2020s fashion

The fashions of the 2020s represent a departure from 2010s fashion. They have been largely inspired by styles of the early to mid 2000s, late 1990s, 1980s, 1970s, and 1960s. Popular brands in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia during this era include Adidas, Nike, New Balance, Globe International, Vans, Kappa, Tommy Hilfiger, Asics, Ellesse, Ralph Lauren, Forever 21, Playboy, and The North Face.

During the 2020s, many companies, including current fashion giants, such as Shein and Shekou, have been using social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram as a marketing tool. Marketing strategies involving third parties, particularly influencers and celebrities, have become prominent promotional tactics. E-commerce platforms such as Depop and Etsy grew by offering vintage, homemade, or resold clothing from individual sellers. Their goal is to promote and support small businesses and the environment, instead of major retailers.

General trends

COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic influenced many aspects of society, including fashion. Wearing a face mask has become a common and often mandatory practice. The mask shortage, human desire for self-expression, and the ability to quickly design and make masks without specialized technology soon led to a multitude of mask designs. In addition, fashion's ability to adapt to the dynamics of the world allowed fashion to stay one step ahead of the changes.

In response to these changes, fashion emerged that prioritized comfort, style, and safety. Along with face masks, both men and women favored more comfortable everyday wear. This included sneakers, loungewear, athleisure, pyjamas, and zoom tops. Zoom tops were shirts that were kept close by so the wearer could easily be presentable for a video meeting.

Maximalism and 2010s backlash

Maximalist style made a comeback in America as the decade began, as a backlash against the fashions of the 2010s. After two years indoors, many younger people started to channel their restless energy into cheery, upbeat fashions. Gen Z found themselves dissatisfied with Minimalism and Millennial fashion, considering it lacked in self-expression and fluid gender representation. All facets of popular culture were impacted by maximalism, especially fashion, interior design, music, and the arts. The remnants of minimalist fashion were rebranded as fashion subcultures such as Postminimalism and Normcore.

Although they were a fashion must-have in the 2010s, skinny jeans faced a significant backlash at the start of the decade. Gen-Z social media influencers on TikTok and BeReal decided that skinny jeans were no longer a symbol of youth culture, which caused controversy among fashion bloggers and millennial women. Separating one's hair to the side (side-part) was considered to be out of style by Gen-Z influencers. The term '' cheugy'' was coined to describe "tacky millennial fashion".

Return of anti-fashion

From 2022 onwards, anti-fashion made a comeback among many users of social media like TikTok, in reaction to the proliferation of short-lived high fashion trend cycles after the Covid lockdowns of the early 2020s. Many young people in America, Europe and Australia combined vintage pieces with high street purchases and fast fashion bought from websites like Shein because it was nearly impossible to keep up with the wide variety of styles being shown to the average social media user on a daily basis, and also because mainstream fashion media quickly became outdated as new fads emerged online. Nostalgia rivals and niche subcultures became the most popular way of consuming mainstream fashion, giving the impression that everything was trendy at the same time.

Women's clothing

Early 2020s (2020–2022)

2000s revival

As the decade began, fashions of the late 1990s and early to mid-2000s made a comeback, as many younger women in the UK, Australia, the US, Europe, and Asia rejected the form-fitting clothes that were a staple of 2010s fashion. In late 2020, younger British and American women abandoned skinny jeans for sweatpants; sweat suits; leggings; bike shorts; baggy shorts; mom jeans; low rise pants; overalls; shortalls; pants with drawstring waists; studded belts; zip up denim jumpsuits with large pockets; boot cut pants and leggings; pink velour tracksuits; leather skirts; ankle length skirts sometimes made from sheer fabric; baggy pants; and culottes.

From 2020-2022, desirable colors in the US and Europe included navy blue, neon green, electric blue, purple, black, white, coral, baby pink, light grey, silver, pastel pink, violet, pale blue, lavender, mint green, faded yellow, pastel teal, lemon yellow, orange, red, and brown.

Popular shirts, coats, and dresses from this time included puffer jackets made from upcycled deadstock fabric, sweatshirts, high waisted pants, tucked-in sweaters, camisoles and crop tops, lowrise miniskirts, brocade topcoats, midriff-baring tops, ribbed turtlenecks, garish Ed Hardy style T-shirts with rhinestones, off-the-shoulder knitted tops, science fiction-inspired metallic jackets, loose-fitting shift dresses or blouses, pantywaist tops sometimes with cap sleeves, cashmere cardigans, and oversized 1980s-inspired dog's tooth check jackets popularized by Kaia Gerber and Miley Cyrus.

