It’s a well known fact that fashion trends tend to be cyclical over time. In the past, styles have resurfaced every couple of decades, with designers and consumers alike revisiting past aesthetics and reinventing them to meet modern standards. Thanks to the combination of fast fashion and social media, these cycles have sped up, and instead of seeing trends from twenty to thirty years ago, we’re starting to see the resurgence of fashion from the 2010s. What seemed outdated and tacky not too long ago is already coming back in the industry. The 2010s were a time defined by a mix of indie sleaze, boho chic, athleisure, and maximalist streetwear. These trends have been making a sudden comeback, heavily driven by Gen Z’s nostalgia towards early social media aesthetics.
A major returning style is indie-sleaze, which is known by its smudged eyeliner, unfiltered aesthetics, ripped tights, band tees, and overall messy look (think Skins’s Effy Stonem). Another is boho chic: a free-spirited style expressed through flowy fabrics, earthy tones, and intricate embroidery. It was popularized through festival culture at the time, such as that of Coachella and Burning Man. Athleisure, another 2010s trend, never completely disappeared but rather evolved. Yoga pants have been rebranded as flare leggings, and UGG boots are now back in full force, reflecting the ongoing trend of comfort-driven fashion. On the other end of the fashion spectrum, pieces such as chunky shoes (think Isabel Marant’s infamous wedge sneaker), statement jewelry, and bold graphics like leopard print – all once staples of 2010s streetwear – are also returning.
The cycle of fashion trends ensures that nothing is forever entombed in the past. As fashion revisits, the 2010s styles will continue to be modernized with updated silhouettes and new styling approaches. The past decade’s fashion is back and here to stay. At least until the next decade rolls around.
(Grace Mathis ’26)
