The Circulation of Fashion

Written by Becca Jandrasits

Change. Evolution. Growth.

Change fuels the world of fashion. Influencers and celebrities are always longing to get their hands on the newest, hottest trend to discover and pull off. Designers and their buyers are always producing the newest products to fit the confines of society’s ever-changing standards. For me, it’s always seemed exciting, rather than daunting. Fashion is a growing industry.

Circulation. Evolution. Regeneration.

We all take part in the circulation of fashion, whether consciously or within our subconscious mind. Discovering the bell bottom jeans your mother buried in the bottom shelf of her closet. Finding your dad’s old leather jacket to wear in your fashion show on a random Saturday in your childhood. When your parents’ favorite pieces come back in style, it seems fashion is coming full circle. And that’s because it is. The 20-year cycle averages the amount of time it takes for a trend to exit from popular fashion and later resurface. Sometimes it can be 40 or 50 years until a trend is up to societal standards yet again, but on average, 20 years is the turnaround time. Fashion designers, illustrators, stylists, and market researchers work to recycle trends that had disappeared from the shelves generations prior. Consumers and shoppers fall in love with the old-fashioned look of these pieces and the cycle repeats itself. 

These changes are consistently occurring. We are experiencing a giant shift right now and will continue to as we move into the next decade. Although readily available through stores like Urban Outfitters, PacSun, and Zara, knowing how to style them may not always be as easy. Here are a few items I have noticed gaining popularity in the past couple of months and how I love to style them.

1.     Bomber jackets/racing jackets

Bomber jackets, originally known as flight jackets were created by the US Army Aviation Clothing Board in 1917 to keep WW1 pilots warm in the uninsulated, open-air cockpits of early fighter planes. It quickly became a part of culture and popular apparel. 70’s hip hop, the revolutionary cultural movement of art, music, and fashion brings these bomber jackets to streetwear, along with heavy boots and camo prints. The trend continues well into the 80’s and then disappears for a bit of time before reemerging in the 2000’s in a Y2K style. 2023 offers opportunity for these jackets to gain popularity again. Carhart and Levi’s stock their shelves full of these popular jackets. Paired with a pair of cute mom jeans and a white tank top is my favorite way to see these jackets worn. Like a leather jacket, these look great over a mini dress for the winter months.

2.     Bell Bottom Jeans

This 60’s styled denim piece features a slimmer fit at the upper leg and a wider, flared detail on the lower leg. The waist bands vary with both high and low waisted fits and are a staple to every wardrobe this winter and spring. The look can be pulled off with both light and dark wash, as well as colored denim. My favorite way to style these disco inspired pants is with a babydoll tee, tight and cropped along with white high top sneakers. The bell bottoms maintained their hype well through the 70’s and 80’s, disappeared for a bit then resurfaced in the 90’s, and come back today as popular as ever.

Athleisure brands have put their own spin on the trend, as Lululemon, Aerie, and Alo design flare leggings in a multitude of styles and colors. One popular way to style is with an oversized sweatshirt.

3.     Leather

Leather has a deep-rooted history in the fashion industry, making its debut over 2 million years ago and continuing to gain popularity in the 1980’s and then again in the early 2000’s. 20 years from 2000 brings us to the 2020’s, when leather reintroduces itself in the form of bomber jackets, pants, blazers, and tops. I just recently purchased my very own leather oversized blazer jacket-like piece and have loved the different ways I’ve styled it. It looks great with a mini skirt and a long sleeve top, a perfect layering piece for the winter months. I also love pairing it with a tight black or white mini dress when I’m in the mood for a more dressed up vibe. Leather looks great with staple black and white pieces and is a fantastic addition to any wardrobe.

4.     Ruffles

These gathered bits of decorative fabric known as ruffles have shown significance in the fashion world throughout the past decades. When a garment features gathers or pleats, it has a sense of femininity or elegance that the piece otherwise would not have. Originally unisex when used in 17th century wartime, the 1950’s and 1960’s have transformed that notion. Ruffles are now featured on women’s apparel in necklines, sleeves, boots, dresses and skirts. There are no rules surrounding ruffles or how they should be worn, but my favorite is a layered maxi length dress or skirt. In the spring and summer of 2016, we saw ruffles emerge on the runways as Gucci and Balenciaga took up the look in much of their apparel. This upcoming 2023 prom season finds inspiration in these designers as ruffles become as popular as ever for the skirt of the dress or ornamentation along the neckline or sleeves. In a more casual setting, ruffles look amazing on a flowy tank top paired with some light wash mom jeans and cute Doc Martin boots.