Shoe and accessory styles changed as Crocs, platform sandals, knee-high boots, ballet flats, white sneakers (such as Vans, Keds, Nike Air Force 1s, or Converse), fringed handbags, multi-coloured 1980s-inspired earrings made from recycled ocean plastic, white bralettes, chunky cable knit scarves, Chelsea boots, and Doc Martens became popular.

These women shifted to fair trade, vintage, and cruelty-free clothing. Fashion-conscious British women rejected nylon, acrylic, rayon, new cotton, and polyester in favour of tencel, linen, organic cotton, and recycled polyester. Workplace dress codes became more casual due to a higher proportion of remote workers among white collar staff. Many professional women, especially in the UK and America, paired a formal blouse with casual leg wear like shorts or even pajama bottoms on video conferences.

In India, Pakistan, and Ceylon, Generation Z girls repurposed the sari worn by their mothers. They paired it with sneakers, casual knitwear, crop tops, T-shirts, black Oxford shoes, Y2K-inspired platform sandals, and sportswear. The dresses were often made in contrasting shades of grey, black, and blush pink seen as a sleek, modern, and corporate look.

1960s influences

The spring of 2021 saw a revival of psychedelic mid-to-late 1960s fashion in the UK, Asia, the US, and Africa. Clothing such as miniskirts, slim fit capri pants, denim jumpsuits, flared trousers, patched jeans, dog's tooth check skirts and mini-dresses, and cropped slim jeans were popular pants among younger women.

Other favoured styles included prairie dresses with floral embroidery; backless sundresses; floor-length kaftans with jeans; Pendleton jackets; hippie style mood rings popularized by Lorde; tiered flamenco dresses that flare out below the knee; satin slip dresses; jumpers with smiley faces and mushroom designs; satin blouses; checkerboard sweater vests; leather three-quarter length coats; Crombie style wool overcoats; leopard print winter coats; zip collar turtleneck sweaters; zip-up polo shirts with white collar trim; clothing with sunflower print; checkerboard motifs; and diamond and hexagonal prints. Popular colours during this time included brown, sage green, royal blue, hot pink, orange, yellow, and purple.

Cottage-core

During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in early 2020, cottage-core became popular due to many younger women's desire to escape cities for rural life. Cottagecore fashion became popular in Korea, the US, and the UK promoted by social media sites such as TikTok, Pinterest, and Tumblr. From 2020-2022, Western artists such as Taylor Swift adopted the trend.

The Cottage-core style was defined by pastel colours and palettes that evoked a romantic, idealized country aesthetic. American news website ''Vox'' characterized cottage-core popularity as "an escapist trend where quarantines were romantic instead of terrifying". Cottage-core centres around coloured and colours. Popular clothing included prairie dresses, blue gingham mini-dresses, white gypsy tops with multicolour Mexican-inspired floral embroidery, and hippie-style maxi dresses inspired by those worn during the late 1960s. Gingham and Austerity-era floral patterns dominated the aesthetic.

Coastal Grandmother

A closely related fashion trend, popularized by TikTok influencer Lex Nicoletta during the summer of 2022, was known as "Coastal Grandmother". The term was originally coined to describe a “beachy, romantic aesthetic" associated with the rural American East Coast. It combined elements of cottage-core with spring and fall beachwear previously associated with baby boomers like Diane Keaton, especially white jeans, cashmere turtleneck sweaters, pastel pink flip-flops, woven tote bags made from recycled fabric, straw beekeeper style sun hats, and oversized linen blouses.

Men's clothing

Early 2020s (2020–2022)

2000s influences

As Gen Z reached adulthood, fashions of the late 90s and early to mid 2000s returned. This included mixing carefully selected contemporary fashion brands like Ellesse, Kappa, Tommy Hilfiger, or Ralph Lauren with original vintage clothing and recent thrift shop finds.

Popular trends in the UK, Italy, Sweden, China, the US, and Australia included black or white crew neck shirts designed by Carhartt, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, or Hanes, midnight blue U.S. Woodland camouflage baseball caps, straight leg jeans like the Levi Strauss 501 instead of the skinny jeans popular in the 2010s, T-shirts with geek chic-inspired game console logos like the Sony PlayStation, bold multicolour motif shirts popularized by DJ Khaled, tracksuits with business suit styling, gorpcore — (after the colloquial term for trail mix — "Good ol' Raisins and Peanuts") — hiking and fishing clothing like Fjallraven windbreakers or cargo pants, Sandqvist canvas rucksacks, jogger pants as athletic style, twill joggers as a more dressed up style, black trench coats and leather reefer jackets reminiscent of those worn in ''The Matrix'', imitation leather messenger bags featuring throwback logos, Fred Perry Oxford shirts with vertical stripes, and club wear — especially brightly patterned camp shirts. Other popular items are workwear like fleece jackets, zip-up hoodies, unbranded baseball caps, rubber pool sliders and flip-flops especially in contrasting shades like purple and white, corduroy pants, trucker caps, brightly colored hoodies with bold designer logos like Polo Ralph Lauren, Champion Sportswear or Super Dry, and slim-fitting grey or khaki cargo pants worn with matching lightweight M65 Field Jackets with multiple external patch pockets.

