The Biggest Trend of the Season: How Did It Actually Start?

Trends come and go from season to season. No matter how long ago they began, or for however long they've been on the "outs," we can safely assume that the styles your mom or even grandma considered a must will return to favor again, no matter how much you make fun of the photos now. Currently, that trend is fishnets.

From the streets to the runway, to Instagram, fishnet has transformed from a simple pair of tights to a layering piece that's completely versatile. Not only have stockings been worn under just about everything, but fishnet has found its way to other styles of clothing, too. But where did it all begin? Below we're highlighting the journey fishnets have taken to become a defining trend of 2017. From a little bit of their early history to their reemergence over the past few seasons, we're breaking it all down below.

Read on for a look, and shop the trend.

Fishnet tights can be traced all the way back to the end of the 19th century. Women during the Victorian era did not reveal their legs in public, but as the world began to change, so did women's wardrobes.

Fishnet stockings became a trend among showgirls and flappers in the U.S. during the 1920s. While they were not considered "mainstream," their popularity grew among a certain more "modern" crowd.

Through the later part of the 20th century, fishnets gained momentum, becoming a staple among the punk crowd of the '70s, the grunge of the '90s, and let's not forget Madonna.

Fishnets tend to spring up on one runway or another from season to season, but in 2016, fishnets started to catch on in new and unexpected ways.

On the streets of fashion week this past fall, style stars used fishnets to add a little extra edge to their ensembles.

From Instagram to the streets, it became a popular choice to let fishnets peek out from under a pair of jeans.

Now, fishnet tights are a key layering piece for 2017, but fishnet tops, dresses, and more have entered the mainstream, too.

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