It appears we’re about to meet more ghosts of fashion this year
We already knew, and maybe even accepted, that fashion foes such as low-rise jeans and peplums were coming back.
What we didn’t foresee was the revival of Y2K fashion such as the ‘whale tail’ or the ‘cold shoulder’ top.
Yet, here they are, back in a very real way and being donned by influential and high-profile celebrities such as Dua Lipa.
Funnily enough (or perhaps not funny at all), the ‘cold shoulder’ tops and the ‘whale tail’ were voted as the 6th and 7th most regretted fashion choices of the ’90s and ’00s, respectively, according to a study conducted by Freemans.
The ‘Whale Tail’ Trend
At the Grammys earlier this month, Dua Lipa had three outfit changes, one being a black, long-sleeve, floor-length gown, featuring an evolution of the ’00s whale tail for the Gucci afterparty.
The ‘whale tail’ trend was a popular layered clothing trend choice in the early 2000s.
While it was defined by wearing hip-hugger jeans or skirts, a crop top, and high-riding thongs, it seems to be coming back with a more subtle touch.
Celebrities such as Christina Aguilera, Halle Berry, and Gillian Anderson all helped to popularise the trend in the early 2000s.
Despite the influence, the trend began to fade in the mid-2000s. We turned back on these trends and leaned more toward high-waisted trousers and cardigans over exposed midriffs.
However, over the last couple of years, the ‘whale tail’ has slowly been creeping back onto the red carpets and runways through the likes of Alexa Demie, Bella Hadid, and more recently Dua Lipa.
Bella Hadid walking the runway at the Versace fashion show during the Milan Men’s Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2020 on June 15, 2019 Credit: Getty
The ‘Cold Shoulder’ Trend
To me, this was called wearing an ‘off-the-shoulder’ top, but its trend name was the ‘cold shoulder’ for obvious reasons.
Dua Lipa, during the debut of her new song, Training Season, at the Grammys, also took inspiration from the ‘cold shoulder’ top.
The Dance The Night singer arrived on stage sporting a strappy leather look with bare shoulders.
The ‘cold shoulder’ tops were often accompanied by exposed bra straps throughout the 2000s something Dua Lipa’s performance attire included.
For many of us, we may remember the early-2000s version of the fashion foe like this:
Despite placing 7th on the most regretted fashion choices from the noughties era in the UK, the trend seems to be on the up, but with a twist.
People are now wearing the cold shoulder look without the bra straps on show.
These days, the ‘cold shoulder’ has been revived once more by the likes of Meghan Markle, who seems to renew its popularity with every outing.
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