Recycling fashion trends: vintage makes a comeback

PHOTO: Target has filled its stock with clothing representing trends from the 90’s.

By Alexandra Zurborg,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

Sophomore Sophia Leamy walks across campus with her hair up in a high ponytail held up by a scrunchie. Just around the corner, sophomore Stephanie Thompson is wearing mom jeans rolled at the ankles, complete with a tube top. Round glasses, denim skirts, hoop earrings and flannels also make an appearance in teenage fashion.

“I think vintage clothing is coming back into fashion because of its unique and distinct look,” Thompson said. “It’s classy and cute and has a trendy feel, despite being vintage.”

Consumers, especially people ages 13-25, seem to be combining some of their favorite old-school styles.

“We have been featuring higher waisted pants and trousers over the past year as well as some boxier-cut blazers which call back to ‘90s women’s power suits,” said Julie Cross, an independent CAbi fashion, a trendy women’s clothing company that keeps up with the latest fashion for each season.

When Cross looks at the catalogs her company prints, she gets a glimpse at some of the latest fashion trends. “I think the destructed denim trend we’ve been seeing return to popularity is a direct reference to ‘90s grunge trends,” Cross said while looking through her merchandise.

According to Chrissy Callahan from the Today Show, “retailers are banking on all the vintage ‘90s styles hitting store shelves to persuade millennials to shop a bit more [in real life]–instead of quickly filling up their online shopping carts.”

Retailers are trying to take advantage of these trends and get more people to go outside and shop in stores.

Recycled clothing trends have been received well. “I think the style is pretty cute,” Leamy said. “It’s really colorful and eye catching, that’s why I think people love it so much.”

Recycling fashion from different eras is not uncommon. In the 16^th century, corsets were invented to give women an appeal of a smaller waist. Then later on in the 1920s, it was recycled into girdles and brassieres, which supported a woman and also gave her a slimmer appearance.

“I think clothing trends progress in a cycle, and that what was popular 20-30 years ago gets refreshed with a new twist,” Cross said.

For older customers, nostalgia plays a major role. “It reminds me a lot of when I was walking around high school back in the day,” parent James Morante said.

“I think there are certainly things that will linger longer than other things,” said Rae Anne Yip, co-founder of fashion company Manny and Blinn,  said. “I have seen throwback shoes from the ‘90s and blazer coats for women too.”

Designer Donatella Versace may have a clue as to why the ‘90s fashion is making a comeback. “The early ‘90s were an especially marvelous period for fashion, because it was the peak of glamour and there were no limits as to what you could do,” Versace said.