H&M pair above, which I tried on a few months back for a petite shopping edit. They felt so flattering and while they are quite close fitting, they didn’t fall into the ‘spray on’ or uncomfortably tight category. With boot season around the corner, I know skinny jeans will come in handy as a super simple and versatile wardrobe addition.”
“I have been wearing biker jackets since I was 18, back in the days of Kate Moss’s pitch-perfect, black-skinnies-and-leather-jacket ensembles. While their popularity has slowly dwindled in recent years, I remain loyal to the biker-jacket cause, whether it’s via a sturdy style from Scotch & Soda that I bought in a sample sale four years ago or this more recent suede acquisition from AllSaints. The beauty of the biker is that anyone can wear it, whether you’re 17 or 70, and there are enough varying fabrics and fits to cater to any occasion.”
Up Next: Autumn/Winter 2021 Trends: The Only Fashion Looks You Need to Know
Author Joy Montgomery | Whowhatwear
Selected by CWC