Other 2000s retreads included old school hip-hop-inspired satin track jackets, athletic tank tops with contrasting black, orange and magenta stripes, wide-leg jeans, Burberry motifs, neon yellow and bright turquoise Lululemon socks, 59Fiftycap, bandannas, bucket hats, sports jerseys, cargo pants, bomber jackets, preppy Madras plaid shirts and Henley shirts, blouson style leather jackets, long sleeve knitted polo shirts, red, yellow and green bucket hats (especially among Welsh soccer fans during the 2022 Fifa World Cup), silk skinny ties with bold prints, tapered high waisted pants known as "dad jeans" in the US, brow line sunglasses, pleated khaki chino pants, mid-washed slim-fitting jeans and jean jackets, tie dye socks, oversized sweaters, pale denim bleached almost white, paisley sweatpants, looser fitting stonewashed jeans, sleeveless undershirts, Nike Shorts, swim shorts, white polo shirts, mid-wash double denim, oversized Bermuda shorts, colour block hoodies and sweatpants with a stripe down the leg, parkas, duffle coats, paint-spattered T-shirts, over shirts made from blanket cloth, retro bowling shirts, yellow and blue striped Rugby shirts, and distressed Perfecto motorcycle jackets. Oversized gold chains regained popularity.

Common footwear included classic Air Jordan sneakers, loafers with chunky brothel creeper soles favoured by Shawn Mendes, suede desert boots, cyan floral print Vans sneakers popularized by Nick of the Jonas Brothers, all-black imitation leather Adidas trainers, suede Timberland boots, Gucci loafers, Lacrosse or Sorel duck boots, suede Beatle boots chunky hiking sandals, high top Converse All-Stars, Nike Air Max sneakers, worker boots, and combat boots bought as army surplus.

Desirable colours included white, orange, brown, black, yellow, greens such as olive and lime, blues such as indigo, sky, cyan, and navy, and tans such as khaki and taupe.

As a result of the increase in remote work, workplace dress codes became more casual. Employees returning to the office frequently combined 1990s business casual attire with elements of loungewear and athleisure such as black monotone sneakers, navy hoodies, shorts, and even dark grey sweatpants.

Due to the many gym closures, digital smart watches with timers replaced analog wristwatches as many younger men in Europe and America subscribed to online apps for tracking and planning their exercise routines at home. In the UK, Middle East, and some parts of Africa, keffiyehs were used in an attempt to block viruses and to show support for Palestinian nationalism.

1980s revival

Due to many 2000s fashions being wikt:throwback, throwbacks to the 1980s in fashion#Early 1980s, late 1970s to early 1980s, clothing such as pinstripes, textured knits with vertical stripes, leather waistcoats, corduroy, clothing with corduroy texture, navy blue and emerald green Power dressing, power suits with shoulder pads, pleated trousers, and Chelsea boots regained popularity. The increased formality for men returning to the office was, in part, a reaction to the ubiquitous casual wear associated with working from home during the coronavirus lockdowns of 2020-21.

In Britain and the US, clothing with sports logos, colour block, Harrington jackets, baseball jackets, stonewashed denim jackets, and red or green plaid pendleton jacket, trucker-style jackets with sheepskin lining, aviator sunglasses, brown shearling flight jackets, plaid suits, striped full-button cardigan sweaters with polo shirt collars, white Converse All-Star or throwback Adidas sneakers, tan gabardine trenchcoats reminiscent of those worn by 80s TV detective Columbo, preppy style aran sweaters and fair isle cardigan sweaters with shawl collars, safari suits intended for the modern business casual workplace, double-breasted 1940s style blazers originally revived in the 1980s as the power dressing, power suit, camp collar shirts with bold prints or stripes, corduroy sports coats, Ivy League (clothing), Ivy League college-style cardigans with trim, Jacquard machine, jacquard, houndstooth, dog's tooth, and cashmere check wool scarves, tricolour socks, Vans, monotone Plimsoll shoes, towelling polo shirts, turtlenecks, and t-shirts featuring vintage-inspired graphics such as muscle cars, comic book characters, and brands such as Coca-Cola, regained mainstream popularity.

