As always, what’s currently in style is a blast from the past. Although 90s and Y2K trends have a special place in our hearts and wardrobes, we’re moving towards the punk rock and old-school patterns, colours, and materials of the 70s.
Beige and brown took us by storm this year, starting with the brown North Face puffer jacket that was whisked off the rails after taking over TikTok. This neutral colour palette seems to be everywhere – and I love it. You would’ve expected us to leave it in AW20, but we’re keeping things clean and basic in brown this SS21.
The palette allows us to experiment with interesting patterns, like leopard print, and once you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone, there’s no looking back. The designs encourage a step away from black, which allows you to hide away, and white, which is always a risk on your day-to-day.
Looking back at Harry Styles’ fit at the recent BRIT awards proves just how much of an influence the decade has had. From white go-go boots to an oversized suit in a geometric square print, Gucci has been waiting a long while for people to catch on. They may have stuck to predominantly brown tones, but of course they incorporated hues of orange and yellow to really make it pop.
No matter your gender, pant suits are the new go-to and have earnt their comeback. Harry Styles wasn’t the only one to turn heads in one at the BRITs, as so did Arlo Parks – she also opted for a baggy fit, as its oversized nature provides comfort and is complementary to all shapes and sizes. This style can also be seen in bell bottom pants – or mom jeans for a subtle look – in denim and corduroy.
From red carpets to movie screens, metallic materials are everywhere. Malcolm & Marie, the first Netflix film to be made and released during the pandemic, featured Zendaya in a gorgeous silver Jason Rembert gown throughout the film.
The unlikely pairing of sequins with punk styles is proving popular. Miley Cyrus’ reborn style seems to have embodied the likes of David Bowie and Debby Harry – two of my favourites, which I’m excited to see more of. Sequins are taking the form of dresses, skirts, jackets, bags and even hats, ranging from subtle to all-out glam rock.
House of Sunny broke the internet with their green swirl dress – a very 70s pattern which has now branched out to bags and nail art. Similar loud and groovy designs were seen during the decade, such as geometric squares and circles, lava-lamp-style blobs, and even zebra print.
I don’t know about you, but I’d love to see these trends survive the test of time – second time lucky?
Edited by Katie Wheatley