By Jennifer Gallagher, Second Year, Religion and Theology
The Croft Magazine // Jennifer reviews the best and worst of 2020's fashion trends.
It must be said that 2020 has not been anyones year, with COVID-19 ruining fun, friendships and fashion ever since it reared its ugly head in March. However, whilst it has been a year of lonely zoom calls with a minimal effort approach being adopted by most, we can still reflect on the good, the bad and the ugly of 2020's fashion trends.
Sweatpants
Sweatpants and loungewear have really come into their own since the dawn of COVID-19, and I for one have learnt that anyone who lounges in jeans in the privacy of their own home cannot be trusted. My personal favourites of 2020 are from the sustainable brand Pangaia, as seen on celebrities such as Kourtney Kardashian and Pharrell, as well as nobodies such as me. Disgustingly expensive yet effortlessly cool, they come in a range of bright colours guaranteed to bring some fun to your dull 4pm lecture. I personally would advise reading a little about how and why they are 100% sustainable - gets a bit awkward when your mum asks why you spend £230 on a sweatsuit and all you can offer is 'its organic'.
Sweater Vests and Cardigans
Grandad chic has prevailed the pavements this year with sweater vests and cardigans being all the range. Ever since Katie Holmes donned the infamous cashmere bra and cardigan set back in 2019, thousands of hopefuls have turned to knitwear in an attempt to look as demurely sexy as her. Indeed, there is a certain girl-next-door elegance that a loosely buttoned cardigan can bring. I, on the other hand, opted for a green and black sweater-vest, that my kind housemate said 'looks like snot'.
Tie Dye
Remember back in summer when garish tie dye took over everything from loungewear to swimwear to sleepwear. Remember Girl Guide Summer Camp in 2009 when Natasha sabotaged your homemade tie dye t-shirt with horrible orange dye. Yep, me too. Point in case: tie dye brings back nothing but bad memories and sickening headaches and should be well and truly dumped this year. Eat that Natasha.
Micro Bags
Moving onto accessories, there has been one red-carpet trend that has flummoxed practical onlookers left, right and centre. The teeny tiny tote bags that can carry nothing but a single tic-tac may be cute and comical, but really, whats the point? Unless you're happy to carry all your belongings in a different vessel, as you clasp the itsy-bitsy ornament between your thumb and first finger, I would suggest that we move into 2021 with a view to bags that carry a purpose other than their blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance.
Puffer Coats
This one is courtesy of my dad, who told me that Radio 4 reported an exponential rise in puffer coat sales in 2020. When I googled said programme to verify his vague rumouring, there was nothing to be found except a report of school children wearing puffer coats in their classrooms, because windows were being left open to fend off coronavirus. Cheers dad. Nevertheless, puffer-coats have indeed been a staple of 2020, though I can't comment on the number of sales specifically. Maybe it's because England is cold. Maybe it's because it reminds one of a warm embrace they haven't felt in months. Maybe it's because a matching grey Nike tracksuit and a North Face brings a certain je ne sais quoi to one's image. Who knows? But whatever it is, I'm here for it.
Which 2020 trends did love or loathe?
Beauty trends to try in 2021
2021 fashion trends
Featured image: Epigram/Morgan Collins
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