Words by Sandra Ictech
Anticipating summer trends is one of the best parts about the warm weather. Will the same clothing be in style as the year before? Are polka dots the pattern of the moment? Something even more interesting is analyzing how these trends came to be. Whether you have seen the below trends or not, this list should give insight into how these popular styles originated.
- “Boho” also known as Bohemian style – “gained popularity in France in the 1800s. People who are regarded as artists, authors, and others who live and behave outside of social conventions and conventional rules are referred to as “bohemians.”
Bohemian style is easily identifiable due to its key aesthetic elements. Clothing in this style tends to be made from fabrics like cotton, suede, and linen, and the pieces can be described as flowy and loose. To add uniqueness, many pieces have patchwork, fringe, and ruffles.
The layered accessories accompanying each piece bring out the “boho” style, which includes layered jewelry, beads, bangles, and more. This style is extremely popular in festivals like Coachella and sustainable fashion movements. Pieces incorporate florals, earthy tones and sometimes ethnic print.
Boho merged with the Hippie movement (1960s-1970s) where bell bottoms, tie dye, and fringe vests became popular. Later, during the 2000s, the fashion style known as “Boho-chic” arrived. This unique style is seen as combining vintage with luxury. Fast forward to today, and “boho” typically blends cottage core and earthy minimalist.
- Jelly Sandals – these popular shoes first boomed in the (1980s-1990s). Today, these shoes are considered a returning trend. It all began with the creation of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) footwear. Due to the leather shortages after World War II, the “fisherman-style” sandal was created in France.
Because of the Brazilian company Melissa by Grendene, these shoes gained popularity during the 1980s fashion boom, which included new flowing, tight, and exaggerated clothes and aerobic clothing. Jelly shoes can be colorful, glossy and even glittery, depending on the style. The company Melissa, partnered with fashion designers who realized this shoe was a runway-worthy item. Some of these designers include Vivienne Westwood, Jean-Paul Gaultier, and others.
Jelly Shoes USA and other businesses supplied variants of these sandals to American retailers, including Kmart and Walmart, which sold millions of pairs. Now, the shoes are being paired with different types of outfits and making a huge return as people on social media share their thoughts and inspirations on how to style them.
- Gingham – gingham is a handwoven fabric made of dyed cotton. The term gingham means striped. It was imported from Indonesia and Malaysia and originated in Southeast Asia.
Many people are unaware that the original fabric had stripes. Mass-produced in the 18th century in Manchester, England. The fabric changed from stripes to a checkered pattern during this particular period.
Gingham fabric eventually arrived in the US and gained popularity there, particularly in the Midwest and the South. Many people have recognized this fabric from shirts, picnic table attire, and a well-known example of Dorothy’s clothing from The Wizard of Oz. Now, gingham appears on dresses, skirts, tank tops, pants and even shoes.
- Striped Polos – viewed as a “timeless staple.” The general origin was popularized by the French tennis player, René Lacoste in the 1920s. The button shirt and collar combination worked well for the tennis player and for polo players, as polo was becoming popular at that time as well.
The stripes became part of the look because rugby jerseys used stripes and colors, and striped shirts were becoming more and more popular. People wearing polos were unaware that rugby shirts had influenced the style of the striped polos of the 20th century, even as polos began to gain popularity in American and British menswear.
As a result, businesses later used thin horizontal lines to create a sportier, more relaxed look. Striped polos were a staple of Ivy League and preppy American fashion by the 1950s. This leads to the present day where many men are wearing striped polos and styling them with either cargo shorts or thin jeans.
- Adidas Sambas & Adidas Gazelles – two of Adidas’ most recognizable sneaker collections, the sambas and gazelles, have been dominating our TikTok and Instagram feeds for months. High-profile designer collaborations like Gucci x Adidas, celebrity influence, and the resurgence of retro and Y2K styles have all contributed to their recent success. Because of their simple, classic appearance, they go well with everything from maxi skirts to cargo pants.
First released in 1949, the sambas were created specifically as indoor soccer shoes to help players train on icy surfaces. Their popularity began in the 1970s. Later, the shoes transitioned into skate and streetwear scenes in the 1990s, and experienced a major comeback in 2022, fueled by TikTok trends.
The gazelles were a distinctive training shoe that was first released in 1966. After the shoe’s rise in UK terrace culture in the (1970s-1980s), gazelles were worn by bands like Oasis during the Britpop era. Eventually the shoes made a comeback in the early 2010s.
When looking at trends, it’s helpful to know their origin. Numerous styles and pieces created years ago have returned to the cultural lexicon. Instead of hopping on TikTok to ask everyone if they’re partaking in a particular trend this year, do a bit of diving into why it even exists. It could make your exploration of summer fashion more interesting.
This story first ran in NYOTA’s Art is Life Issue. Read more from the issue here and purchase a print copy here
