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The well-known quote from Ecclesiastes 1:10, 'Nihil sub sole novum' (there is nothing new under the sun), is a timeless reminder that what seems innovative may actually be a recycled version of the past. Despite the bold claims of fashion designers, the industry often revisits and reinvents past trends. This list highlights ten remarkable instances of fashion's cyclical nature, and some might surprise you!
10. Tights
It’s fascinating to think that tights, now a staple in women's wardrobes, were once worn primarily by men. Known as 'hose' in earlier centuries, they were donned by men of all classes, with the wealthy opting for silk and wool, while the working class made do with simpler materials. By the 17th century, breeches and stockings replaced them, but today, tights have made their way back into fashion, often paired with skirts, a style we now recognize in magazines.
Fashion Victims: The Female Stars of Gossip Girl
9. Gray-Haired Young Women
Wait, what? Yes, you heard that right—young women like Lady Gaga and Kelly Osbourne have recently embraced gray hair. At first, it may appear daring and ahead of its time, but this trend actually has historical roots. In the 18th century, gray was a sought-after hair color, especially among young women. Figures like Marie Antoinette famously powdered their towering hairstyles with soft gray shades, sometimes complemented by other pastel hues, but gray remained the most popular.
Fashion Victims: See Above
8. Artificial Nails
Nail salons are filled with women getting French manicures or airbrushed holiday designs like snowflakes, making it hard to believe that artificial nails date back to the ancient Egyptians. These early nails were crafted from beautifully adorned bone, ivory, and gold. The more intricate the nails, the wealthier the wearer. Modern acrylic nails are now primarily a cosmetic choice and no longer a symbol of wealth, but the cost of maintaining them with regular fill-ins could be viewed as a status symbol due to the money spent to keep them up.
Fashion Victims: Rihanna, Katy Perry
7. Colored Wedding Dresses
For much of the 20th century, if you bought a gown specifically for your wedding, it was typically white. Today, many bridal designers are embracing colored wedding dresses, presenting a fashion-forward, unique twist on tradition. However, until the mid-1800s, wedding dresses were often colorful. During the Middle Ages, wealthy brides donned rich, colorful fabrics. It was Phillipa of England, not Queen Victoria, who was the first documented bride to wear a white wedding dress. The trend only took off after brides began emulating Queen Victoria’s iconic 1840 gown.
Fashion Victims: Gwen Stefani, Dita Von Teese
6. Bleached Hair
With all the bleached blondes in Hollywood, it’s easy to assume this trend is a modern invention. But imagine seeing it in 16th-century Venice! While hair bleaching was practiced in other places, it was especially common in Venice and other sunny regions. Before the invention of commercial hair dye, women would spend hours in the sun with their hair draped over a hat without a crown, as herb pastes made from black sulfur, honey, and onion skin were applied. Sounds lovely, right?
Fashion Victims: Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton
5. Platform Shoes
Most people associate platform shoes with the 70s, but these high-heeled wonders have actually been around for over 600 years. Known as 'chopines,' they were worn by wealthy women to keep their feet—and dresses—out of the dirty streets. The taller the chopine, the wealthier the wearer. Some of them were more than 20 inches high! They were so popular in Spain that a large portion of the cork supply was dedicated to making them. Personally, I’m glad today’s platform shoes aren’t as extreme—imagine all the broken bones!
Fashion Victims: Kim Kardashian, Victoria Beckham
4. Grecian-Inspired Dresses
The Greek goddess look is incredibly popular today, appearing at proms and weddings all around the world. However, this trend actually began in 1790s France. As the revolution neared, people sought to avoid being mistaken for aristocrats, which led to the emergence of a new style: 'directoire.' Though not as widely embraced at the time as it is now, these Greek and Roman-inspired dresses—characterized by graceful draping and no sleeves—allowed women to experience a level of freedom from restrictive clothing they hadn't known since the ancient Greek era.
Fashion Victims: Angelina Jolie, Selena Gomez
3. Changing Skin Color
In modern times, many people in the Western world seek a deep tan. But, from ancient times through to the early 1900s, women aspired to have flawless, porcelain white skin. The belief was that only the wealthy could afford such pale skin, since the working classes had to toil under the sun and became tanned. To achieve an even whiter complexion, some women resorted to lead-based powders, often with deadly consequences. Despite knowing that lead was poisonous, they continued its use. The craze for ultra-white skin continued until Coco Chanel returned from the French Riviera in the 1920s with a deep tan, sparking her fans to imitate her by sunbathing while slathered in baby oil. The 1970s saw the advent of tanning beds, which have since evolved into a $5 billion industry. Despite awareness of the risks of skin cancer, many still frequent tanning salons multiple times a week. It’s hard to determine which generation’s obsession was worse.
Fashion Victims: Elizabeth I, cast of Jersey Shore
2. Skinny Jeans/Pants
Skinny jeans, one of the most iconic fashion trends of the 2000s (and my personal least favorite), are often worn to make a bold statement or stand out. This was especially true when they first emerged! In the 1950s, teenagers and young adults wanted to break free from the traditional attire of suits and skirts worn by their parents. Designers caught on to this desire for individuality and introduced what we now call skinny jeans. For women, ‘cigarette’ pants, often cropped to ankle-length or shorter, became popular, while men embraced ‘drainpipe’ jeans and pants.
Fashion icons who were slaves to this trend: Elvis, Kate Moss
1. Bold, heavy eyeliner
If you search ‘scene’ on Google Images, you'll come across thousands of photos of girls sporting black eyeliner around their eyes, creating that signature raccoon look. This makeup style might seem like a recent trend, but its origins date back much further. Ancient Egyptians used kohl to outline their eyes for both beauty and practical reasons, like protecting their eyes from the harsh desert sun. Some also believed it would guard them from the 'evil eye'. The use of eyeliner wasn't limited to women—men wore it too, so ‘guyliner’ is far from a modern invention!
Icons who embraced this trend: Taylor Momsen, Adam Lambert
