Each year, fashion around the world goes through changes, and 2022 was no exception. Trends from 2021 faded and 2022 has brought on new ones, whether passing quickly or withstanding the year. In this article, we’ll review some of the biggest fashion trends of 2022 and see what Champaign Central High School students thought about them.
Although there were many variations in aesthetics, 2022 saw the rise of new styles, and some were more prominent than others. The “Workwear” aesthetic rose in popularity, which could be seen in the prominence of loafers and oxford shoes, wide-leg trousers, oversized collared shirts, and blazers.
Bella Ondevilla, a freshman at Champaign Central High school says, “I saw a lot of business casual and academia aesthetic come back. I think it’s cute if you can make it casual, but some outfits are very mature. I see young teenagers dressing up like middle age moms, and that’s not the vibe for me. This aesthetic is also not super accessible to younger people, especially when it’s surrounded by designer brands.” Alice Bell, also a freshman at Central agrees that she likes the aesthetic when made more casual, “I think it’s cute if you can find a way to dress it down. I’ve seen fashion influencers on TikTok incorporate pinstripe vests into their outfits and add tennis shoes and less formal pieces, which I love.”
This “Workwear” aesthetic could also be seen with the rise of brands like Carharrt and Dickies in everyday wear. For example, Carhartt jackets and beanies, Dickies 874 pants, and Dickies overalls were popular.
Another new aesthetic in 2022 was the “Coastal Grandmother” look. TikTok, Pinterest, and other social media were swarmed with people taking inspiration from the fashion of wealthy older women, specifically those living in a seaside area. Think loose, relaxed clothing, lots of linen, sundresses, flowy pants, bucket and sun hats, oversized button-up shirts, and Birkenstocks. Bell says, “I love this trend! I think it’s especially functional in the Summer but is so cute at the same time.” Chris Villanti, a senior at Central, says, “I’m here for it! I really like the relaxed look and especially love the bucket hats.”
An aesthetic that continued to rise was the Y2K, or early 2000’s aesthetic. This could be seen with the popularity of matching sets, micro miniskirts, cropped cardigans, waist beads, and baby tees. Bell says, “The Y2K aesthetic has come out every two seconds over the past couple of years. I really like the aesthetic if you’re dedicated to it and make it your thing, and I also think you can incorporate pieces and make them look modern and appropriate. It’s just very easy to miss on the Y2K look.” Villanti says, “I think it’s a cool aesthetic and I also think it’s interesting that people hated on it so much, but now it’s back. I think people have made it look a lot better now than in the early 2000s.”
Perhaps the biggest change in fashion this year was classically Y2K low-rise fit bottoms returning to popularity, straying from the high-rise fits we’ve seen in the past couple of years. Most like the look of the trend, but the preference of wearing it themselves differ. Ondevilla says, “I think some people can pull it off, it’s just not for me. I love high-waisted things.” Bell says, “I hate low rise on me. I think some people look so good in them and everyone should wear them if they want, but they’re not comfortable to me. I also wear a lot of crop tops, and wearing low-rise feels like too much.”
Seasonal trends this year included Bermuda shorts, specifically in denim, cutouts in clothing, and one-piece swimsuits coming into popularity. People had a lot to say about Bermuda shorts coming back into style. Ondevilla says, “I liked how they came back because I think they’re different than what we’ve seen recently, and the loose ones are comfortable.” Bell says, “I don’t like them because they remind me of when my Grandma would put me in Justice jorts that were so tight and uncomfortable, so I only wear short cut-offs. I think the way people are wearing Bermuda shorts now is cute though, it’s a good trend.”
In the winter and fall, the Ugg brand rose in popularity, as people could be seen wearing mini Ugg boots and slippers, whether it be the Fluff Slide, the Tasman Slipper, or Croquetter Slipper. Villanti says, “I think the Ugg slippers are okay to wear when you have socks on, but not with your toes out. It’s too much for wearing outside of your house, and you know their feet are sweating.” Bell says she likes the slippers, but not the mini Uggs. She says, “We’ve already done the basic Ugg boot in the 2000s, but I like the slippers because they’re different and some have cool new detailing.”
New trends in accessories included the popularity of messenger and tote bags rather than the focus on mini shoulder bags popular in 2020 and 2021. Crossbody belt bags also rose to prominence, seen with the popularity of the Lululemon Everywhere Crossbody Bag.
Another accessory that turned heads in 2022 was chunky headphones, differing from the popularity of wireless headphones in recent years. Ondevilla says, “I love the ‘headphones as an accessory’ trend, especially because of how functional they are. They add to my outfits and make school more sufferable.” Bell says, “I love how you can be unique with [the trend] because of how many different types of headphones there are. It’s super cute when people put stickers on them, especially the Apple headphones.” Villanti shares his opinion about the Apple headphones, or the “AirPods Max”, that surged in popularity during 2022. He says, “They’re so expensive that you can’t get judged for wearing them, but I think they’re ugly because of how beefy they are. Get a smaller pair that does the same exact thing.”
Trends in shoes also changed in the past year. Clogs were integral to fashion in 2022, shown through the popularity of the Birkenstock clog. Ondevilla says, “I think with certain outfit pieces and aesthetics like a more granola aesthetic, clogs work. Some people, though, are styling them with the most random things, which I don’t love.” Villanti says, “I think clogs are another trend that people hated on but were brought back this year. I like how different they are.”
Although there were various new trends in 2022, some trends haven’t faded from previous years. The overall liking for oversized and loose fits has continued since 2020 when relaxed clothing because of the COVID-19 pandemic became popular. Wide-leg pants, Dad, and ‘90s relaxed fit jeans have continued to stay in trend, along with oversized shirts, sweaters, jackets, and more.
Overall, Central students agree that fashion trends are ever-changing, seen with the variety of trends in 2022. No matter personal preference, the overall view is that if you can style the trend correctly, you can make it fashionable. Bell says, “If you put enough work into your outfit, I honestly think anything can look good. I admire anyone who puts themselves out there and wears what they want to.”
