Trends tend to come back every 20 years, usually with their own eccentric twist.
So if you’ve ever criticized a parent’s style or thought, “Why would anyone ever wear that?” be careful. You might be standing in line or begging for an older family member to pass on the same pieces when they become trendy again. We see examples of that already today, with old-fashioned things that people grew up in the 70s and 80s loved that are becoming cool again.
People who grew up in the 70s and 80s loved these things that are suddenly cool again
1. Scrunchies
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Unique hairstyles and trendy hairstyles are constantly evolving with each passing generation, but so are the accessories people rely on. From headband styles to short bangs and scrunchies, Gen Zers are bringing back some of the trends we didn’t realize ever went away.
Sparked by young people’s new wellness trends, scrunchies are a comfortable, protective way to style your hair without leaving the same kind of damage that a tight elastic can. Despite slicking their hair back with gel in ways that cause all kinds of breakage, young people are still trying to protect their hair with these fashionable alternatives to regular hair ties.
2. Leg warmers
Who would have thought that leg warmers would ever make a comeback, for anything but practicality in the winter? Well, Gen Zers proved everyone wrong and are now layering these unique pieces, even in the summer.
Typically a fashion choice, more than a practical one, because when it’s cold outside, they take a page from their parents’ books in the 70s and 80s and breathe new life into this trend.
3. Tousled, voluminous hair
For much of their teenage years, Gen Zers went through phases quite opposite to their parents at the same age, especially with hairstyles. They wanted straight hair and crisp part lines. Now the voluminous, big hair is finally getting its resurgence.
There are all kinds nuanced cultural and personal elements to someone’s hairstyle, as well as their clothes, but in general, this kind of volume is a trend that is coming back again. For Gen Z, using mousse and blow drying their hair on their heads are habits that connect them back to Gen X family members and parents in nostalgic ways.
4. Layered clothing
Layering is not necessarily a trend in itself, but a fashion pillar. Both in the high-end fashion world and in a person’s casual lifestyle, layering is an act of style and comfort. We layer clothes for warmth, but we also layer pieces to create a mood.
In the 70s and 80s, layering button-downs with sweaters or pants and leg warmers was a curation of the generational mood. The same is taking shape for youth today, who play with colors and textures by layering their own pieces. It may not look the same, but the experimentation with their style is strong.
5. Aerobics and dance lessons
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Even if they were just on tape for daily exercise sessions with mom, aerobics and dance classes were a staple of the 70s and 80s. Surprisingly, they are making a comeback for young people today.
Given that so many Gen Zers are both interested in wellness and dealing with collective loneliness from social isolation, exercise classes are a reasonable coping mechanism. Not only do they do that emerge as a form of social supportbut they also provide a sense of community at a time when you have to pay for any kind of third place.
Mixed with the fun, endorphin-forward classes like dance and pilates, Gen Zers with all kinds of mental health problems looking forward to this kind of teaching.
6. Capris
Despite being the bane of social media discourse for decades among youth, capri leggings and jeans are coming back into style. People raised in the 70s and 80s knew they were cool before they came back, but now they’re a picture of functionality and style for Gen Zers.
While they still have all sorts of controversial ideas about the fit of clothes, including their own “tight on tight” ruleGen Zers are embracing these old fashioned trends that they used to find hideous and embarrassing to their Gen X parents just a few years ago.
7. Gaucho pants
Alongside parachute pants and other baggy jeans, the gaucho pants are back and suddenly cool again. Not only are they drawn into wellness culture and yoga for young people, but they are a new pillar of comfort.
Across Gen Z trends, it’s the invisible string. Sore they dress for work or going out for the weekend, they are most interested in comfort, just above self-expression and authenticity. Yes, they look very different and take shape in unique, unexpected ways, but they’re a trend and iconic style that Gen Xers couldn’t get enough of.
While we are reluctant to embrace these kinds of trends as our own and blame people for stealing our generational culture, the truth is that they will find a place in culture forever and keep coming back in unique ways every few decades. These tendencies are not our own, but are merely a reflection of generations and people who develop a lot over time.
8. Mood rings
Many Gen Zers are takes on a whole new idea of wellness in ways that overlap with trends. From splurging on organic groceries at Whole Foods to spending hundreds on skincare routines they saw recommended on TikTok, young people are seriously investing in their physical health and well-being.
Surprisingly, this new wave of wellness trends is even overlapping old jewelry trends. Gen Xers had mood rings that tracked their mood, and now Gen Zers have Oura rings that track their sleep cycles and heart rates.
9. Upturned collars
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Turned collars on button-down shirts, often called “popped collars”, were a fashion item in the 70s and 80s. Typically for style, but sometimes for practical layers, this trend is making a strong comeback among Gen Zers.
Swapping button-downs for windbreakers and half-quarter zip fleece with turn-up collars, they put their unique spin on a classic as the 20-year cycle of trends will come back.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a senior editorial strategist with a bachelor’s degree in social relations & politics and gender studies, focusing on psychology, relationships, self-help and human interest stories.
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