Colours such as green, grey, navy blue, red, black, white, forest green, and orange became popular in 2021, and other desired articles of clothing included stylized pale blue and magenta representations of palm trees or cassette players, and 1980s movie posters such as ''Star Wars'' or the ''Ghostbusters'' logo due to the unexpected popularity of the Ghostbusters Afterlife, 2021 movie.

Work-wear in Street fashion

Since the late 1990s in fashion, 1990s, functional workwear items like Dickies trousers and Barbour (company), Barbour jackets have been fashion statements, first sold through independent menswear stores like American Classics in London and Oi Polloi in Manchester. Workwear were as common on the high street as it is in department stores, with many Fast fashion, fast-fashion labels even offering capsule collections of blue-collar staples like chore jackets and Selvage, selvedge denim jeans. Brands such as Carhartt, Dickies and Uniqlo saw success throughout the beginning of the decade thanks to their close association with Hip hop (culture), hip-hop streetwear and skate culture. Crew neck, crewnecks, dress socks, Dickies 874 pants, and folded knit caps became wardrobe essential's during this time period.

Gender neutral clothing

Genderless fashion began as a Genderless fashion in Japan, niche Japanese subculture at the end of the 2010s. It went mainstream by 2021, with fashion experts speculating that the emerging androgynous style represents a new ideal of male beauty. The style took inspiration from 1980s fashion, anime, trendsetters like Ryuchell, and the often androgynous style of K-pop boy bands. Dyed hair, makeup, short shorts, knee socks, necklaces, tight pants, brothel creepers, Pink Panther and Betty Boop motifs, and feminine blouses in leopard print, silver, or bright colours like pink and orange were particularly common.

At the same time, some men in the UK and Korea were embracing accessories like feather boas and drop earrings. Other popular articles of clothing included kimono style shirts, frilly lace blouses, tunics, boots with stacked High-heeled footwear, Cuban heels, crop tops, furry ugg boots, kilts, mint green safari jackets with Nudie Cohn inspired embroidery, shiny jackets with shoulder pads and puffy sleeves, flared trousers, transparent shirts, shawl lapel sports coats sometimes covered with sequins or rhinestones, oversized silk shirts in purple, green, gold or silver, and suits in eccentric colours like gold Lamé (fabric), lame, shiny green sequins, or fuchsia (color), fuchsia.

During the summer of 2022, Gen Z men in America favoured shorter athletic shorts, sometimes referred to as "hoochie daddy shorts", with a 5 inch or even a 3 inch Seam (sewing), inseam. Several factors contributed to the rise in popularity of 5 inch shorts, including the popularity of men's thighs on social media, a greater acceptance of gender-fluid clothing in mainstream fashion, and general comfort and fashion trends.

The main trendsetters in androgynous fashion during this time included Sam Smith, Lil Nas X, Italian rock band Maneskin, Måneskin, South Korean pop star Jimin (singer, born 1995), Jimin, drag artists Ru Paul and Jodie Harsh, Paul Mescal, African entrepreneur Ezra Olubi, and Harry Styles.

Youth fashion

E-kids, Punk, Emo and Scene core

The widespread internet and social media access in the beginning of 2020 caused a boom in the popularity of 2000s subcultures and fashion styles among teenagers. One such subculture was the alternative or pop punk style of the early 2000s. This style was particularly popular among scene kids, punk fashion, punks, emo fashion, emos, skater fashion, skaters, and mall goths who referred to them as the "Rawring Twenties" on social media. Youth wanted to fully recreate the 'peak' of emo culture in every aspect of their lifestyle. This phenomenon brought a rise in secondhand shopping as it allowed people to find genuine or deadstock items from the early 2000s. Reasons for subculture revivals are nostalgia and considered that fashion to be liberating and eye-catching.

E-kid culture of the early 2020s was influenced by 2000s-inspired pop punk and emo aesthetics. Celebrities and influencers such as Billie Eilish, Yungblud, Dua Lipa, Lil Peep, Bladee, and Juice WRLD based their styles on emo rap, dark trap, ragecore, hyperpop, digicore, and industrial trap music. The pop punk revival of the early 2020s, associated with acts like Machine Gun Kelly (musician), Machine Gun Kelly, Olivia Rodrigo and Yungblud, as well as early 2000s groups like Paramore releasing comeback albums, had a significant E-kid fanbase.

