If we look through our closet right now, we would all find skinny jeans and a logo top from Abercrombie — our middle school “uniform.” What was once so cherished but now inspires only horrified shudders. What do we even do with them? With sustainable fashion on the rise, it feels guilty to be wasteful and let these items dress the surface of a landfill. But at the same time, those pieces are collecting dust.
The first thing to remember is that fashion is a cycle. Every season, designers look back at past trends and make new interpretations of it. I never thought low-waist jeans would come back, but everyone on TikTok is rushing to recreate the Y2K aesthetic. In fashion, we have a thing called the “pendulum swing.” This theory just states that when we go to one side of fashion (tight, flashy, low rise) in the next ten years we will go to the opposite (loose, minimal, high-waisted). This means that even though we might not wear these pieces now, these pieces will come back in fashion in some form.
Next, some items are just classics. The skinny jeans vs. baggy jeans debate have been going on for the last couple of years, but the reality is that both styles are classics now. Denim has been a part of closet since the beginning of the 20th century, so all its iterations can really be reworn in many ways. I still love my skinny jeans because it gives a more dressed-up look to my outfits, and it is flattering on every body type. Just because the latest influencer is saying it is out of trend, does not mean that it is a piece of clothing that no longer works for you. I might not wear logo tops anymore, but I’ll wear a trendier top and shoes with my skinny jeans, and the outfit still looks current.
Lastly, here are some tips to help you when you are stuck looking at clothing that is “cringey.” Start with not using the word cringey. At one point you loved that piece and that is why you purchased it, it’s okay if it doesn’t fit your aesthetic now, but still treat it with respect, this will help you see the item in a different light. Next, try challenging yourself to wear a piece you don’t like. Whenever I am feeling bored with my fashion, I take a piece I do not like and try to make an outfit out of it; I often end up with a result that is unexpected and fun. We are all constantly shopping, so we have “trendier” pieces in our closet as well, so mix those trendy pieces with the older ones and the result will be a unique look that incorporates different genres.
As I stated before, fashion is a cycle. I enjoy taking breaks from clothing only to come back to them later to have them feel brand new. Fashion from different decades and years will always come back in some capacity, so hold on to those pieces and cherish them.
