Page 46 - ADU Voice Volume 5 Issue 1

46 Voice | Fall 2025

AL
ND F
L
THE RISE AND FALL
THE RISE A

A
OF FASHION TRENDS
OF F
SHION TRENDS

By Waad Elamin

very few years, just when your parents think they’ve left
Ecertain looks in the past, they start to seem appealing
again. We see them reappear on TikTok, runways, or the racks
at the mall; next thing you know, those looks are back in style!

What goes around often comes right back around, and fashion
trends are no different. These trends come back repackaged and
ready for the new generation to experience. Fashion trends often
follow a cyclical pattern thanks to digital culture, generational
memory, and the craving for something both new and familiar.

Trends usually work in waves—they rise, fall, and rise again,
usually every 20 years or so. That’s why we’re currently seeing
the rise of 2000s fashion trends like low-rise jeans and pleated
skirts. It’s usually a product of an emotional connection to
the past. Nostalgia sells, and the fashion industry knows how
to revive an old trend in a way the modern generation can
enjoy. However, not all elements of past decades fully return;
instead, we get selective reinvention—where only the aspects
that resonate with today’s fashion standards make the cut,
effectively creating a trend that feels both fresh and intimate.
Many iconic pieces throughout history are interpreted through
a contemporary lens. This way, we can pay homage to previous
trends while simultaneously evolving and adapting. For
example, crochet fashion was big in the ’70s; it was associated
with handmade, boho styles, and had resurfaced in the 2020s.
While crochet pieces were often worn in music festivals, they’ve
become an everyday staple for many, because of their modern,
versatile reinvention. Naturally, with the rise of the fast-paced
online world, the cycle of trends is accelerating as well. They
now return after just a few years or even months from when
they are first conceptualized. Online fashion trends such as the
“clean girl aesthetic” or “cottagecore” evolve at a much faster
pace than traditional trends. This also means trends die faster; a
look seen on the runway can be dumped by the end of the week.