Like the millennial scene kids swapping style tips on MySpace during the 2000s fashion, mid to late 2000s, Generation Z used YouTube and TikTok to showcase their coloured bangs (hair), bang haircuts, customized androgynous all-black outfits, lowrise pants, low-rise pants, stripy T-shirts, silver jewelry, mesh tops, plaid or leather miniskirts, platform sneakers, knit caps, band T-shirts, garishly printed shirts, hoodies, fishnets, wallet chains, and pale emo-inspired makeup with Rouge (cosmetics), blush and heavy eyeliner. Despite the criticism that E-kids were appropriating Asian popular culture such as anime and Korean pop, the counterculture grew in popularity driven by retailers such as Hot Topic and also due to mainstream exposure of emo pop.

Hip hop

For Black American and Black British youth, hip hop fashion became more politicized. This was due to the influence of social justice rappers including Stormzy, Noname (rapper), No Name, the Black Lives Matter movement, and a resurgence of interest in past civil rights organizations such as the Black Panther Party. Slogan T-shirts inspired by punk fashion, black leather jackets or trench coats, hoodies, black sweatpants, face-concealing black bandanas, dark glasses, marijuana motifs, skull masks, morale patches, paramilitary tactical vests, and camouflage patterns were popular. Black American activists in the South sometimes wore blue union army kepis at the demolition of Confederate statues to taunt Lost Cause of the Confederacy, lost cause revisionists and white supremacists.

Thanks to artists like Ken Carson (rapper), Ken Carson, Playboi Carti, and Lil Uzi Vert, the 2020s are particularly famous for a new generation of street wear ensembles that are "vamp" influenced. Heavy metal subculture, Heavy metal-inspired hip-hop apparel, dyed Dreadlocks, dread locs or braids, occult decorations like pentagrams and upside-down crosses, and layering garments are essential elements of this punk-inspired hip-hop trend.

Soft Grunge, VSCO girls and Kid core

American Indie fashion, indie fashion of the early 2020s had a major crossover with the Japanese subculture Kid-Core, to the point where the two terms became interchangeable in the US. The indie pop, indie kid look centers around bright colours and nods to the late 1990s and 2000s. Thrifting was popular across the internet in 2020 due to Gen Z's distaste for fast fashion and a desire to emulate the past. American and European teens started flooding Charity shop, thrift stores like Goodwill Industries, Goodwill in hopes of finding trendy items such as wide legged jeans, oversized zip up hoodies, striped cardigan (sweater), cardigans, crop tops, collared shirts, shoestring belts, mom jeans and other High-rise (fashion), high-rise pants, shortalls, bucket hats, Doc Martens, platform shoes, shredded denim, flower crowns, and tennis skirts. People who influenced this trend include indie rapper Russ (rapper), Russ and Australian rapper the Kid Laroi.

Unlike the hipster subculture of the 2010s, American indie kids of the 2020s favoured a more childlike style that took inspiration from the late 1990s and 2000s, Lo-fi music, bedroom pop, Skateboarding, skater fashion, energy drink culture, and Hyperpop, hyper pop. Though the indie movement attempted to be anti-conformist and environmentally friendly, this trend was heavily criticized towards young people reselling cheap second hand clothing at inflated prices.

A subsection of indie fashion were the VSCO girls who tried to emulate the style of the photo app, VSCO. These girls wear scrunchies on their wrists and in their hair with high side ponytails and headbands. Footwear includes white sneakers, ballet flats, and sandals. VSCO girls do not wear loud colours. They wear little to no makeup that blends with their skin and prioritize a cute and comfortable style. The style also included elements of soft grunge such as pastel pinks and blues, high waisted pants, oversized tie dye T-shirts, long sweatshirts or sweater dresses, Cycling shorts, bike shorts, Nike track shorts, Nike Tempo shorts, capri and ankle length leggings with socks, T-shirt dresses, denim skirts, overalls, shortalls, high waisted mom jeans many times with shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts tucked in their jeans and a belt worn, headbands, and Nike Elite socks in many different colours.

Indie Sleaze

In contrast to the brightly coloured, childlike outfits popular in America, and the mismatched clothing previously worn ironically by hipster subculture, hipsters during the 2010s, British indie pop fans favoured a darker, more authentic post-punk and garage rock-inspired aesthetic. Critics have compared the early 2020s Indie sleaze, indie rock revival, with its 1960s fashion, 1960s- and 2000s fashion, Noughties-inspired outfits, to the original British Invasion. Members of the UK indie subculture combined thrift store, thrifted dress clothing from the 2000s in fashion#Mid 2000s, mid 2000s to early 2010s with carefully selected vintage clothing, and new garments made to retro 1960s patterns by companies such as Madcap England. Artists including Sam Fender, Wet Leg, Lathums, Years & Years, and Wolf Alice popularized velvet or Paisley (design), paisley tuxedo jackets in dark blue or burgundy, off the peg dark wash slim fit jeans (but not as tight as those of the 2010s), striped polo shirts with cardigan sweater styling, white T shirts, black leather jackets, bucket hats, miniskirts (for girls), Argyle (pattern), Argyle golfing sweaters, black sportcoat, sport-coats, checked western shirts, ripped jeans, brothel creepers, and parkas.

