Which Trends Will Weather the Test of Time?

Skinny jeans have had their moment, and it’s not now. According to Loyola students, skinny jeans aren’t the only fashion fad they’re looking to abandon.

Despite their intense popularity throughout the Y2K era of fashion into the mid-2010s, the decline in skinny jean sightings has proven that even the most sought-after trends don’t last forever. 

First-year student Farheen Saiyed didn’t hesitate to share one trend she looks forward to leaving behind — moon boots. The shoes were in high demand in the 1970s and early 2000s, and the bulky snow boots have recently made a resurgence in popularity, according to FASHION Magazine.

“They’re just really chunky and there’s not much you can do with them,” the finance major said. 

Junior Cecilia Allen said she appreciated the polarizing footwear. Despite her admiration for those who can rock a pair, she said she can’t justify the purchase. 

“I just don’t think they’re practical,” the advertising and public relations major said. “I know they’re gonna go away literally next season so there’s no reason to put a payment down on those.”

Practicality and long-term wear were common themes among students’ reasoning behind which trends they thought were worth the hype. Fashion trends change faster than the seasons, a vicious cycle that seems to turn many students off from participating in even their favorite trends.

Aside from the hard-to-style moon boots, Saiyed said she preferred to steer away from the popular Pinterest-esque, chunky jelly rings. While the statement of a funky, colorful ring once appealed to her, the 19-year-old said they’re no longer on her list of fashion favorites. 

Senior Krishna Patel made the personal decision to ditch the recently trendy jogger-sweatshirt sets. The biology and neuroscience major said she’s looking to move past the matching set trend — the modern take on the iconic ‘70s and early 2000s tracksuit craze, according to Complex.

“Whenever I wear them it makes me feel kind of lazy, less productive,” Patel, 22, said. 

Some students plan on leaving behind entire brands in general. Allen said she hopes the infamous online fast-fashion store SHEIN will be out of style when the next trend cycle rolls around .

SHEIN has been a primary source for keeping up with the rapid trend cycle at a low price point over the last few years. However, many people have been fighting for a decline in consumption from brands such as SHEIN due to ethical and environmental concerns. The ethics of fast fashion brands have been called into question due to poor working conditions, pollution caused by synthetic fabric usage and unsustainable output rates, according to a 2019 Forbes article.

“You only buy it for the post and then you never wear it again,” Allen, 21, said. “That mindset has to go away.”

Celebrities have had an undeniable impact on what’s in and what’s out. Saiyed said images of Rihanna showing off her baby bump through a half-unbuttoned puffer jacket recently made their rounds on social media. She predicted Rihanna’s exposed abdomen look might impact fashion trends in the near future, influencing others to leave the bottom half of their jackets open as well. 

The lists of favorite and least favorite fashion trends are often conflicting. However, most students agree on one thing: “At the end of the day, they don’t really matter,” Patel said.

Many students support the individual choice to participate in the fast-paced trend cycle. While Saiyed noted the timelessness of certain closet staples, such as turtlenecks, she also said trend participation is a personal experience. 

“Honestly, if you want to buy into trends, do it. If you don’t, don’t,” Saiyed said. 

Self-expression, creativity, originality and comfort were all common topics of discussion when students reflected on trends. Most found common ground when considering the significance of trends, agreeing that what’s popular and what isn’t is less important than making fulfilling, personalized fashion choices. 

“I think it just depends on your artistic expression,” Saiyed said. “That’s what fashion is all about.”

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