An 80’s Resurrection Among GenZ
The pale blues and vanta blacks of the 2015 Tumblr era gave our generation a taste of subtlety during a time that now seems so simple and civil. Over the course of a global pandemic, a racial revolution and one of the most controversial election years in history, our culture and society have become all the more chaotic.
The state of any society is indicative of the next aesthetic trends. In a time where the world seems to have been set on fire and sent through an industrial shredder, today’s fashion trends are big, bold and bright. Expressive statement pieces and fierce androgynous outfits are making a huge splash in the fashion world at large – from local streets to red carpets.
The rise in fast fashion brands such as Shein and Fashion Nova have turned the fashion world on its head by making the most popular trends extremely affordable and accessible to anyone with Internet access. Aside from destroying the environment and committing egregious human rights violations, these brands have created a new culture in the fashion world where wealth and class no longer define who can wear what.
Colorful, patterned pants paired with vibrant crop tops and chunky jewelry can be seen in paparazzi photos under the streetwear section, or on the person sitting next to you at the bus stop. This shift has made trends that much more prevalent; there is no longer any guesswork involved in knowing what’s popular and what’s out of style.
Neon windbreakers and Princess Diana-esque biker shorts with matching bra tops have taken over athleisure, paying homage to the step-aerobics aesthetic of the 1980s. The return of white sneakers with crew socks and gold hoops have made a huge resurgence and are being utilized to turn today’s casual streetwear into a more polished and coherent look. Men’s fashion has seen an influx of 4-inch inseam shorts and muscle tanks, often paired with high tops. Streetstyle has become increasingly casual as sportswear is nearly synonymous with daywear, but a night out in today’s world is quite the opposite.
The nightlife scene has become a catalog of luminous party dresses, excessive (yet camp) necklaces, and bold makeup looks. The popularity of HBO’s “Euphoria” has revived the glittery-blue eyeshadow looks and giant hair that were once staples of any school dance in the 1980s. Whether it’s a bodycon dress adorned in jewels or a neon crop top and high-waisted jeans, effortless and muted are being left behind for daring and sexy.
Resurrections in style are traced back to parallels in the cultural and political climates of the past. The 20’s and 80’s have been defined by hyper-consumerism, presidents that were previously known as television characters and a new wave of conservatism that serves as a catalyst for rebellion among the youth. These parallels are the origin of today’s modern take on iconic 80’s fashion. Fashion and art are interchangeable, and when a society begins to head in a direction that goes against the will of the individuals, the art becomes that much more daring.
Today’s bold looks are a symbol of GenZ’s unwillingness to comply with the societal narratives being fed to us. Although we can’t quite run for office or pass bills at this stage of life, we can make our mark through fearless fashion choices. Our generation’s documentation of self-expression may seem inconsequential in the moment, but will one day be seen as an act of rebellion against a society that we have not yet taken into our own hands.
Copyedited by Lily Baldwin
Graphics by Serina Bergeron