The world of fashion is broad and has layers to it. Like a light switch, it feels like trends just come and go. Every now and then people get tired of one trend and immediately move onto the next. Because of the constant flickering of the lights, on and off, we tend to miss certain fashion trends. Trends that go under the radar, unnoticed by most but found by some. Hence why they are what we like to call Niche fashion. You may not know about them but some people do and some niche trends are taking the fashion world by storm. Let’s take a look at some of these niche looks and see why they remain under the radar.

The Whipstitch:

Whipstitched fashion (or sometimes Laced-up fashion) has been a trend that has been under-appreciated for many decades now. In recent years the popularity of vintage and old style has become a rising trend for many reasons, mainly because everyone loves that era of pop culture; the music, the movies, and the fashion have taken a new liking to the 2010s. Whipstitch seems to date back from the ‘70s when punk rock and goth culture grew into its infancy. It only became more popular in that genre until recently when certain brands started putting whipstitches into blouses and dresses. This was done notably in 2014 and 2016 during numerous runways and catwalks.

DKNY, Fendi and others are among the companies inspired by this once punk and goth look. The trend recently made another appearance in Vogue on September 20th, 2020 when Noemie Merlant reinterpreted the classic whipstitch look at the Deauville American Film Festival.

Camp:

“Camp is always presented with an invisible wink to the audience”

- Susan Sontag

You can’t go wrong with standing out. But, is there such a thing as standing out too much? Not according to Camp fashion, that is. When people think of camp in fashion, most would probably think back to the iconic Met Gala of 2019 where this grand fashion category spiked in popularity due to this event. However, camp is an ancient fashion choice that covers many trends over many centuries. The idea of camp can date back to the era when Louis XIV reigned over France. His style is considered camp because of the over-the-top garments, which he was well-known for. Oscar Wilde was also very renowned for his “Low-Camp” stylistic choices; though his type of camp was toned down, he still stood out from most men with his fashion choices.

Today, camp can be seen in so many different places in fashion. From numerous catwalks, festivals, award ceremonies, and RuPaul’s Drag Race seasons, camp is still widely in our culture.

Celebrity Fashion:

And Speaking of award ceremonies, there have been many fashion choices over the years in pop culture that have shaped the eye of the beholder. From TV, movies, web shows, and even literature, so many styles have stained our vision and might’ve even influenced what you or others wear. One celebrity, in particular, that is hitting the fashion eye right now is Harry styles. Even before the infamous November Vogue issue, Harry Styles has been influencing fashion for a good five or six years now. From his music videos to his talk show and red carpet appearances, this man has graced audiences with spectacular styles every time.

Another celebrity who possibly would have the Midas touch would have to be Lady Gaga. There isn’t much to say here other than she is yet another reason why the style of camp is so appreciated even today. There is genuinely nothing in the world that Lady Gaga cannot touch.

However, there is still one stylistic choice made almost 20 years ago that still has people talking about it and this is Bjork’s infamous swan dress. Worn during the 73rd Academy Awards, Bjork made many heads turn from the dress that looked like a swan. It was voted as one of the best fashion dresses of all time by many magazines and articles; some designers incorporate the idea in their dresses to this day.

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Nick’s Bio

Nick is a second year professional writing student at algonquin college, hoping to pursue work in either journalism or scriptwriting. Nick hopes to become someone that makes his readers ponder about the many things in which life has to offer. In his down time, you can find him playing on his nintendo switch, organizing his many pokemon cards, or obsessively writing one of his many stories--most notably Radio Heads, a young adult drama about musicians.

There’s no denying that fashion will forever shape the way we all wear things or express ourselves. Fashion - especially for women - has changed so much throughout the years. It’s hard to keep track of what came and what went away. Every trend brought a new definition to the words expression, diversity and fluidity; so, let’s take a look at how much women’s fashion has changed throughout the last 10 decades and see what was popular and why these trends were so… trendy!

