2022 TRENDS TO KEEP THIS YEAR

2022 was a year of trends like no other and there are quite a few trends that many would definitely love to see make a comeback in 2023. From dark academia thanks to the recent popularity of the overnight sensation "Wednesday" on Netflix to the once upon a time tacky denim on denim to the infamous "aliyahcore" that you just can't seem to get away from on Tiktok, here are a few trends that absolutely should be making a return this year.

ALIYAHCORE

And who said the queen was dead anyway?? She's actually alive, well and running circles around Tiktok thank you very much! Although many of the essentials to this trend hail from the Y2K era (which also recently made an impactful comeback), the specific trend of "aliyahcore" was popularized by Aliyah Bah (@aliyahsinterlude) on Tiktok. Aliyah began growing heavily on Tiktok during the 2020 lockdown, but it was really in the year of 2022 that she became more of a household name. People seemed to immediately gravitate to her specific formula to becoming an "It Girl" which includes: a mini skirt "the size of a belt", a bikini or cropped top, distressed fishnets stockings (to be worn on your legs, arms or both), bling-alicious belts (yes, plural), multiple necklaces (bonus points if they're Hello Kitty), a furry hat, earmuffs and/or leg warmers, the infamous Moon Boots and of course no outfit is complete without a signature garter. And EXTRA bonus points if everything is head to toe pink, which shouldn't be hard at all by the way thanks to the Barbiecore trend over the last year. Since the Y2K craze doesn't seem to be going down without a fight, this is definitely a trend we can expect to see more of as it gets warmer.

DENIM ON DENIM

What the caption said. But no really, denim on denim is definitely a tricky trend to navigate but when done right it IS, simply, fashion. Since denim has been around for so long, it can feel difficult to do new and innovative things with it. But there has been a significant rise in denim adornments that we haven't seen before, at least not quite in this way. Leg warmers, gloves and scarfs galore! Taking everyday accessories and denim-izing it has been a HUGE trend this year, so much so that a regular denim on denim 'fit actually seems pretty average if it doesn't include one of the aforementioned. The popularity of brands like Diesel and Jaded London have definitely contributed to this rise in full denim looks, and even though it is going to get warmer that has never stopped denim lovers before. Denim has been a fashion staple for as long as anyone can remember because of its versatility yet comfortability. Denim is also one of those fabrics that appeal and connect with people of all economic backgrounds, so it's clear we will be seeing many more iterations of denim in the months to come.

DARK ACADEMIA

Now this trend is undeniably the newest thing. No, not that Thing, this thing. THIS thing being the recent rise of dark academia in fashion. We without a doubt have Jenna Ortega and the Wednesday costume designer to thank for that one. With the almost overnight successful response since the show debuted on Netflix at the end of November, many fashion lovers couldn’t help but to zero in on the clothing choices throughout the series. People immediately recognized name brand pieces Wednesday wore but much more importantly, many personally resonated with the effortless yet chic costuming. Wednesday’s infamous performance at the school dance took Tiktok by storm with many recreating the rigor mortis like moves wearing their own interpretations of dark academia. Loafers, lace socks, black stockings, moodily colored and striped cardigans, pleated skirts, dark blazers…no one can seem to get enough of it. While we do predict aspects of this trend dying down as summer approaches and school is out, ir doesn't seem like the trend will be lost completely. And we certainly will be seeing more pigtails than ever before.

FAIRYCORE

Ever wondered why you’ve been seeing more ruffles, frills, flares and, most of all, butterflies this past year? It’s all thanks to the magical fairycore era that’s been happening right underneath our noses. Recently stemming from the return of Y2K fashion, fairycore specifically targets everything peace, love and nature. Earthly symbols like butterflies, animal prints, wings, flowers, trees, leaves, fruits, sparkles, stars, moons and more paired with light and delicate fabrics and swirling, squiggly shapes are the essence of fairy core. So are certain elements like ribbons, bows, sparkly jewelry, crystals, sheer/lace, corsets, high knee socks, platforms, and leg warmers. Think Winx club but more fashion forward (if even possible??) and modern. A lot of brands that aren't necessarily fairycore specific have gained even more popularity in the midst of this craze for possesing fairycore elements in their clothing. Kim Shui, Work From Beach, and CultGaia are good examples of this. However true fairycore lovers really shop on more obscure sites like Etsy and Depop to get especially unique pieces. As the weather warms up we will definitely be seeing more ruffles taking the streets by storm.

