Full Circle: These 5 "Outdated" Trends Have Officially Made a Comeback

Despite the fashion cycle moving at a rapid speed, there are still a few trends I did not expect to see on my 2023 bingo card. Honestly, I should've got rid of any expectations once low-rise jeans made their way back with the Y2K resurgence. After that, the door to what's trending seems to have remained wide open. As a fashion editor, I've been constantly on my toes waiting for what's next because this year, everything is fair game. Don't be alarmed, because I took note of the dated trends that designers have brought back and the modern-day iterations come with stylish updates that might have been missing last time.

Not only did I collect runway evidence for each trend, but I also pulled looks from the fashion set to prove they are more wearable than your first assumption. Because I, too, had many thoughts when I heard peplum tops were spotted at fashion week. Shouldn't they have stayed in 2010? But once I saw Brandon Maxwell's sleek iteration of the style and our fellow WWW editor Eliza Huber wearing the nostalgic look, I was on board. 

Ahead, discover what's old is new again. See the five "outdated" trends that have made a comeback into today's fashion scene. And as always, you can shop editor-approved finds for each. 

1. Metallics

While it started out in the accessories realm, metallics have fully taken over. Pants, shoes, handbags, and even dresses—you name it, it's back. Gone are the days of shiny fabrics giving off "tacky" energy. In my opinion, it's styled best as a pop against minimal pieces. 

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On the Runway
(Image credit: Courtesy of Proenza Schouler)

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On Instagram
(Image credit: @hannamw)

2. Denim Maxi Skirts

While I'd like to keep a lot of Y2K red carpet looks in the past, denim skirts have always been something I've been waiting to circle back to. With the right pieces in tow, it's easy to take this piece from its once-juvenile reputation to a classic and chic one.

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On the Runway
(Image credit: Courtesy of Altuzarra)

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On Instagram
(Image credit: @thatgirlyusra)

3. Peplums

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On the Runway
(Image credit: Courtesy of Brandon Maxwell)

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On Instagram
(Image credit: @elizagracehuber)

Don't worry—the neon-colored peplum tops aren't coming back. Instead, they've been completely modernized. It's the same exaggerated silhouette but with sleeker lines and minimal materials. 

4. Leggings as Pants

Leggings weren't completely out, as they remained the comfy solution for more casual days. But leggings in high fashion? It's been a minute since we've seen that. While many have opted for baggy or tailored silhouettes recently, brands like YSL and Toteme are making a case for leggings as a replacement for pants.

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On the Runway

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On Instagram
(Image credit: @NLMARILYN)

5. Full Skirts

This trend is still so new that searching for the right market was quite a feat. While the silhouette once gave the markings of a solely retro aesthetic, the latest styling of it feels more crisp and refreshing. (And you can thank Miuccia Prada for that.)

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On the Runway
(Image credit: Courtesy of Prada)

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On Instagram
(Image credit: @anna_laplaca)
Associate Fashion Editor
Yusra Siddiqui is an editor who resides in New Jersey but bounces between the suburbs and NYC. (She's a Jersey girl at heart.) After interning at Who What Wear in 2019, she found her way to the team after graduating from LIM College in 2022 with a fashion media degree. She's also spent time writing and working for publications such as Fashionista, Coveteur, and Nylon, but she always knew that Who What Wear was where she was meant to be. When she's on the job, she's perusing runway shows, analyzing the latest thing fellow Gen Zers are up to on the internet, and sharing what she can about the modest-fashion market. You can also catch her dabbling in entertainment, talking about the costume choices of the latest Netflix series or diving deeper into how the plotline affects the viewers in a myriad of ways. Lastly, she likes to create content for Who What Wear's TikTok. Her personal time is spent doing similar but also different things—deep diving into almost every new TV show (Bridgerton, Gilmore Girls, and Stranger Things are favorites), planning her next local getaway (whenever that may be), and reading the latest Emily Henry or Sally Rooney novel in one sitting.