Dark and light academia

The dark academia aesthetic, which combined elements of preppy and gothic fashion, was heavily influenced by 1930–1945 in Western fashion, 1930s and 1930–1945 in Western fashion, 1940s fashion, particularly attire worn by students at Oxbridge, Ivy League colleges, and prep schools during the time.

Cardigans, blazers, dress shirts, plaid skirts, tights, knee socks, Oxford shoes, ballet flats, white sneakers, twill jogger pants, and apparel made of houndstooth and tweed are some of the most identified articles of clothing with the dark academia aesthetic. The typical colour palette consisted of primarily of black, white, beige, browns, dark green, and occasional navy. The style has been criticized for its having themes of Eurocentrism and unhealthy learning practices.

A closely related style, known as "light academia", was characterized by neutral and light colours including light blues, pinks, whites, creamy yellows, beige, light greys, light purple, pastel and dusty colours, plaid, stripes, and argyle patterns reminiscent of the preppy look of the early 1980s. Variants to this style, which originated in America as an internet trend, included "pastel academia," "romantic academia," and "chaotic academia." Unlike dark academia, light academia is about positivity, self-care, and the warm and pleasurable parts of life. Clothing items included pleated skirts, skater dresses, jumper dresses, dresses worn with a belt, sweaters, cardigans, oversized tops, khaki pants, plaid pants, twill jogger pants, argyle and pastel knee socks, argyle and pastel tights, black tights when worn with lighter coloured clothes, socks slouched in summer weather, socks over tights, ankle and capri leggings, bike shorts, mom jeans and other high waisted pants, shortalls, shorts and skirts worn with tucked in dress shirts, cardigan sweaters and sweatshirts, turtlenecks, polo style shirts, and dressy shorts. Shoes included ballet flats, boat shoes, Mary Jane flats, white sneakers such as Keds or Sperry Top-Siders, flat ankle boots, and loafers. They accessorized with headbands, scrunchies, watches, and thin bangles.

Goblin core, Fairy Grunge and Coquette

Goblincore, also known as gremlincore, was an American subculture and style of art based on the enjoyment of features of nature that were not conventionally considered beautiful. The Goblin was an evil thieving creature in European mythology, but also served as a carefree expression of infatuation with nature's ugliness. Animals like frogs and snails, as well as materials like moss, dirt, plants, and fungi like mushrooms, were associated with goblin core.

Goblin core was popular in the LGBTQ+ community. Attire could include adventure-ready gear — most goblin core fans appear to prefer ensembles with multiple clashing patterns/colours, especially oversized sweaters — or worn-out or customized pants and overalls. For a more relaxed vibe, much of the apparel is worn-out, thrifted, or second-hand, similar to the look of crust punks in the late 1990s. Most goblincore enthusiasts preferred getting dirty, so keeping their clothes clean was not a priority.

Fairy grunge combined the aesthetics of fairy-core, coquette, and Grunge fashion, grunge. Social media creators were mostly responsible for popularizing this aesthetic. Fairy grunge might be seen as a natural extension of the kinderwhore style — which has deep roots in grunge — but with a more ethereal touch. Fairy grunge often included oversized t-shirts or hoodies, long or mini skirts, nightgowns, corsets, mittens gloves, skull patterns, mesh tights or fishnets, high knee socks, leg warmers, platform Demonia shoes, fairy wings, and sometimes elf ears. Coquette, also sometimes referred to as Nymphet, has been criticized for the glamorization of eating disorders, pedophilia, racism, and classism.

Bimbocore, McBling, and Gyaru

Bimbocore, also known as Barbiecore, is an American and Canadian Feminism, feminist fashion subculture that reclaims the sexist stereotypes of female celebrities from the 2000s. Bleached blonde hair, Juicy Couture. Von Dutch, Don Ed Hardy, Ed Hardy, skimpy skintight clothing, and Bling Bling, McBling-inspired fashion accessories characterize Bimbocore and its Japanese counterpart, Gyaru. The style acts as a meta-ironic parody of mid 2000s to early 2010s Millennial Girlboss Feminism, acknowledging that they are appealing to heteronormative Femininity, feminine Physical attractiveness, beauty standards, but in a queer feminist way. Pro-sex work and pro-women's rights, Bimbocore gained popularity in leftist TikTok communities. McBling was commonly mislabeled as Y2K. Millennial pink, Rhinestones, small handbags, large sunglasses, and Electropop, pop music define this aesthetic.

