Trends that have not cycled back...

I was recently thinking about moleskin pants. I wore these a lot in the 1990s and they were really popular (at the time with boat shoes and a sweater - Aran or Fair Isle). They still are available here for men, but have not really cycled back into the main stream. I don't know why not - they were warm, comfortable and pretty easy to wear....

I then thought about other trends that have been popular but really not cycled back:
- legwarmers - I wore these not only for dancing but also with leggings and jeans in the 1980s
- double belts - I don't think these were a micro trend - I think I was inspired by Madonna (mid 80s)
- knickerbockers - inspired by Lady Diana in the early 1980s (at the time). Since then I have worn capri pants and pedal pushers but not a true knickerbocker style - nor have I seen them come back.

I honestly can't think why moleskins and knickerbockers haven't cycled back in given that bubble skirts, stirrup leggings etc all have made reappearances.

Up for debate - have you seen these trends back again - am I living under a rock here in NZ?

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4 hours ago

Carla

Veteran

@ Sal - I think double (or multiple) belts has actually been a (micro?) trend S/S 2026 as a result of the focus on the waist that made a resurgence maybe a year or two ago? It’s a ‘lewk’ but not always practical given the extra work required when one needs to go to the loo, etc. I think I saw it styled mostly as over skirts or with jackets.

Knickerbockers or just below the knee close fitting capris are a micro-trend that first popped up on my radar maybe two summers ago. It’s still being featured on the runway, but a bit hard to wear.

Like Angie posted in her blog post last week vis-a-vis trends - anything goes. I think this applies to both individual items, silouhettes, and styling. There are what I personally refer to as ‘tribes’ who ascribe to certain styling conceits or cultural codes - like the Row/Cos folks who seem to subscribe to subdued neutral colour schemes and oversized silouhettes, the fearless maximalist colour and pattern mixing folks who work a variety of silouhettes and mix new with old (thrifted), the athleisure folks with all the sneakers, performance fabrics, and functional design ranging from high end athletic luxe to the practical ‘yoga mom’ style, and don’t leave out the denim aficionado subscribing to all the trending denim silouhettes - who might lean boho with frills and victoriana - or rocker with T’s and leather.

I’m wondering about the big/full ‘day dress’ that popped up before Covid times. Whilst perusing street styling pics at the recent fashion shows, I thought I saw a resurgence of the ‘day dress’. Angie can correct me if I’m wrong.

3 hours ago

https://www.lyst.com/en-ca/the.....db133a3986

I check the Lyst site from time to time for their interesting, data based analysis of trends.

karen23

Active Member

I think capri pants are back (or still around), but I have not seen knickerbockers or leg warmers. I do not miss them.

I don't miss gauchos or culottes either.

I'm OK with capri pants, though. I sunburn, and I feel too exposed wearing shorts in the summer.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sal, since we were born in the same year and not in the US - I feel extra connected to your perspective

Actually, all the things you've listed have circled back as a fringe trend! I've blogged about all of them except moleskin - which is around as "faux suede* these days. Carla is dead right. The difference is that in the '80s they were MAINSTREAM and everywhere. Fringe trends are sooooo much more subtle, and sometimes it's as if they never happened.

2 hours ago

elena

I think the ‘80s haven’t cycled back much. The ‘70s seem to perpetually be trendy but much of the iconic ‘80s trends - wide shoulder pads, futuristic geometric patterns, bright harsh contrasting colors - haven’t really caught on in the same way. Which is fine with me, I never liked the clothes in the ‘80s, the oversized cuts and big hair just swallowed me up! There may be some fringe ‘80s trends out there, but I don’t see a lot of it going mainstream.

Sal

That’s an interesting link Carla. Thanks for sharing. And I like your perspective on tribes. And I am delighted about the DYOT. I have seen fitted pedal pushers but not a true knickerbocker - with a blouson fit and an under the knee cuff.

Haha Karen - I don’t miss them either!!

Yes Angie - I bet you wore leg warmers and knickerbockers……. And yes I guess with fringe trends you don’t always observe them unless you are more aware than me. I would wear moleskin/fake suede again - it hasn’t been on my radar but it would be fun in some bootcuts for winter.

Elena - I agree. Perms have also not really been prevalent since the 1980s. The styles were pretty extreme.

1 hour ago

Jenni NZ

I don’t think we’re living under a rock here in NZ really?! Maybe a little for the “micro trends”, because I do often find out about those on the forum first and it takes a wee while to see them on the 2 NZ fashion sites I read a bit , which are Fashionz and Fashion Quarterly. Some of it could be seasonal, and maybe we are a bit slow sometimes like how I have only really noticed much burgundy recently when it has been prominent in the Northern Hemisphere for 3 years already.
I wore leg warmers with my leotards to do “Jazzercise” at Les Mills when I was 24- you would have been 15 at the time. I only ever owned one pair. I did enjoy moleskin pants though, I had a lovely comfortable navy pair.
I never did double belts, just big belts. And don’t think I did knickerbockers.

LJP

I’m not sure the term “ moleskin” was used much ( at all ?) in North America . I know what it is , but I can’t say I’d ever seen it used in women’s wear . To me , faux suede is different than moleskin which was a work wear fabric ( a heavy brushed twill ) .

If I never seen another pair of capri pants again I’ll be just fine . Don’t care if they are experiencing a resurgence or not . And I agree that knickers and double belts and the whole 80’s aesthetic never really caught on again .

Cee

I see someone occasionally wearing moleskins, but knickerbockers ? ...Not since around 1982.

Sal, OOOOOH YES! I wore lots of pairs of knickerbockers and hectic leg warmers in the early '80s. Like you! I had CORDUROY knickerbockers, and a red knickerbocker jumpsuit. I'd wear both again with a grown-up and modern integrity.

Double belts were my faves!!! I had white, red and blue.

HEADS UP: We're seeing lots more '80s influence come through in 2026. I'm almost finished with the trends posts. Also, all the oversized fits you've been seeing for a good few years is '80s driven. There are shoulder pads in lots of toppers and some tops.

What we're not seeing is the worst of '80s fashion. Today's fashion is taking the BEST of every decade and improving it.

As for perms - they are VERY popular in Asian countries across the genders. They aren't spiral, frizzy teased perms though. They have been improved!

58 minutes ago

Jaime

Interesting question! Not sure about moleskin - I only associate it with cleaning a car for some reason. Agree with Carla about the double belts and the capris for sure. I personally do own a pair of knickerbockers but they are vintage. I wonder if they will come back with the popularity of balloon pants. Legwarmers I have not seen nor ever wore, even in the 80s. The million dollar question is why this and not that.

54 minutes ago

Sal, thanks for the blasts from the past!

The 80s were a pretty grim fashion era for me personally. But this time if the things come back there will be plenty of other things for me to wear!

39 minutes ago

Cookie! Those '80s hitch-up skirts, ra ra skirts, and bubble skirts have your name on them!

32 minutes ago

OK, OK, lol. I guess those were under my radar at the time. Just miss me with the giant shirts and massive shoulder pads.

6 minutes ago

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