With the creation of social media and various developments in technology, the world seems to be changing more rapidly every day. Still, every few years we are reminded of just how quickly something old can be refurbished into a new trend. From low-rise jeans to The Cranberries to The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, all things from the past have the potential to become a new trend for the younger generations.
This past year, Linger by The Cranberries became very popular due to its resurgence on TikTok. With thousands of teenagers lip-syncing to the catchy chorus, many people rediscovered the band and were quick to add them to their favorites playlist. This is a recurring phenomenon as TikTok has given life to many other older artists such as The Smiths, Jeff Buckley, and The Beatles. By using these songs differently, the younger generations can appreciate the greats of the past while finding a way to relate to them in the present. This is a testament to the undeniable truth that great music never really dies.
“I think the Beatles have resurfaced in pop culture and their music is amazing and deserves to come back,” Junior Annelise Morales said.
When it comes to fashion, the past is never truly absent from the art as it paves the way for new fashion innovations. High-industry Designers such as Channel, Dior, and Saint Laurent all are reverting back to old fashion trends such as the clueless inspired tweed sets and decorative embroidery. This just reinforces the idea that all things come back in style. Something that you wore as a child might just be a fashionable baby tee in your teenage years. This is not only convenient but also efficient as it promotes less waste in the long-term fashion industry.
“My favorite fashion trend that has made a comeback is low-rise jeans,” senior Andrea Milan said. “They are a very versatile piece of clothing that I can count on to go with every outfit.”
Fashion and music are not the only aspects of culture with the tendency to repeat the past. Popular movies and shows also tend to go through phases of popularity every few years. In recent months, the new Barbie movie has rekindled a franchise that dates back decades and even started a new trend of all things pink. Another popular trend right now is the 1998 classic Sex in the City. The show is regaining fame for its bizarre fashion and the timeless theme of friendship.
“I really enjoyed the Barbie franchise when I was younger,” science teacher Ms. Lily Bischoff said. “I was very excited to see it come back as a trend because of the new movie.”
In 2014, the most used app among teenagers was Tumblr. Celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber began actively posting with a certain filter that caught many teenagers’ attention due to the soft and rose-colored tone of the pictures. This became a huge inspiration to teenagers who began editing and posting their pictures in the same fashion.
A decade later, this trend has resurfaced mostly due to the popularity of the song “Tumblr Girls” by G Eazy. This led teenagers to recall the aesthetics of this era and give it a name, “the 2014 Tumblr aesthetic.” Even though many of the teenagers who are posting about the return of this era weren’t old enough to have truly experienced what it was like scrolling through Tumblr in 2014, these filters and music give us all a sense of nostalgia.
“I think that the 2014 Tumblr aesthetic is making a comeback,” junior Karina Ortega said. “People are using the Rio de Janeiro filter and mid 2010’s music has become more popular again.”
This ongoing full-circle moment in trends shows us that nostalgia is more than just a blast from the past. The revivals of these trends show us how generations get inspired by the ones from the past, proving how fashion and media capture the essence of a period, and will influence future generations.
