Pushing through a crowded walkway at Alderwood Mall on a Saturday afternoon, the energy is electric. Above the hustle and bustle, everyone is there for the same purpose: to shop. It’s invigorating. Every style, shirt on the rack, and shiny pairs of shoes seem original and newly designed. But is it?
The malls of the millennium didn’t look too far off.
It’s called the Recurrence Theory, and according to Sartorial Magazine, the traditional fashion cycle follows the pattern of introduction, rise, peak, decline, and obsolescence. Through this sequence, styles rise to recognition, and depending on the trend’s success, slowly cycle through the fashion industry until they are deemed irrelevant.
Recurrence in fashion is an endless cycle, and from shoulder pads to low-rise jeans, styles of the past reappearing in your closet, rebranded, is inevitable.
Trends appear to cycle every 20 to 30 years and are often seen with subtle differences in the structure of the garments. Some of the most prominent examples of this theory can be seen in the vibrant colors used in the 1980s and 2000s, and the clothing silhouettes of the 1970s and 1990s of American fashion.
For the 2020s, we’ve begun to reinvent the 2000s.
The Y2K resurgence, featuring brands like Hollister, Brandy Melville, and Urban Outfitters, is bringing back retro silhouettes, structures, and, most evidently, patterns, such as polka dots and stripes.
Stripes made their mark in the fashion world long before the 2000s, with big stars and fashion icons like Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot, and John Wayne bringing the style to prominence in the ‘50s.
This pattern took Y2K by storm, with brands like Adidas rising to popularity with their three-stripe insignia, and movements like the tracksuit embracing the style.
In the same era came the rise of polka dots. According to the Carine Roitfeld Fashion Book, polka dots became a sensation in the millennium when designer Ralph Lauren’s collection debuted with model Giselle Bundchen, and spread like wildfire with the iconic looks of movie stars, then filtering down into casual fashion.
The reinvention of these patterns to fit modern styles is clear, from the chunky striped sweaters of Brandy Melville to Hollister’s resurgence of the brand’s most iconic tops of the era. At the height of trends this month, we find polka-dotted nails and casual striped tops, reflecting the resurgence of these retro patterns.
Originality in clothing is something that we all wish for. We’re born to stand out, and our clothes should make us feel the same way. Upon reflection, however, we realize that our newest designs and best new things are, in actuality, a mosaic of our past.
In the end, what truly is original? What is done that hasn’t been done before? The next time you’re trying on your jeans or online shopping, think to yourself, “Where have I seen this before?” and take a moment to pay homage to the successful styles that have come before you.
