In 2021, adapting to the circumstances we encounter at present and looking forward a better future by learning from the past is something we have been pushed to do after a world pandemic hit, and during, and something we will still need to practice when it ends.

Regardless of the many downsides of the current economic playground or how alienated we could have been feeling during numerous lockdowns - the ultimate strength we have as humans is reason and the ability to learn and better ourselves. We will witness change in small yet significant ways and we will thrive anew, together.

For these reasons we update our vision, we upgrade our ethics and become more flexible rewriting the way we remember the past and rediscovering paths to achieve a more sustainable and human atmosphere, an increasingly engaging world in which transparency and less is more are core values.

Trends are centred around 5 different philosophies but they all strive for a better tomorrow and adapt to a new reality.

1.THE LOGICIAN (reverse-globalization.)

As the same suggests this is a back to basics, simple living story - simpler in terms of priorities, thinking and what is truly essential to us. The pace of our life has slowed down and in many cases we would have been stripped of the commodities or comforts of services provided by others- we bring the coffee beans from our favourite cafe home, we purchase a handmade item over something in high street offering - a preference for “the little things”.

This trend stems from all those small, simple rituals they created in times when our freedom to roam around and socialise were hijacked by unfortunate circumstances, and they learned sometimes smaller isn’t that bad, sometimes prioritising simple practices is key to ground ourselves and appreciate what we have. The way they thinks is that of someone who cherishes their basics and celebrates their ability to logically find a path that includes classic and traditional pieces combined and constructed a bit differently - reinvented in ways that appeal to their new, fresh views of the world, positive and playful. Favouring local as the norm - a trend for reverse globalisation sees our preferences shift from interest in imported goods to “sourced and produced here” ones. Season-less and many times inspired by menswear styles, they favour small local events and homemade treats. Investing in smaller brands, sometimes a bit niche, to showcase trends in a more customised way, is more them - on the other hand big names interest them for basic, high quality, staple, unaltered pieces.

2.THE MEDIATOR(sustainable, transparency spirit.)

Inspired by stripping back from the ornamental and a balanced relationship with Earth, the beacon for finding solutions to climate change and slowing down production of too much too fast shines bright here. An idealised lifestyle of contemplation and meditative consciousness - we enjoy “daily pieces of peace.” Outdoor spaces in the home, holidays leaning towards remote country stays over city breaks.

They gathers their knowledge of materials and minimalism to ground their style and keep things sophisticated and elegant. Humanity, natural origins and sensory comfort are key elements that they always favour - fairtrade, sustainable and organic, labels that fight for causes they believe in, cruelty-free cosmetics. Moderation and temperance are at the core of their philosophy and thinking, repairing and curating their personal collections and dedicating time to meditation and how to become better and more aware of their mark in the world - gentleness, lead by strength and will. They like laid back lounge uniform styles, their “at home” version of workwear or office-wear inspired by the serenity of staying in. Appreciation of textures and interesting surfaces, indoors and outdoors, raw stones and naturally dyed fibres give them a sense of “unadultered” and “clean”, transparency, and this reinvigorates their ethics which they want to be the drive and core of their life. Made to order and pre-ordering systems create an almost familiar sense in their relationship with brands, they feel connected to them, this reinstates the idea of community and human contact - what they want is the real thing, only.

3.THE HISTORIAN (retelling, romanticising everyday.)

Appreciation for the past and how it has affected the present; an elevated sense of curiosity. Romanticising the every day through maximalist touches and a vision of the world as a tale in which she is the main character. Writing her own story, inspired by historical figures and the beauty and sentimentalism / fantasy of other eras brought forward into times that are almost “too realistic”. Literary babes.

Bridgerton and other historical shows influence - such as Victoria, or The Great too. Online art classes and commissions from fine artists and illustrators, who get donations or payment through low fee or monthly subscription support sites like Patreon and ko-fi for all kinds of digital and non digital art. Becoming a patron of the arts on a small scale. Through the sharing of historical facts and stories on TikTok and instagram reels - history students and graduates re-tell history without any restrictions, there is curiosity about hairstyles and beauty influenced by history too, reviews of cosmetics founded in the 1800s, revival of vintage dollies and home-wear made into garments and retro cooking: from old forgotten cookbooks, from various periods of time. A viral post about a lover's eye necklace worn by one of Bridgerton’s characters has made people interested in love/heart lockets as pieces to wear too - romanticising the every day seems to be at the very heart of this trend, vintage lingerie and loungewear and a trend for romantic picnics to avoid confined spaces, luxury blankets for comfort and redemptions of pop songs as medieval bard ballads influence the way we look for refinement in daily life.

4.THE ENLIGHTENED (elevated and confident.)

Countries led by women have become examples of how to successfully and effectively lead in COVID-19 response, with a sense of elevated confidence and the practice of manifestation hand in hand, the feminine positive / new masculities wave re-ignited by Gen Z — gentleness and inclusive beauty, tolerant sophistication, positivism, acceptance, new types of “girliness” and frou frou becoming symbols of power and evolution.

Beyond Mars and Venus this story sees boundaries change and become more like goals to surpass. Her philosophy is a celebration of the strength of the self, here people, whether female identifying or not, break down stereotypes and continue searching for total equality; an ongoing theme in the gender revolution. Perhaps as a result of being indoors and under restrictions for a while we come to appreciate everything we saw as superfluous in the past and we retell our stories with truth and awareness learned through time - amending and removing any racist, homophobic, sexist and other discriminatory versions of history, we seek truth. Women own their sexuality and continue fighting objectification - reconquering and rebranding words like “bimbo” - and adding “thembos”, and “himbos”, we value inclusivity. The new bimbo is self-aware, sexually empowered, politically conscious, pro-sex workers, pro-LGBTQIA, pro-BLM - redefining and recolouring their daily life in virtual pastels and muted shades that look almost out of this world - they want to dress however they desire, not to cater to the expectations or ideas others have of them.

5.THE PERFORMER (unhinged, nude, sensual.)

Letting go of all previous worries and concerns will perhaps have a new “roaring 20s” happening in the world as the effects of the Pandemic die down and we become able to socialise freely. As a parallel of the spirit and theatrical influences from the era, the thrill, the adrenaline and excitement of flapper girls - neo rave women take the stage and express themselves unhinged and unapologetic.

Seeing the world as a stage becomes the focal point of their philosophy - any time they spent tucked away they will recover - experimenting with colours in styling both garments and make up is the way they chose to express themselves. Boldness and feeling unrestricted, showing their true self and having fun become a priority, realising that time flows by faster than we think, it would be positive if the next 5 years compare to the surge of wealth, innovation, and change seen in the 1920s but even if it does not happen to such a high degree - it will still be a time for regaining strength and celebration which will help us keep a positive outlook on life.