To conclude our Year in Review coverage, Youth Advisory Board member Emily Smucker looks back at the top fashion of 2012. Many of the trends we saw this past year are modern updates of past styles and like Emily, we hope many of these fashion trends are still in style in 2013!
Best of 2012: Fashon
Fashions come and go, and the things that get us excited this year may have us laughing in twenty five years. However, we had some stellar fashions in 2012. This is a list of the best fashion trends of the year, trends which are so lovely that I predict that even if they fall out of fashion, you might as well keep the items in your closet because you can be sure they’ll come back in style someday.
Lace
Of all the trends this year, lace is the one I can get behind 100%. In and of itself, lace is pretty, feminine, and delicate. However, lace can also be edgy when paired with the right things. But most of all, lace is a classic. It has been around for centuries. As such, many of the items we snatch up today can be worn for years and years without looking dated.
Color blocking
Everyone was color blocking this year, and I loved it. I love the creativity, the eye-popping colors, and the way it encourages people to pair things up which they normally wouldn’t pair up, expanding the options in their wardrobe. However, problems do arrive when people start color-blocking colors that look terrible together.
Glitter
A year and a half ago, I found a pair of glittery flip-flops at a thrift store, and loved them so much I desperately hoped glitter would come in style so I could stock up on more glittery items. What do you know, it did! This trend is obviously not for everyone, but those who can pull it off should definitely be stocking up. Too much glitter looks cheap, but having one article of clothing that catches and scatters the light captures people’s attention and makes the world a more sparkly and happy place.
Scarves
Although the scarf was overused this year, the fact remains that scarves are beautiful things. Being able to walk into a store and see such magnificent variety has been wonderful. Scarves are another classic item that can be worn virtually forever.
Vintage fashion
I hope vintage fashion never goes out of style. I love seeing reboots from times gone by, and I love the encouragement it gives to thrift store shopping. Two things I noticed this year were peter pan collars and peplum. Both are small items from the past that I wouldn’t have expected to come back, but the fact that they did makes me feel happy and nostalgic.
Oxford shoes
What do you do when you want to wear socks with a nice pair of shoes, but it’s too warm for boots? I found the answer to this riddle in a pair of vintage-inspired oxford shoes. Since then I have seen oxford shoes become more and more on-trend. Most of the ones I’ve seen have been covered with glitter, to coincide with the glitter trend, but here’s to oxford shoes being even trendier in 2013!
Varsity Jackets
Vintage inspired varsity jackets for women are just creeping in at the tail end of 2012, but I love them to pieces and hope they’ll stick around. Not only are they cute, but they’re practical and comfortable. As with the majority of my favorite trends of 2012, varsity jackets take inspiration from the past and rework it into something fun and modern. In my opinion, the best fashion trends are like this, growing and changing but still borrowing heavily from what’s worked before.
Emily Smucker
Emily is happiest when she is drinking tea and reading a book in a sunny room. She is 22 years old and currently a sophomore in college. Majoring in communications and minoring in elementary education, Emily spends her spare time doing theater, blogging, and designing clothing. Her first book, titled “Emily,” was published in 2009, and she hopes to publish more books in the future. If you would like to read Emily’s blog you can find it at www.emilysmucker.com.