Bimbocore was criticized for glamorizing the sugar baby life style and adult platforms such as OnlyFans, but that did not end the movement's popularity with Gen Z. Mcbling has also been thoroughly criticized for racism, whitewashing, classism, and fat phobia.

Gorpcore

Gorp is a style that emerged in the late 2010’s - early 2020’s. Coined by Jason Chef in 2017, Gorpcore is futuristic, loose-fitting, outdoors, camping-chic inspired style. Gorp is unlike other style categories because it has developed into a style classification within the past couple years. The youth in 2022 reuse and get style inspiration from previous generations, while Gorp has emerged in the 2020’s, making the up and coming style more unique. The style is somewhat open for interpretation because it is fairly new making it flexible and creative. Although, there are certain patterns and form that classify an outfit as Gorp.

Brands that are associated with Gorpcore aesthetic are Arcteryx, Patagonia, Inc., Patagonia, North Face and more. A significant part of this style category is the earthy and muted tones such as olive green, khaki, beige grey marl, and horizon blue, down jackets, body warmers, anoraks, utilitarian Eagle Creek (company), Eagle Creek and Osprey rucksacks, crew neck and v neck t shirts with zip pockets, utility pants, moisture-wicking grey and navy blue "trekking shirts" with short sleeves and snap fasteners, knit caps, big headphones and racer-glasses are a part of the Gorp aesthetic. This fashion style coincides with Gen-Zers desire for sustainable fashion, as many of these pieces are easily accessible in vintage or thrift shops while designer pieces can be found on e-commerce stores such as Depop or Thred-up. This style is unisex and reflects how Gen-Zers are breaking heteronormative cultural dress codes and creating an original style unique to the 2020’s.

Hairstyles

Women

Due to the restrictions on Beauty salon, hair salons during the lockdowns, many women grew out their hair or watched tutorials to do their own hair. Popular styles included curtain bangs (hair), bangs, 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s-inspired Bangs (hair), bangs, hair extensions, ponytails, twin Pigtail, French braid, Shag (hairstyle), shaggy hair commonly known as the "wolf cut", and natural hair for Black American women. Along with these hairstyles, 1960s-inspired beehive hairdos were popularized by British pop singers Emily Capell and Joy Crookes, and early 2000s fashion-inspired straightened and brightly dyed hair was made popular by Doja Cat and Billie Eilish from 2021–22.

Common hair accessories included pearl and sequin hair clips, headbands, bandannas and scrunchies. During the lockdowns of 2020–21, some women in the UK, America and Asia experimented with DIY hairstyles at home, including the bob cut, the crop, the partially shaved head, bangs, and the pixie cut.

Men

Beginning in 2020, full beards associated with hipster subculture declined, except in parts of the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. When worn, beards in the West were generally trimmed short to accentuate the wearer's features and facilitate masking.

Hairstyles of the late 1980s, 1990s and early to mid 2000s such as side parted or centrally parted curtained hair, Perm (hairstyle), permed hair, hair bleaching, bleached hair, the "mod haircut, Wet Mop"," Mullet (haircut), Mullets (especially in America and Australia), quiffs, the "bowl cut, Edgar cut", and shaggy hair came back among teenagers and young adult men due to barbershop closures in the UK and US. Many younger Black American men opted for natural hair from 2021 onwards, especially the skin fade, textured Caesar cut and short versions of the afro or dreadlocks combined with an undercut (hairstyle), undercut. Meanwhile, many balding men in the UK, America and Ireland continued to get buzzcut, buzz cuts at home during the lockdown. Despite negative online reactions by heterosexual women, young males began growing mustaches in the summer of 2022, inspired by Miles Teller's role in ''Top Gun: Maverick''.

Cosmetics trends

Skincare

Common skincare techniques in America during the early 2020s included "slugging" the face and sometimes the hair with petroleum jelly. Many Indian and American women also used vitamin C and Retinol serums in the form of a liquid, cream or gel to reduce fine lines, improve collagen production, reduce blemishes, and address pigmentation issues.

In April 2021, influencers on TikTok popularized Gua sha, a Chinese skincare technique that uses face stones to promote blood and Energy flow (ecology), energy flow. Another Asian technique, the use of rice water as a hair treatment, gained popularity in the West at the same time. Baby botox was injected into the foreheads of young women to prevent wrinkles.

