2021 Fashion Predictions

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Yentacore

I could like to go on the record as being the Jewish woman who lovingly coined the term "Yentacore" back in October 2020 if it ever blows up. I think Christian fashion had its moment (and even had an entire Met Gala theme in its honor) with sacreligious saint-decorated lingerie and an obsession with the Virgin Mary back in 2015-ish, so now I'm suggesting we fully lean into what fashion has been tiptoeing around all year: appropriating Jewish aesthetics. Since I'm a descendent of Ashkenazi heritage (Eastern European, white), I suggest we swaddle ourselves in headscarves tied under the chin, observe the tenets of tzniut (Jewish modesty laws, the most basic of which is to cover the skin from collarbone to ankle), strap on mary-jane shoes, and listen to some radical leftist rabbi podcasts. Note: the "core" in yentacore comes from combining these aspects of the Jewish aesthetic with comfy goyim clothes, so layer your Batsheva housedress with some sweats, as I did here:

Yentacore

Paisley

This one is just a sheer guess. Checkered patterns and cow's print are almost completely played out in the mainstream (read: L*sa Says G@h-centric) fashion collective brain and paisley hasn't had a solid comeback in over 20 years. I think it deserves to come back because you can spill food on it and it still looks good.

Sheer Layers

prosenkilde IG

Can be chucked on over 2020's ratty sweatsuits, or anything, and you'll look like you're in a dress rehersal for a modenized version of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Fendi SS21 Molly Goddard

Bubble Shape

Ashley Williams SS21

This shape has been due for a resurgence since its 90s/early-2000s heyday in both high and low fashion (everywhere from Rei Kawakubo's circle dresses to Seventeen Magazine's strapless formalwear suggestions). Going by the favored sillhouettes of 2020, from puffer jackets to quilt coats to Bottega boots, people want to feel cocooned and coddled by their clothing. Even if it's not a sign of generational trauma, the bubble shape will be one of 2021's most noticeable trends.

Loewe SS21 Junya Watanabe SS21

Crinkly Fabric

Patou SS21

Fuck ironing and fuck having enough closet space for everything to hang perfectly! Unless you're a TikTok clotheshorse getting paid to look impeccable, you should embrace a low-maitenance approach to wrinkly clothes and look for clothes that are MEANT to look a little schlubby. This will often combine with the bubble shape, as demonstrated above.

Pointy Hats

Hurtence

Whether single, double, or even triple (haven't seen this yet) pointed, these hats make everyone look like characters in a Harry Nilsson cartoon (If you haven't yet seen The Point... it's time). They are more interesting than the traditional beanie shape but can be knit or sewn out of comparably comfortable materials and don't need to be tied or looped around the head. Utilitarian and kind of funny.

The Nong Rak Poche

Marbling

myfawnwy

Tie-dye was exciting and nostalgic in 2019 but 2020 saw it much of its fun as it became more common to see brands shilling tie-dye t-shirts for 100+ bucks and less for people to actually enact the dyeing themselves. Marbling came up with the advent of TikTok and Reels because of its _ satisfying _ process but in 2021 it will pretty much replace tie-dye as the go-to multicolor pattern. It requires (seemingly) more skill and precision than tie-dye and can be used to make more illustrative, figurative prints as well as abstract blobs.

Lefty