The Roaring ‘20s:

After the first World War ended in 1918, women felt more empowered than ever due to their right to vote, which came along the previous year. Because of this, the younger generation tailored their attire to more rebellious wear; showing your legs were frowned upon for girls back then, which made the infamous flapper dress a rambunctious but also perfect choice for young girls to shift the traditional convention of what a girl wears.

The Slow ‘30s:

During the Great Depression, fashion wasn’t as accessible to many people. So, instead of wearing the clothes themselves, everyday people watched actors & actresses wear the golden fashion of that decade. Old Hollywood stars wore long, dark silk dresses with a low back cut. This made the women look desirable, showing off the fortune and fantasy that most desperately wanted in their own lives. Elegant and classy were the styles for this decade.

The Combative ‘40s:

Rosie the Riveter From crfashionbook.com

The Second World War crept up the world during the forties, which meant men once more going out to fight while women went back to the workforce. Because of this, fashion took a huge left turn when it came to traditional styles. More conventional styles like DIY jumpsuits, rompers and others were made from old clothes and materials made from denim or cotton. There’s a reason why Rosie the Riveter wears denim--because women were reinventing the fashion norms drastically! Women also needed to wear versatile, durable clothes - short skirts of velvet or silk were out of place in a steel factory.

The Booming ‘50s:

With Christian Dior’s fashion taking a bit of leeway at the end of the forties, they took the spotlight in the fifties when the Second World War ended. Christian Dior’s fashion line included large petticoats and wide-cut skirts (much like the infamous poodle dresses of the era.) Women were expected to look polished and perfect all the time during this decade, which is why pearl jewelry was a big influence.

The Swinging ‘60s:

Jacqueline Kennedy From crfashionbook.com

Simplistic fashion was the central theme for women’s fashion in the sixties. This theme swung into the mainstream when first lady Jacqueline Kennedy was in the public eye. Many women wanted to embody the elegance and own the infamous pillbox hat. The second wave of feminism also made women wear more colourful dresses in a way to visually express their liberation as women. skirts became shorter as the miniskirt took centre stage.

The Groovy ‘70s:

Possibly the most memorable era of fashion, the hippie fashion trend conquered the seventies. Taking inspiration from the colourful dresses of the late sixties, the hippie era included some liberating fashion choices. Women let their hair down and wore loose-fitting clothes. These included tank tops, crop tops, bell-bottoms and a lot of tie-dye!

The Far Out ‘80s:

While the seventies exuded colorfulness, the eighties exploded colours with neon jumpsuits and scrunchies. Since more women were entering the workforce during this decade, they wanted to compete with men by feeling more empowered. This is when the birth of shoulder pads came along so that women could stand beside men as equals.

The Grungy ‘90s:

While earlier decades were very colourful in their styles, the nineties decided to stay dark with the grunge era. Leather jackets, inspired by bands like Nirvana was the big face of fashion during that time. Britney Spears also inspired some looks with her famous school-girl look. But the main slogan for this decade was “More is more”. Never before was such diversity present in fashion and it only got crazier from here on out.

The Innovative 2000s & 2010s:

The 2000s and 2010s were pretty similar when it came to the traditions of fashion. Leading up to today, fashion seems to become more and more of a blurred line, with everyone doing whatever they want. Fashion companies, social media influencers, singers and anyone with a platform showcases their personal touch. This has made fashion more fluid than ever. Some women now wear male clothes; some men now wear female clothes. And somewhere in between, there is no male or female fashion. The way people choose to wear their clothing has never been so blurred, which makes things very interesting in what will happen in the decades to come. The question stands: will things continue to be blurred or with there be a rebirth with something new taking up the new conventions of fashion? Only time will tell.

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MASQUE

MASQUE

The Needles in a Haystack: Niche Fashion Trends You Need to Know About

The Whipstitch:

Camp:

Celebrity Fashion:

Nick’s Bio

What Women Want: 100 Years of Women's Fashion

The Roaring ‘20s:

The Slow ‘30s:

The Combative ‘40s:

The Booming ‘50s:

The Swinging ‘60s:

The Groovy ‘70s:

The Far Out ‘80s:

The Grungy ‘90s:

The Innovative 2000s & 2010s:

Nick’s Bio

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