Makeup

The Clean Girl look was an evolution of the previous decade's Model Off Duty aesthetic. The term was coined during the early 2020s to characterize the makeup style pioneered by American models like Bella Hadid and Lily Rose Depp. This casual monochromatic tone style had matching clothing sets that complemented the cosmetics, button-down shirts, slicked-back hair, fluffy brows, dewy skin, flushed cheeks, and glossy lips. Clean Girl was focused on appearing effortlessly flawless and casual, adapting all the fashion trends from the early 2020s and giving them a muted tonal colour palate and a sexy carefree attitude. The strong emphasis on skincare, diet, and exercise made the clean girl not only a fashion statement but a lifestyle as well, similar to her 1960s in fashion#The Single Girl, 1960s predecessor. The Clean Girl aesthetic has been criticized for cultural appropriation, toxic positivity and fatphobia, which did affect its mainstream popularity.

The maximalist graphic eyeliner trend of 2022 gave British and American women the freedom to emphasize the eyes with vibrant colours and geometric designs. Graphic eyeliner made headlines and introduced women to fresh methods to experiment with facial makeup.

Tattoos

From 2021 onwards, new tattoo styles emerged among younger trendsetters. Popular trends for women included colourful modern reinterpretations of traditional Japanese tattoos, psychedelic art, tramp stamps, minimalist black and white portraits, lightning bolts, fine art, pop culture mashups, holograms, and dot work.

Other popular tattoo designs included spirituality, spiritual meanings such as representations of the Buddha, Hindu mandalas, and the Tree of Life. Tribal tattoos and hyperrealism (visual arts), hyperrealistic portraits of loved ones popular during the 2010s declined.

Plastic surgery

The Brazilian butt lift is a gluteal fat grafting procedure that utilizes excess fat collected from other areas of the body to add buttock volume and projection, and/or adjust overall shape and symmetry. The Brazilian Butt lift reached its peak media coverage in 2021, when it was declared to be "the world's most dangerous cosmetic surgery", with news headlines discussing the procedure's risks and fatalities following the procedure. The "fox eye lift" in particular, was a contentious cosmetic trend because of the strong racial connotations associated with giving someone an oriental eye shape.

Changing body standards

It was "no longer fashionable to be curvaceous," according to mainstream news outlets of the day; Heroin chic, Heroin Chic enjoyed a popular resurgence. Eating disorders and toxic beauty standards became a problem for all genders due to Manosphere, manospheric obsession towards low Body fat percentage, body fat and sharp angular faces, leading to severe body dimorphic disorders, the glorification of cosmetic Orthognathic surgery, jaw surgery and eating disorders in those who identify as men. Fat shaming spread to main stream platforms such as TikTok, Tik Tok and Instagram, and Twitter users engaged in targeted harassment of those who did not fit their ideal beauty standards. A woman could be targeted for harassment simply by being present online.

Gallery

File:HK Young people clothing fashion May 2021 SS2.jpg, Man wearing early 2020s fashion trends.
File:20201128 STRIKE Wardrobe Shooting Vintage Fashion 5.jpg, Teen girl wearing early 2020s fashion trends.
File:NIKKI-PHILLIPS-AAFW-2021.jpg, 2021: Nikki Phillips (model), Nikki Phillips in Fashion week, Fashion Week.
File:AlexandraZuppas BLTFITPhotoBooth 08242022.jpg, Student in 2022.
File:Belle Delphine - 2020-c.png, 2020: Social media influencer Belle Delphine wearing an all-black e-girl outfit.
File:Sally FashionWeek.jpg, Woman attending 2022 Fashion Week.
File:20210206 171157 (2) Fashion in 2021.jpg, Clothes for sale in 2021.
File:Dove Cameron Vogue - 4.jpg, Actress Dove Cameron sporting early 2020s makeup trends.
File:Jordan-barrett-mbfw-march-2022-fashion-week-berlin.jpg, alt=, The Mullet (haircut), mullet/Shag (haircut), shaggy hairstyle became a popular hairstyle among men.
File:Billie Eilish Grammys Red Carpet 2020.png, 2020: Singer Billie Eilish sporting a face mask and mix of brown- and green-dyed straight hair.
File:WLF frobas (7).jpg, Indonesian girls wearing face masks in 2022.
File:DC Fashion Week - Emerging Designers Showcase by designer Shey Natividad (28).jpg, 2020: Blush pink dress designed by Shey Natividad for DC Fashion Week.

See also

*2020s
*Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the fashion industry
*2010s in fashion
*2000s in fashion
*History of Western fashion
*Fashion design

External links

Voguemarie clarieNylonMaverick Featherthe gentlewoman

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fashion (2020s)
2020s fashion,
2020s decade overviews