Recycled Fashion...

Hairstyles, fashion and trends are always changing from season to season - whether it's going from ripped jeans to skinny jeans, short-shorts to high-waisted shorts or blonde highlights to pink and blue dip dyed tips. Fashion, in my opinion, is like time - it's never at a stand still, it's always changing. And the saying, "history repeats itself"? This represents the fashion world to a "T". Trends and styles that are current, are always a new and improved version of something in the past - recycled fashion. These are some of the current popular trends today that were most likely worn by your mother or even your grand-mother...

                                                       Crop Tops 

                                        80's                                                  2013

We all know how popular and in style the lovely crop top is whether you're wearing it with a skirt, jeans or tights - but crop tops aren't just relevant in the fashion world this season, they go way back a few decades. From high fashion runways to the hot, sandy beach, crop tops have been a must have this past year. But do you ever wonder where this trend began? Well originally, belly dancers from the Middle East started wearing these shirts with decorative beads, thousands of years ago! Who knew?  But when did these stylish midriff shirts really hit the fashion scene in North America? A very well known singer by the name of Madonna started the "crop top phenomenon" in the eighties, when she wore a black mesh crop top in her music video 'Lucky Star'. Then in the nineties, Britney Spears brought back the look when she wore her infamous school girl outfit in the 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' music video. After years we didn't see any exposed midriffs and tummies for a while, but now the trend has hit the world right on the head again and has become a wardrobe necessity.  

   Dr. Martens 

 

2013                                             60's

One thing you might not know about the "Doc Marten" is that up until the sixties, it was only worn and originally made as a work boot. This must-have accessory became a phenomenon after thousands of working-class men bought the boot and then were joined by the many "rebellious groups" of society. Originally spreading over London, England then eventually the world, the boot was worn by the Punks, Goths, Mods and other socially formed groups at the time. By the nineties, Doc Martens were being worn by anyone and everyone. The fashion statement not only was super in style and popular, but it represented creativity, individualism and personality. The boot was a means of one expressing themselves to the world and showing a little rebellion without causing any trouble. After over a decade the trend has come back, being worn by teenagers, celebrities and anyone who likes the boot and wants to give it a try. Miley Cyrus really made Docs famous again by wearing them in her music video "Wrecking Ball". With her very limited outfit, the boots most definitely stand out to the eye, and anyone who didn't know about Dr. Martens before, knows about them now. 

Platform/Wedge Shoes

                                        2013                                                      90's 

 Platform heels, boots or running shoes are the perfect thing to where if you're going to the disco, a punk/rock concert, or, like Miley, just going out for a drive. The "platform" or "wedge" shoe just recently snuck its way back into the world of fashion, with their unique chunky four-inch heel, they're known to give a you a little height, or give your look a disco-esc feel. The platform shoe was thought to be invented so "higher up" or common civilians could "tower" over the less fortunate. In the 1700's, Chinese male actors wore the shoes in Operas - the taller the shoe in a play, the more important his role was in the play. Until the thirties, when designer Salvatore Ferragamo came out with a rainbow-coloured cork sandal, platform shoes weren't seen anymore in fashion. In the seventies, platform shoes hit the scene once again, mostly being worn to discos. There were many interesting features being added to the shoes, such as flashing lights or small aquariums. Acts like KISS and Elton John were some of the celebrities known to be wearing a wedge shoe at the time. When the disco era finished, so did the platform shoe trend, and once again, the shoe took a break from the fashion scene. In the nineties, the phenomenon grew again when British girl band, "The Spice Girls" were seen wearing the shoes at their concerts and in their music videos. 

High-Waisted Jeans 

2013                                                      80's

 We all definitely have a pair of these vintage high-waisted jeans in our closets, whether we bought them from a a thrift store, or borrowed them from our mom's old wardrobe. Fashionable then, fashionable now. The eighties gave us this amazing style, with its "high-waist" trend in almost everything - jeans, shorts, leggings and even swimsuits. Saved By The Bell character, Kelly Kapowski was known to always sport some sort of high waisted bottoms. Paired with a crop top, this outfit is as popular then as it is now. Everyone from Rihanna to Selena Gomez have been seen wearing high-waisted pants or shorts. This style is most definitely here to stay for a while...

Maxi Dresses 

        2013                                                             70's                                            

The ever so popular flowy and beachy long dress trend, also know as the "maxi Dress" is a favourite amongst us girls because of its comfiness. Worn with a cute floppy hat and gladiator sandals, this is the perfect outfit to wear to the mall or to the boardwalk. This cute trend dates back to the sixties, Oscar de la Renta being credited for designing the very first maxi dress. In the seventies, all the top designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Dior and Cardin created their own signature maxi dress - and by the mid seventies, the maxi was seen everywhere in the fashion world. The long dress style disappeared in the eighties, but in the nineties it came back even longer than before. This boho look is quite popular, and supermodel Kate Moss is known to sport the maxi a lot. And why is the maxi dress so popular? Obviously because of its complete flexibility - you can wear it to any event, at any time of the day, and still like mega-chic! 

The Pixie Cut  

                                60's                                                      2013

The short and cute pixie cut is a lot common this year than you would actually think. Girls with long, luxurious, thick hair are chopping their locks off to get this wispy and delicate style. Many celebrities like Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams and Jennifer Lawrence famously wear the style, but this cut was popular in past decades as well. The first time a pixie cut was popularized was in the fifties when Aubrey Hepburn sported one in her debut film Roman Holiday. Then a decade later in the sixties, British supermodel Twiggy made it her trademark look. Goldie Hawn was also a popular celebrity of that era to model the cut. In this decade, we recognize Emma Watson and Miley Cyrus who famously brought back the style to a younger generation. So why are all of these ladies chopping their amazing locks off? Is it because they want a completely new look? Or is it because they just don't have the patience to spend an hour in front of the mirror with a hairbrush and a hairdryer anymore? If it were me, I'd say the latter...