Vintage Trends That Are Going To Take Over In 2022 - The List (2023)

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ByMeg Walters/April 12, 2022 1:49 pm EST

We're already four months into 2022, and already it seems like this year is filled with throwback fashion trends. From '80s silhouettes to '90s slips to Y2K gaudiness, 2022 is all about taking inspiration from fashions of the past.

This year, you'll have the opportunity to really play around with mixing and matching different eras together into one retro-meets-modern look. Want to try pairing a '90s little black dress with an ultra old-school '50s varsity jacket and a pair of '70s platform sandals? Be our guest. Or maybe you'd prefer to mix a pair of 2000s inspired low-rise flare jeans with an 80s blazer and some sparkly '90s eyeshadow? Again, both looks are very much in this year — go for it!

Ready to fill your wardrobe with homages to looks from fashion history? Here are the top vintage trends in fashion for 2022 — after all, sometimes older really is better.

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Yep, you heard us right. All of those gaudy looks that shot to popularity in the late '90s and early 2000s are back. We're talking low-rise jeans, multiple belts, newsie hats, tie dye tracksuits, bedazzled, neon prints, cargo pants — the works.

Back in the day, these looks were made famous by the likes of Hilary Duff, Amanda Bynes, and Lindsay Lohan — you can probably picture them strutting through various high school hallways in whatever movie they happened to be in at the time. While you may have thought we had left these garish looks in the past, they've come roaring back, largely thanks to Gen Z fashionistas on Instagram and TikTok. According to Editorialist, we're looking back to the noughties because they were an easier time — after all, it's pretty easy to feel nostalgic for flip phones, dial up, and VHS these days. So, why not embrace the gaudiness and try recreating some old Y2K looks this year?

Netflix

Goodbye cottagecore, hello Regencycore. Smash hit "Bridgerton" is back on Netflix in 2022, and fashion-lovers have been seriously inspired by the ruffles, lace, and empire waists they've seen on their screens.

On TikTok, Regencycore is officially trending. For the most part, it's not about wearing actual gowns from the Regency period — instead, it's all about taking inspiration from the sumptuous costumes of your favorite period dramas and creating modern looks with a Regency twist. As fashionista Tara Swennen told InStyle, "It's regal fashion focused on opulence." And we could all use a little opulence right now. Think form-fitting corset tops, flowing maxi dresses, embroidered empire waist mini dresses — you get the idea.

Pair one of these gorgeous vintage looks with a pair of long gloves, pearl drop earrings, a matching necklace, a cute pair of heeled sandals, and voila! You'll be channeling your inner Regency debutante in no time.

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Skinny jeans haven't really been all that popular in a while, but 2022 is set to officially be the year of the loose-fitting jean. We're talking mom jeans, flares, straight jeans, bootcut jeans, you name it — as long as it's loose, it's in. And this is great news for all the people who have been lounging around home in sweatpants during the pandemic. Let's face it — none of us are all that keen on squeezing back into a pair of skinny jeans.

"The denim styles at the moment are moving away from slick silhouettes to more relaxed and voluminous — and I love that," said fashion editor Alexandra Stedman to Elle. Former Elle editor Donna Wallace added, "Jeggings ruined [skinny jeans]. As soon as they started bastardising the denim and putting in too much stretch, it became trashy."

Sounds like looser fitting jeans are definitely the way to go this year. Luckily, they tend to be way more flattering anyway!

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When the miniskirt first hit storefront window displays in the 1960s, it was a total gamechanger. "The miniskirt was an extraordinary phenomenon and had a big impact because it was part of the emerging youth culture of the 1960s and it was very much an expression of that youth culture and also of the beginnings of the sexual liberation movement due to the invention of the birth control pill," Valerie Steele, director and chief curator of The Museum at FIT, told the BBC. "So it was kind of a historic moment."

Well, it seems that in 2022 we are all excited to relive that special moment in history and get our legs out again — the miniskirt is back. As Vogue noted in March 2022, miniskirts have been all the rage at fashion events this year, with both Miu Miu and Prada championing the look. In fact, as the Evening Standard noted, Miu Miu's micro mini has pretty much taken over every fashion conversation this year. Looks like the summer of 2022 will be the perfect time to raise our hemlines and revisit the staple of the 1960s.

