Over the Christmas break, I spent time in my hometown and indulged in some remote control channel-flipping bliss. Since 2009 was coming to an end, many channels devoted themselves to reminiscing over the decade. While watching videos of Britney (not yet a woman in flared denim and a belly-baring crop top), Madonna, (bringing disco-inspired dance music back to the mainstream in a bodysuit), and Kanye (cementing his style status by bringing the Shutter Shades fad to the table), I started thinking about all the trends which have impacted the evolution of fashion in the last ten years.
No doubt has dance-pop music been a major influence on style, particularly in the beginning of the decade. Musicians have been saying rock-and-rock is dead for years now and I think the popularity of Emo bands, like Dashboard Confessionals, sent the final blow to rock in the early 00’s. Most of the fashion trends were influenced by other decades - dubbing the 00’s the mash-up decade. Most prominent revivals were 90’s grunge plaid shirts, 80’s neon, leggings and shoulder pads, 70’s flared jeans, 60’s bohemian and 50’s pencil skirts.
First of all, early 00’s fashion was a little trashy. The world was recovering from Spice World mania. We were listening to songs like Dirrty, I’m a Slave 4 U and Sk8ter Boi, and we were dressing in corsets, leopard and ultra
low-rise jeans, but we didn’t seem to mind. I used the term Ghetto Chic to describe some of these popular trends, which to me is a fusion of street style and classics. A few trends under this category are: nameplate necklaces and earrings, hoop earrings, tube tops, booty shorts, legwarmers, white beaters, the Gucci fanny pouch belt, glitter and metallic clothing. In the middle of the decade, metallics became a major trend of their own. Red carpets were gleaming with entertainers trying to outshine each other in gold and silver gowns. I have always had a bizarre love affair with gold shoes, ever since I purchased a pair of late 90’s golden platforms.
Denim is always fashionable. The decade started with the reintroduction of low-rise jeans by pop stars, such as Britney Spears. When paired with a belly-baring crop top, the results were sexed-up 
and tacky. Among the fashion victims “accidentally-on purpose” exposing their thong was Halle Berry wearing a mini skirt, while proudly baring her thong at the MTV Video Awards.
Flared jeans were also very popular in early 00’s - a throwback to the Bell Bottom of the 70’s. The trend moved far away from flares in 2004, when the skinny jean and cigarette pant styles emerged as the must-have. Skinny jeans were popular in various groups: fashion crowds (such as early adapter Kate Moss), rock groups (The Strokes) and hipsters until it bleed into mainstream stores like H&M, Urban Outfitters and American Apparel. Ultra-wide leg pants and jeans tried to replace the skinny jean effect with minor success. Jeggings are the latest denim trend – a hybrid with the look of denim and the feel of leggings – to take legs by storm and may continue into 2010.
Sweats have been a major player in the retail marketplace this decade. The sweats trend allowed people to let go of their inhibitions and dress comfortably in spite of what the public may think. The idea was to look “put together” and disguise the fact that you’re wearing sweats all-day long. Juicy Couture and Lululemon Athletica successfully ventured into the sweats trend with “upscale workout gear.” Juicy Couture also started the Velour Tracksuit craze in the late 90’s and early 00’s after sending one of their suits to Madonna with the word “Madge” embroidered on the bum. She wore it and thus everyone in America was branded with “Juicy” on their behind.
The J-Lo Velour Tracksuit was also mega popular. The start of the decade was the start of Celeborprations (Celebrity + Corporations), where musicians and actors became full on empires with limitless branding opportunities. Jennifer Lopez, aka JLO, aka Jenny from the Block, led the pack with her actor-turn-musician-turn-entrepreneur status. The success of her perfume Glow by J.Lo started the insufferable trend of celebrity fragrances. From early 00’s to presently, sweats have remained in the limelight. Top designers are beginning to realize the sweats trend is here to stay and are adapting new ideas to turn sweats into high fashion. Spring 2010 will see designers like Alexander Wang bring sweats into the future of sportswear.
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