Spending almost eight months in isolation has made me realize things. One, I still know all the words to Fall Out Boy’s entire discography. Two, I still love the fashion of the Tumblr girls from 2014, who favored minimalistic, black and white wardrobes, and Boxed Water. Apparently, I’m not the only one. With the consistent and passionate presence of TikTok, new fashion trends – and the resurgence of old ones – have never been more accessible. Through the rise of E-Girls and the renaissance of Y2K popular girls, TikTok has seen it all. And I have been loving every minute of it. Let’s take a look at some of the trends that have surfaced and the essence of their aesthetic.
- Alternative
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The fashion trend that has drawn my eye and the most attention on TikTok has been the rise of alternative fashion. Taking inspiration from 90’s punk and early 2000’s scene, these teenagers have ditched beachy sandals and Hydroflasks in favor of Demonias and Monster Energy drinks, rocking split-dyed hair and thick eyeliner. This is the one that resonates the most with me since it reminds me of my teenage years: figuring out how dark to make my eyeshadow and how loud is too loud for my headphones blasting All Time Low. “Alternative” is an umbrella term that encompasses many different aesthetics, the most popular being “E-Girls,” which is most similar to the 2014 Tumblr fashion I mentioned earlier. It’s odd to be old enough to see fashion trends from when you were younger get recycled amongst the newer generation, but I’m welcoming it nonetheless. Some staples include Manic Panic Hair Dye, knee-high shoes with the highest platforms you could imagine, and lots of black.
- Y2K
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Another huge fashion trend that I cannot possibly write this article without mentioning is the resurgence of the early 2000’s preppy fashion, coined “Y2K” on the fashion corners of the internet. This trend is bittersweet to me, It’s something I grew up right in the midst of and did not like it. However, I love the way teenagers today are repurposing it with modern pieces, pulling a “2020 does 2002” and incorporating their own flair to it. Think of Bratz dolls – berets, plaid skirts, pastel baby tees, and most importantly, pattern mixing galore.
TikTok’s accessibility to many users has helped the development of these fashion trends. I know I scroll for hours, finding myself on peculiar corners of the app, mesmerized by the way it’s shaping culture right before my eyes. I think the resurgence of these trends, and many like it, is a good thing, and something that would happen despite TikTok. However, the app has helped many others like me stay “hip with the kids” and I’m thankful for that.