Fashion Aesthetics of 2020

The Fashion Aesthetics of 2020

Personal style used to be seen in a very black-and-white way. We were deemed one of three things: girly, edgy, or athletic. However, we have since evolved. In our modern world, we are exposed to more fashion aesthetics than just the ones readily familiar to us. By learning about all that’s trending, we can curate looks that best fit our personal style.

"Style is something each of us already has, all we need to do is find it." -Diane von Furstenberg

The Fashion Aesthetics of 2020

"In difficult times, fashion is always outrageous."-Elsa Schiaparelli

A large part of this personal style renaissance occurred in the middle of quarantine summer. The globe was put on lockdown, meaning that we all had more free time than ever on our hands. It was a period for reinvention and self-care. For a lot of people that meant a wardrobe check, aligning the contents of their closet with the person they wanted to be. Here’s to highlighting the biggest personal aesthetics of 2020, those of which are ever-evolving.

Cottagecore

Afternoon frolic through the gardens, anyone? The heart of the cottagecore aesthetic is seen in all things floral and flowy. It is girly and feminine, almost to the point of being doll-like. With this aesthetic, you are one of the Victorian girls in the paintings. In clothing, we see this trend represented by loose, feminine dresses and big, puffy sleeves. Cottagecore also features a lot of ruffles, white linen, and dainty embroidery in pastel florals.

Preppy

This trend makes people stop and wonder whether you’re on your way to a tennis competition or private school. These looks are created by styling together collared polos, sweater vests, cardigans, tennis skirts, and pleated skirts. Think: Princess Diana couture. One of our favorite ways to style this is by tying a cardigan over the shoulders, a simple yet effective way to look posh.

Streetwear

Streetwear is fun because the typical rules of fashion no longer apply. The “rule” is that when wearing a loose top, you must pair it with a fitted bottom, and viceversa. However, streetwear revels in its baggy silhouette. Oversized tees, crewnecks paired with jeans, and bucket hats are a few key factors in a classic streetwear look. If the baggy jean look is not your thing, then biker shorts are also a good piece to style with a roomy tee.

Brandy

Casual is now cute again. Brandy Melville started as a clothing store, and has since inspired a whole genre of style. It is largely composed of outfits made from only the basics; baby tees and tanks have never looked this good. The Brandy aesthetic looks like a lot of solid fabrics (cotton, denim) with the occasional faded floral thrown in. Everything is simple in terms of silhouette, but we do see a lot of layering. Trending outfits can be seen in oversized zip-up hoodies or cardigans over more feminine tanks and dresses.

Academia

If preppy is the school uniform, academia is the seasoned college professor. This is the style that would rock a tweed blazer. This aesthetic is full of neutrals and rich jewel tones, those being navy, burgundy, and emerald. It has a mature and classic appeal, as it shies away from loud prints, and is more complex than plaid. Academia follows a simple silhouette with breathable tops and blazers, paired with a more fitted trouser or skirt.

Beachy/Soft

The beachy style is simple, sweet, and feminine. Looseknit tops and sweaters tucked or knotted over equally flowy skirts make up this breezy look. Some of our favorite skirts of the year are tiered cotton skirts, which epitomize this trend. Color wise, beachy-earth tones like Pantone’s Coral Sands and Turf Green are some of the more commonly seen shades. In true college girl fashion: if comfy clothes are wrong, we don’t want to be right.

Classic Minimalist

The classic minimalist is sensible and elegant, being built entirely on neutrals. The detail and focal points of these outfits are more so on the fabrics than the colors. Since the neutral color palette is what ties the looks together, you can pair some juxtaposing textures. You also get to play around with satins and silks with the Classic Minimalist. Day to day outfits include blouses paired with silky midi-skirts, cotton tops with high-waisted trousers, or blazers over denim.

Y2K/90s

The biggest fashion style to emerge from 2020 is Y2K, which is inspired by the late ‘90s and early 2000s. These outfits take trends from the period (1990-2010) and reinvent them, seen in the pairing of lingerie corsets with low-rise jeans. There are no color restrictions in this trend, as they range from pastel to neon. Y2K also capitalizes on animal prints, namely cheetah, cowhide, and zebra. In reference to neon, bright monochrome outfits are an instant way to look Y2K. Besides clothes, bag trends are also going back to their roots. Tiny purses may not be the most functional, but they are unbelievably stylish.

The word “golden” describes not only a color, but a state of thriving. This is your golden age, your golden hour—so find what embodies your essence in its fullest. Make every outfit count. This act may seem trivial, but developing a personal sense of style only brings you closer to discovering yourself.