Beauty and fashion trends come and go, and then come back around again. This was definitely the case in the 2010s. Things that haven’t been cool since the 80s and 90s are starting to show up on the fashion radar once again.
The great thing about this is if you really like a particular fashion item and it goes out of style, you can keep it stowed away in your closet. You will likely have the chance to bring it back out when it is inevitably back in style.
This doesn’t mean you can—or should—keep everything. Your closet can’t take it, and honestly, we all know there were some fashion choices from the past decade that were a little cringey. To make it easier to decide what to toss and what to keep, here’s a rundown on some fashion trends from the 2010s.
Hit: Chokers
The choker trend from the 1990s made a huge return during the 2010s on both Instagram and red carpets alike. That’s not surprising considering that the choker has a way of adding that coveted cool factor to any ensemble.
A nice choker coupled with fresh eyelash extensions and brows that are on point can set you up for the perfect selfie on Instagram.
Hit: High-Waisted Jeans
During the 2010s, the higher your jeans were, the better. Sorry, lovers of low-risers; mom jeans were all the rage, likely because these types of denim jeans have a way of making you look slimmer and making your figure look much more flattering. Plus, they’re comfortable to wear with a blouse, t-shirt, or a pullover.
Hit: Sneakers with Dresses
Pairing a fancy outfit with a nice pair of sneakers became extremely in vogue during the 2010s for a couple of reasons. For starters, sneakers are an excellent way to dress any look down. On top of that, every woman knows the pains—literally—that come with wearing stilettos.
Millie Bobby Brown rocked this trend during the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2018.
Hit: All-Over and Mixed-Print Ensembles
Whether you’re looking at a cute striped cardigan or an all-over floral print dress, adding prints to your wardrobe is a great way to show off your personality or represent the season. Mixing prints was a popular trend in the 2010s, and for good reason: It allowed you to tap into your artistic and imaginative side while getting dressed every morning. Yes, you could mess up this trend if you’re not careful, but experimenting with design and texture can be fun and yield great results in the right situation.
Miss: Super-Distressed Jeans
It’s true—you can have too much of a good thing.
We love jeans just as much as you do. They’ll never go out of style, hence the high-waisted jeans further up on this list. Even some distressing on your jeans, which was highly popular in the 2010s, will likely remain on trend in the 2020s. It shows character!
But let’s not get crazy with it. If the material on your jeans is made of more holes and fraying than actual fabric, you have probably gone a little overboard. It’s time to leave excessively distressed jeans in the 2010s where they belong.
Miss: Tiny Sunglasses
The tiny sunglasses trend has been on the rise since 2018, but this is another one that can be left behind. This trend was popular with the young millennial and Gen Z crowd, but these tiny sunglasses do nothing to protect your eyes from the sun. They also don’t look very flattering. The next time you’re choosing sunglasses, do yourself a favor and skip this trend.
Miss: Too Much Denim
Denim on top of denim was certainly popular during the 2010s, but times are changing in 2020. Denim isn’t meant to give you the look of a polished suit; it’s supposed to be casual. As a result, wearing a denim jacket, shirt, and jeans together is just too much for the eye and simply looks messy. All-over denim is a trend that’s worth forgetting as you switch to the hottest 2020 trends.
Step out in Style Today!
With spring around the corner, now couldn’t be a better time to rummage through your closest for those 2010s hits while also doing some spring cleaning with the 2010s misses.
If you’ll secretly miss the misses, don’t worry—you could always wear them around the house or during your next remodeling project. And the great news is that the hits will no doubt remain well liked and timeless for many years to come.
Remember this one thing, though, as you seek out the latest designs and styles to apply to what you wear: Stay original.