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Back in the 1980s, Princess Diana was the royal it-girl when it came to fashion. These days, most of us turn either to Kate Middleton or Meghan Markle for our royal style inspo — and lately, Kate has been serving some kind of familiar looks. In 2022, Kate's fashion choices are reminding us a lot of Diana's fashion.

As Vogue pointed out in March 2022, Kate is wearing a lot of '80s looks these days, including a polka-dot dress with '80s puffed sleeves and a yellow shirt dress with puffed sleeves and a bow. Both looks could easily have been pulled straight out of a 1980s wardrobe. And we are loving it.

It seems that the '80s puffed sleeves are set to be a big trend this year. According to Country Town & House, we can expect to see this slightly extra retro look everywhere this year. We'll definitely be keeping an eye on Kate to see what '80s look she tries next.

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One vintage trend in 2022 is to actually buy vintage — a wild concept, we know! If you want to channel your favorite old-school looks, why not simply shop secondhand? Plus, it's better for the environment. And lots of celebs are jumping on the trend, especially when it comes to gowns and evening attire.

At the Oscars, Vogue pointed out, numerous stars opted for secondhand outfits. Kourtney Kardashian wore an '80s Thierry Mugler gown, Sienna Miller and Emily Ratajkowski both went with vintage Armani Prive, while Kirsten Dunst wore a 2002 Christian Lacroix gown. Billie Eilish also wore accessories that were sourced from vintage archives.

The word on the street is, Gen Z loves fashion with a story — and what could have more of a story than a real vintage item? So, clearly, buying pre-loved clothing is all the rage this year. For your next big event, why not opt for a true vintage piece? After all, if it's good enough for Kirsten Dunst, it's definitely good enough for us.

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The '90s isn't just back in fashion — it's also making a comeback in beauty. That's right — this year, according to L'Officiel, we're returning to trends like pencil-thin brows, frosted eyeshadow, heavy lip liner, space buns, and claw clips. While you're at it, you can pull out your old flavored lip glosses and butterfly clips, too. You could even revive those two thin strips of hair pulled out from your ponytail. Soon enough, you'll be channeling your favorite '90s stars like Jennifer Anniston, Drew Barrymore, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Winona Ryder.

According to Lauretta Power, a brow artist at Benefit, the skinny brow is indeed back, but it looks a little different these days. "The '22 version is fuller than the infamous '90s brow and is especially flattering on close-set eyes, with thinner, elongated brows, creating the illusion of wider eyes," she told Woman & Home. Another good look to try is grungy eyeliner. "I think the most relevant trend we can apply to today is grungy eyeliner for a night out on the town — not smeared, but just a black or dark liner along the lower waterline and smudged a little bit under the eye," suggested makeup artist Claudia Lake to the publication.

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Wait a minute, we thought socks were meant to be barely visible under your shoes? Well, it seems that in 2022, we're getting our sock inspiration from the vintage 1950s crew sock look. Crew socks are socks that hit your mid-calf. While wearing shorts or a miniskirt with sneakers and crew socks may leave you feeling like you're doing some kind of schoolgirl cosplay, don't panic — this look is all the rage this year.

As InStyle and Who What Wear noted, all the celebs are doing it: Kristen Stewart, Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, seemingly everyone's donning a crew sock these days. There are a few great ways to try this trend. Take inspiration from your favorite celebs and wear a pair of crew socks over your leggings on casual days. Or, in the summer, trade in your leggings for a pair of biker shorts. After all, biker shorts and crew socks are a classic Princess Diana look, so you can't go wrong. Or, you could take a page out of Kristen Stewart's book and go for a midi skirt with crew socks and sneakers.

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Farrah Fawcett, step aside. The 1970s wispy curtain bang look is back. Dozens of celebrities are hopping on the trend in 2022. As Stylist noted, fans of the flattering hairstyle include Kelly Rowland, Daisy Edgar Jones, Kaley Cuoco, Camila Cabello, and Millie Bobby Brown.

Curtain bangs are kind of an in-between look. Unlike regular bangs that are cut straight across the forehead, curtain bangs frame the face, fading into the rest of your hair. So, you can play around with them every day, adding more or less hair to your bangs depending on your mood. Plus, they're a lot lower maintenance than regular bangs.

