SS 2020 Trends: Everything Old is New Again

As we were digging through our closets getting ready to wear REAL clothes again, we started to notice similarities from years past with SS 2020 trends. We also couldn’t help but see some nods to our moms and even grandmother’s wardrobes. Whoever said, “Everything old is new again” must have been talking about fashion! Today we’re going to compare some of these trends and the classics that inspired them. We’ll start with the most recent throwbacks first.

SS 2020 Trends: Head-to-Toe Denim, Bucket Hats, Strappy Square Toed Sandals

Where You’ve Seen It: The 2000s

Who can forget the matching head-to-toe denim looks of early aughts “It” couple, Britney and Justin! A moment that will go down in the annals of pop culture and clearly today’s creatives thought so too. Because just like Britney, it’s back. We’re seeing full on looks at Goop, trucker jackets at Guess, denim vests at Top Shop, and cropped denim corset tops at Dolce and Gabbana. And of course a button-down denim top never goes out of style.

Bucket hats started making a resurgence last fall and winter, but Elie Tahari cemented their comeback at the Spring/Summer shows. Originally worn by rappers in the late 70s and mid-80s, it wasn’t until Jay Z wore one in the early 2000s that they officially crossed over to the masses, with everyone from Brad Pitt to Paris Hilton, the ultimate aughts queen, sporting the look. Loeffler Randall is giving us a leopard print and the eponymous Kangol, is back with a terry cloth version. A perfect complement to your bikini this summer.

Squared toed strappy sandals are new again in a big way. First worn by Tara, Lindsay, Christina, Mandy and every girl at prom 2004, this summer brings us grown up styles by Simon Miller, Shutz, Marni and soon to be seen on every Instagram feed, if they’re not already.  

SS 2020 Trends: Underwear as Outerwear, Sheers, Chunky Boots with Cute Dresses

When You’ve Seen It: The 1990s

Slips, sheers, bras as tops hit the streets of Greenwich Village in the mid-90s and soon made it to the runways lead by Anna Sui and on the red carpet by Kate Moss and SJP. We’ll be seeing sheer pieces of all manner this summer and a return to bralettes worn under blazers. Though some of them, like the ones by Michael Kors, Jason Wu and Dior, offer enough coverage to be worn with a pair of high waisted, flared jeans, harkening back to another look of the late 90s and early aughts when raves were all the, er, rave. 

Combat boots made famous by Dr. Martens worn by UK punks in the 70s and hitting mainstream in the 90s were seen with flowing, ruffled and flower power print dresses, both on the runways and off, in the 90s and today. Accentuate your feminine side but let them know who’s boss.

SS 2020 Trends: Big jackets, Bright Colors, Bike Shorts

When You’ve Seen It: 1980s

The 80s is the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to fashion trends. Neon and bright colors burst into the early 80s scene thanks to New Wave bands like The B-52s and The Psychedelic Furs, while the mid-80s gave us Melanie Griffith in “Working Girl” and big blazers, big shoulders and big sleeves along with it. The mid-80s also had Olivia Newton John telling us to “Let’s Get Physical” when aerobics became the new craze, giving us one of the first instances of workout clothes as fashion, with bike shorts, though they weren’t called that yet, leading the pack. But it was Demi Moore who famously wore them to the Oscars in 1989 that launched them onto the scene. All of these looks will be big this summer as seen on the runways of … well, just about everyone!

SS 2020 Trends: Florals, Crochet, Fringe, Short Shorts

When You’ve Seen It: 1970s

The new looks for this year have relied heavily on the 1970s, which in turn were inspired by the 1940s. We meant it when we said, “Everything Old is New Again”! So. Many. Looks. Maxi dresses and floral prints were on nearly every runway this season, from Mark Jacobs to Lanvin, Gani to Celine. These silhouettes and prints ruled the early 70s, while crochet was all the rage in the mid-70s and seen today at Fendi, Jonathan Simkhai and Marni. (This classic encapsulates all the looks, don’t you think?) Short shorts defined summer in the late 70s and into the early 80s, accessorized with a pair of roller skates. Chanel, Ferragamo and Miu Miu are bringing back these shorts and we hope they’ll stick around next year too. Roller skates optional.

SS 2020 Trends: Bermuda Shorts, Tie-Dye

When You’ve Seen It: 1960s

We saw knee skimming shorts in denim a few seasons back but Alice + Olivia, Valentino and Saint Laurent are just some of the designers that have elevated Bermuda shorts on the runway this year, in satin, linen and even leather over at Tom Ford. Not your grandmothers shorts! She probably wore them back in the early 1960s with a cute, sleeveless button up and a pair of Keds, drinking soda pop with her girls and listening to Bobby Darin on a transistor radio. Pair yours with an oversized blazer or button-down shirt for a fresh look. 

And finally, tie-dye made its first appearance in the late 1960s when hippies were inspired by the psychedelic light shows backing iconic bands like the Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead and many others at the legendary Fillmore Auditorium in Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco. The current renaissance hit last year but is still going strong this season, thanks to more time on our hands for crafting during the lockdown. From Free People to Christian Dior, Madewell to Versace and bikinis to Vans, far out, swirling colors will still rule this summer.

What looks are you excited about this season?

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