The Age of Aquarius Returns
Here’s what you might be wearing
Women protesting outside Miss America 1968. (Photo / Getty Images)
The term “Age of Aquarius,” while rooted in astrology and star-mapping, is more of a concept than a tangible event. It means that we are in an age where major changes are poised to happen worldwide, and revolution is the name of the game. For instance, women in Iran are taking a strong stand against the hijab mandate in their country, risking their lives every second for the ability to wear what they choose without persecution. While the situations are incomparable, I can’t help but conjure up the image of women burning their bras in the street in 1969. Movements during the 1960s and 1970s reflect the last Age of Aquarius in which protest surrounding clothing and self-expression became a representation of freedom.
1967 Seventeen Magazine Ad (Photo / Flickr)
The late ‘60s and early ‘70s marked a time of massive social, cultural and political revolutions in the United States and across the globe. These iconic years can be characterized by bright colors, bell-bottoms, scarves, clashing patterns and cropped tees (sans bra). Though today these trends have been reduced to the words “boho” and “hippie,” the origin of these styles lies in the desire for free expression and the rejection of clothing censorship. So what does today’s Age of Aquarius look like stylistically, and what iconic pieces should you wear to ring in this era of progress? Below are four pieces that you’ll want to show your grandkids when they ask what you were up to in 2023.
1. Sheer confidence
The arrival of a new age calls for transparency, so naturally, mesh clothing has become a staple in the closets of many twenty-somethings (Refinery29). Learning to embrace our bodies has resurfaced the rebellious use of see-through materials and melded with the bold confidence of 80s streetwear. Add a touch of modern cyberpunk (think the bright colors of Blade Runner 2049), and you’ve got the barely-there designs taking over every runway.
2. Low-rise, high controversy
People tend to characterize the low-rise pant trend as exclusionary and specific to one body type. I’m here to bust this myth. Anyone and everyone can wear low-rise pants and look incredible. Regardless of the shape of your belly, the purpose behind these pants is to feel good in your body and ditch the uncomfortable restraints of jeans that rise up to your ribcage. It goes without saying, of course, that style is subjective and if exposing your midriff/stomach isn’t something you’re comfortable with, stay true to yourself! The Age of Aquarius means the freedom to wear whatever you like.
3. All about extremes
Whether it be baby tees or oversized pullovers, style icons of this generation can be spotted wearing shirts on both ends of the size spectrum. Ultra-cropped tops with adorable (and sometimes a little ironic) designs are a nostalgic reminder of our childhoods pre-smartphones and social media. Nicknamed the “Nostalgia Generation,” Gen Z begins to mourn their childhood before they even hit their 30s. Our clothes during this age are a reflection of our longing for the “simpler times,” according to the University of Pittsburgh.
Photo / WanderlustDesignsUS
4. More than minimal
As a generation raised on technology, we’ve ridden a rollercoaster of overstimulation, according to Business Insider, that has ultimately led us to crave minimalism in our lives. Tech companies like Apple appealed to users by creating “sleek,” bare designs in strictly neutral and metallic tones, and unsurprisingly, fashion followed for years. Rejecting the call to “be less sentimental” as said by an article in the London College of Contemporary Arts, more people are exploring different colors, textures and shapes as a means of individual expression in a time of homogeneity. Unlike materialism, the purpose is not to own and wear many items. Rather, it’s to wear whatever feels rightly over-the-top that day, even if it breaks away from the expected modern uniform of capsule-collection blazers and neutral knit tops.
Photo / Pinterest
Whatever you want to call it, a new age of creative thinkers and artists is growing up and beginning to question the world around them. But remember, you don’t have to change the whole world to participate. The art of fashion makes its own impact, and I encourage you to dress freely and without restraint. When you get down to the nitty-gritty, that’s what the Age of Aquarius is all about.
Written by Lily Baldwin
Copyedited by Mariana Mejia
Graphic by Sophie Difusco