As InStyle pointed out, you could also try bottleneck bangs, a new take on the classic curtain bangs look. "Curtain bangs generally fall away from the face in a soft way," said celebrity hairstylist Nick Stenson. "With bottleneck bangs, the length is short enough in the center to be worn falling straight." In other works, it's a look that falls somewhere between curtain bangs and full bangs — sounds great to us!

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Looking for something you can simply slip on during the summer? Look no further than the delightfully retro slip dress. This iconic look became hugely popular in the '90s, frequently appearing on shows like "Friends" (via Bustle). It's a simple, no-nonsense look that can transition beautifully from day to night. Basically, it's like a night dress slip that you wear in the day.

Vogue noted that slip dresses have been everywhere on the catwalks this year, appearing in the collections of Gucci, Cavalli and Versace. And, as Cosmopolitanpointed out, all the ready-to-wear brands are hopping on the trend, too.

According to L'Officiel, there is one specific type of slip dress to look out for this spring: the pink slip dress. Apparently, fashion bloggers from around the world are getting excited to throw on their bright pink slips this year and welcome in the sunshine — and we have to say, they look amazing doing it.

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This year, we're looking way back into the past — the classic 1950s varsity jacket is coming roaring back into style. Think "Riverdale" and "Yellowjackets" vibes. In March 2022, Rocco Ritchie, Madonna's son, was seen in London sporting a seriously retro letterman jacket along with some throwback cuffed jeans and square sunglasses (via Daily Mail). Louise Redknapp, former singer with Eternal, has also been seen this year in a stylish retro varsity jacket along with a single pair of black skinny jeans (via Hello!).

As Vogue noted, this is quickly becoming a serious trend. Apparently, the look has been especially popular on the streets of Copenhagen, Paris, New York, London and Milan. Varsity jackets have also cropped up in this year's fashion shows with designers like Vetements, Versace, Burberry and Givenchy all getting on board. It's official — varsity jackets are set to be all the rage this year, so don't get left behind!

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Get ready to see some sky-high shoes in 2022. That's right — platform shoes, boots, and sandals are back. And this time, they're even taller — and cooler — than the platforms we saw back in the '70s.

The trend began in late 2021 with celebrities like Beyoncé and Olivia Rodrigo leading the way. As celebrity stylist Nicole Chavez told CNN, the trend took off as a reaction to the pandemic. "People just want to feel happy again," she said. She went on to explain that platforms are perfect for people who aren't quite ready for full-on heels. "We're coming out of wearing sneakers and being in comfortable shoes, and so the jump from sneakers to stilettos is a big one. I feel like the platform, because it is more comfortable, is a great alternative." So in the summer of 2022, why not go high or go home!

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Remember the early 2000s emo phase? Well, we certainly do. It was a time when Avril Lavigne, Green Day, Paramore, and My Chemical Romance were all the rage — and fashion trends followed suit. Think loads of eyeliner, spiky hair, dark clothes, chains, belts, and so on. According to ASOS, the emo/ goth look is back, with celebrities like Pete Davidson, Machine Gun Kelly, and Travis Barker as the poster children. So this year you can expect to see striped t-shirts, leather trousers, dip-dyed hair, odd socks, goth collars, big boots, rings, and bright nail colors all mixed together like it's 2002.

BuzzFeed also pointed out that TikTok has been a breeding ground for the goth renaissance amongst Gen Z — both in fashion and in music. But this time around, you can expect things to be a little more progressive. "I think it's gonna look a lot less homogenized," singer Jason Aalon Butlersaid. "A lot more celebration of people that do not fit into any sort of gender norms or racial expectations."

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We all remember Zooey Deschanel in "500 Days of Summer" — for many of us, the character was a revelation. So quirky! So cute! So different! While you may have thought we'd moved on from those days, it looks like they're back. According to Refinery29, those cutesy, quirky, "twee" looks are having a resurgence.

So, what does the look entail? Well, apparently, things have moved on a little since the 2010s, and many of us will be glad to hear it. This means you can create looks that hint at Deschanel's famous persona without going overboard. Swap the ballet flats for a pair of stylish loafers, trade in the iconic Peter Pan collar for a big maximalist collar, opt for a cute hat instead of a hair bow or headband, and please, please avoid any colored tights — remember, crew socks are the name of the game this year!