DUCK NAILS

You've probably been wondering why you've been seeing fan shaped nails all over your feeds in 2022 and your suspicious are true. The infamous duck nail shape has returned. Originally hailing from the black female hip hop trendsetters of the late 90's and early 2000's, the unique shape has recently made a huge comeback. Many uneducated people have called the nails all sorts of names from weird to ugly, not knowing that it actually has a rich history and significance in the black community. Certain creators unintentionally helped bring the trend to its current popularity, like female rappers Baby Tate and Cardi B. The nails are usually accompanied with blingy charms and unique color combinations and designs. Since it is an originally Y2K inspired trend, many like to incorporate the trends of that time with Hello Kitty charms, bold animal prints, stars and glitter galore. The room for creativity and expression is just as expansive as the tips are. And we really hope this expression won't stop anytime soon, especially as summer approaches.

GLUELESS WIGS

Slaying has never been so easy! Last year was definitely the breakthrough year for the glueless wig method. Many found that the extra time effort and energy put into securing a flawless bussdown just wasn’t worth it like it used to be. Especially as the weather starts to heat up, you can’t help to to feel like your wig is more of a helmet trapping in your braid down and heat than a cute style. And thus, the glueless wig trend was born. The best things about glueless wigs are the invisible lace, clips and band for securing the wig to your hair. The band is usually adjustable to fit to your head size for even more customization options. And just like the name suggests, they don't require glue or adhesive to secure so maybe you won't have to say goodbye to your precious edges after all! Glue/adhesive can get expensive if you're a constant wig wearer and above all, it's really not good for your hair nor skin in the long run. Another plus to glueless wigs is that the install is fairly easy and quick. No more hour long install sessions! Just put the wig in place, secure the band and hooks and you're good to go. Glueless wigs have really changed the game and it doesn't seem like this trend will be going anywhere soon.

THE SKUNK STRIPE

Like most trends nowadays, the skunk stripe made its home on everyone’s Tiktok feed this past year. Even though this is a style that has been done before 2022, it really became big last year and had a massive moment of virality. There’s no doubt about it that (black) women are constantly finding new and innovative ways to express ourselves through our hair, and the skunk stripe is another example in a long line of creativity. The skunk stripe style is essentially just a section of hair that is a stark contrasting color from the rest of your hair. It doesn’t even have to be visible, many also like to leave it as a surprise for under the back of their hair. Even though the hype around it has certifiably died down, we're positive we’ll be seeing a celeb or two still rocking the style in the year to come. We're actually looking forward to seeing the skunk stripe done in even more creative ways this year.

CROCHET/KNITS

Contrary to popular belief, crochet and knits are not only for the the winter anymore. They’re actually a year round hot commodity and really took off last year, specifically during the summer. Originally popular during the 70s, crochet has come back in a new and modern way. With the creation of playful prints and bold vibrant colors, many small crochet/knit brands suddenly popped up all over the place. Knitwear for a long time was only regarded when it came to ugly grandma sweaters with just a few knowing its true potential and versatility. In 2022 it seemed like the rest of the world finally opened its eyes to that fact that crochet can be versatile., fun and modern. Bigger brands started hopping on the bandwagon as well, creating all sorts of crochet accessories like bags and even earmuffs. Skirts, shorts, dresses, tank tops, bikinis, crochet sets and more flooded our timelines. Because crochet is so comfy, versatile and fun we can almost guarantee they hype won't be dying down and we predict this summer will be dominated with crochet styles.

BOLD RAINBOW STRIPES

It goes without saying that stripes made an unexpected but very impressionable mark on fashion in 2022. The simple and classic pattern of stripes paired with bold, vibrant and in your face colors really appeals to an artistic audience that value the color wheel and just colors as a whole. (Those who stand by wearing all black should run while they can.) Not only that, but the variation of stripes and what they are able to do is something else that many designers chose to play with. 2022 may go down as the year of fashion revivals and stripes absolutely did not survive. Black designers like Christopher John Rogers and Jacques Agbobly (Black Boy Knits) also saw a rise in popularity as a result. It also seemed like many of the LGBTQIA+ community gravitated towards these deigns, not only because of the rainbow colored designs CJR produces but mainly because colored stripes really read super inclusive, fun and free. Brands like Black Boy Knits that are proudly inclusive of the queer community garnered a great amount of support this past year. As the weather heats up, we foresee many rainbow and striped inspired looks on the way. And anyway what’s sunshine without a beautiful rainbow?

Sources:

“Fairycore.” Aesthetics Wiki, https://aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/Fairycore.

Duroshola, Rasheedat. “Wigs 101: What Are Glueless Wigs?” The Renatural, The Renatural, 23 Feb. 2021, https://therenatural.com/blogs/renatural/wigs-101-what-are-glueless-wigs.

Sinay, Danielle. “Skunk Stripe Hair Is Everywhere and We're Obsessed.” Glamour, Glamour, 27 July 2022, https://www.glamour.com/story/skunk-stripe-hair/amp.

Holzman, Sara. “The Wearable Crochet Trend Will Be Everywhere This Summer.” Marie Claire Magazine, Marie Claire, 2 May 2022, https://www.marieclaire.com/fashion/crochet-trend/.