7 Crowd-Pleasing Trends Fashion People Will Continue Wearing in the 2020s
The start of a new decade brings with it the inherent curiosity of what's to come. When I think about trends specifically, the S/S 20 collections have already given us a glimpse into what’s next with an overall focus on the evolution of "wearable” fashion—noting key trends like statement knitwear, reimagined trench coats, and modern denim.
Given the attention on those more toned-down pieces that actually fit within many of our day-to-day wardrobes, I have a feeling that some of the highly wearable fashion girl–favorite trends that have been front-runners over the last few years will continue to hold strong now and for years to come.
That slouchy check blazer? Hold onto it because tailoring will still have its moment. Those slightly distressed straight-leg jeans? Yep, ’90s-inspired styles continue to come back with fervor. These are just a few examples of the crowd-pleasing trends I bet will stick around. For a deeper dive into the rest, I’m highlighting seven currently popular items that I’m 99.9% positive will be relevant as we cruise into the new decade. Keep scrolling for a bit of visual and shopping inspiration if you want to officially test out some of the new "classic” trends that I think will have longevity.
We’ve seen quite the spike in modern suiting—slouchier cuts in classic patterns and fresh hues—as the idea of polished dressing has taken the front seat over some of the super-toned-down athleisure looks. With a range of updated suiting picks sprinkled throughout the 2020 collections (short suits and slouchy blazers, most notably), there’s no doubt in my mind that the fashion crowd will continue to churn out cool tailored looks for a while.
When I think of wardrobe staples, the trench coat immediately comes to mind as the epitome of ease and sophistication. As designers continue to rework essentials to keep them fresh and of-the-moment, the trench has gotten quite the revamp over the last few seasons in unexpected fabrics, asymmetrical cuts, and more. Given that a slew of top brands from Loewe to Coach showcased even newer iterations on the S/S 20 runways, I know reworked trench coats will hold their own.
While faux-snakeskin boots have been hitting the scene hard over the last couple years, they could honestly be thought of as a perennial trend at this point because I think they’ll always be around thanks to their ability to dress up just about any outfit—whether that’s a knee-high pair with a midi dress or booties with jeans and a moto jacket.
Okay, straight-leg jeans could honestly be considered a forever trend, but the lighter-wash, cropped, and slightly distressed styles have been a fashion-crowd favorite in particular. Sure, various skinnies, flares, and whatnot will follow the ebb and flow of the trend cycle, but I bet straight-leg jeans will remain a constant in the 2020s given their basically timeless nature.
You can’t deny the power of a classically cut crew-neck or turtleneck, but many of our favorite silhouettes have gotten a refresh to feature voluminous details such as balloon or puff sleeves. Given that this look is classic yet modern, I bet fashion people will continue wearing these sweaters well into the 2020s.
Loafers have seen quite the fashion resurgence over the last five years, with backless silhouettes reigning supreme. For S/S 20, loafers are getting yet another upgrade—those with block heels and chunkier soles—proving that the sophisticated style will hold a strong spot in the shoe closets of many.
In the same vein as the reworked trench comes another revamped staple—the reimagined white shirt. The everlasting white blouse has been revived and restored a thousand times over the seasons, and with a focus on shirting again in the S/S 20 collections, the classic-piece-with-a-twist will definitely shine bright.
Next, check out the shoe trends that will be in and out in 2020.
Bobby Schuessler is a fashion editor with over a decade of editorial experience covering shopping, style, and beauty. He's spent over seven years at Who What Wear, currently leading the market team to deliver highly covetable and convertible content. He creates data-driven shopping guides featuring top retialers like Nordstrom, Shopbop, and Net-a-Porter and is at the forefront of Who What Wear's shopping tentpole strategies, including Amazon Prime Day. He also works on branded content initiatives and appears on camera in video and shopping livestream franchises. He has also worked across a variety of other media brands and fashion retailers like Refinery29, PureWow, Men's Health, and Gilt covering commerce, trend reporting, women's and men's fashion, home, and lifestyle.
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