10 Fashion Trends that were Popular in the 2010s

Happy New Year, guys! It feels so good to be in the new decade. It feels better to know that 2020 will be ushering new and retro fashion trends that will put a bit of pressure on both fashion designers and fashion consumers. Nonetheless, while we patiently anticipate the fashion trends for the new decade, let’s do a quick throwback to some fashion trends that were popular in the 2010s.

The last decade is such a memorable one in the area of fashion. It came with lots of trends and changes in the fashion industry such that even the plainest of all Janes definitely must have tried one or two of the fashion trends that were popular in the 2010s. Some of these trends were totally new but a majority of them comprised retro fashion coming out better than before. Thanks to social media, many of these fashion trends went viral within a short while and the result were fads upon fads. Our celebrities and fashion influencers did not fail to represent us stylishly during the last decade. We saw them making bold fashion statements on the red carpet while showcasing these fashion trends.

As expected, we had the good, the bad and the ugly among the fashion trends that were popular in the 2010s. Who remembers that ‘My Money Grows Like Grass’ T-shirt that trended sometime in 2013? Time has really raced, I must admit.  Quickly, let’s take a trip down memory lane to see some of the fashion trends that made the 2010s a very fashion-savvy decade in Nigeria.

1. Oleku

Oleku resurfaced again in 2013, before then it was a major fashion staple in the 1960s and early 90s for every Nigerian woman, most especially the Yorubas. This trend didn’t last long as other Ankara trends competed to have their own space.

2. Ankara All the Way

Speaking of the Ankara fabric, the 2010s came with different explorations of Ankara. We saw Ankara made into outfits such as suits, jumpsuits, easygoing gowns, bumshorts, etc. We even saw Ankara being used to make handbags, shoes, earrings and nails! That’s not all. People rocked Ankara with sneakers and mixed different Ankara prints together in the last decade and it was so pleasing to the eyes contrary to how people wore Ankara in the 2000s.

3. Ripped Jeans

The style died down during the early 90s but there is no denying the fact that ripped denim returned in the 2010s with a fierce effect such that almost every young individual had either a ripped or distressed denim in his/her wardrobe.

4. Colour Blocking

This trend made eyebrows raise when it first returned in the early 2010s. It featured garish combinations. Later on, it left the fashion scene and returned again, this time with a sophisticated touch.

5. Shirtdresses

Shirtdresses came in various styles. We had the deconstructed shirtdress and the boyfriend shirtdress for instance. It was a simple but classy outfit for every fashionista.

6. Choker

This dainty fashion accessory returned between 2015 and 2016. There were also choker tops, gowns and jumpsuits in the 2010s.

7. Billowy Sleeves

Billowy sleeves came about as the decade grew. Red carpet dresses and Ankara designs made louder fashion statements with the voluminous sleeves. It worked more with tight-fitting designs.

8. Fanny Packs

Otherwise known as waist bags, fanny packs resurfaced and became every fashionista’s must-have. I remember seeing almost every influencer rocking a Gucci fanny pack on Instagram. The trend came with such intensity and died down after a while.

9. Athleisure

Athleisure and streetwear were outfits that gave people comfort while looking sporty yet stylish. Thanks to foreign celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Rita Ora, Kanye West, etc., who made biker shorts one of the number one trends in streetwear, athleisure was a norm in the last decade. Even in this new year, it is still hard to resist the comfort of stretchy leggings, sneakers and crop tops.

10. Animal Prints

We saw a range of animal prints in the last decade, ranging from leopard prints to zebra prints and snake prints.

Other fashion trends that were popular in the 2010s are boyfriend jeans, pleated skirts, statement sunglasses, boyfriend jackets, vintage shirts, palazzo, kimono, sling bags, polka-dots, clashing prints, sheer outfits, bodysuits, etc. Let’s all stay glued to the Universe as we anticipate the goodies that 2020 has in store for all.