From baseball jackets to floral kimonos and illuminous Aztec-style crop-tops, the early 2010s were characterised by some questionable fashion trends. Fast fashion brands were accelerating while skater style and swag-inspired outfits were in their prime. Think MTV crop tops, sweatshirts with ‘NERD’ printed across the chest, American flag leggings, dip-dyed hair and Jesus bracelets – there was no end to the fashion disasters from 2010 to 2015.
School books were carried in mi-pacs, elaborately patterned Paul’s Boutique bags, or draw-string rucksacks. School yards were quickly becoming catwalks, filled with young girls with their school jumpers tucked into skater skirts, or worse, mini tube skirts. They toiled all day to avoid the jumper bulging out below their waists.
Girls refused to wear baggy school trousers; only skin-tight legging-style ones would do. This brought them into conflict with teachers as denim jeans and cotton-lycra leggings were forbidden under school rules; only polyester trousers were allowed. Boys caught onto this trend too, insisting upon wearing trousers that looked like they’d been spray painted onto their legs (some even went as far as buying girl’s trousers to achieve the tight fit). Trousers were undoubtedly the most important item of the back-to-school shop. Mothers were forced to hunt through the shelves of high-street shops looking for the perfect pair. They had to be high-waisted with no visible stitching and tight enough to suffocate thighs, strictly without any sagging on the calves or knees.
Additionally, school shoes were no longer buckled or leather, they were black Vans, Converse, or Nike Janoskis. Again, this caused dispute with teachers, who insisted that every inch of the shoe must be black and threatened to send pupils home if they could so much as sniff a red Vans logo or white Nike tick.
During the colder months, a khaki parka coat and tartan scarf completed every ‘cool’ girl’s uniform, while boys rocked black Superdry coats with fluorescent details. Superdry and brands such as Hollister and Gilly Hicks were in their prime, meaning a logo-laden hoodie was sure to be found on every teenager’s Christmas list.
On weekends girls would dress up in floral mini-tube-skirts, peplum tops, and high wedged heels for underage parties, or onesies for girly sleepovers. Either way, eyes would be plastered with black eyeliner to give a panda eye look, and Facebook profile pictures would be snapped on photo booth app CamWow. No outfit was complete without a choker, thick gold chain, or bandana headband. Not forgetting the 1960s flower crown that made a come back in the early 2010s.
It is true that fashion trends revolve in a cycle. Currently we are witnessing a come-back of 1970s-style flared trousers, pant suits, tie-dye co-ords, and crochet – everything. We can only pray that some of the early 2010s secondary school trends don’t come back to plague the next generation.
Eve Davies
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