I've Seen You Before - Styles & Their Comeback

A piece of clothing can be a reminder of an event, an emotion, and especially a decade.

Whether it's Hollister Co.'s 2000's drop for this Fall 2025, or the 19th-century lace-up boots featured in Chanel's Spring 2023 show, a resurgence of styles of the past lends itself to the question: "Where have I seen you before?"

Here are a few looks of the present that pull from the past.

1. Hollister

At the end of July, Hollister announced its 2000s vault release drop. The limited-edition collection is a time machine back to its founding years. Think: preppy striped dress shirts, babydoll tops, cable knits, with an embroidered seagull logo prominently featured. Anyone remember the live-feed beach scenes broadcast in store?

To shop Hollister's limited edition collection, visit: https://www.hollisterco.com/shop/us/

Hollister's Instagram Post Announcing their Limited Edition 2000's Collection (https://www.instagram.com/hollister/)

2. Chanel's Spring 2023 Haute Couture Show

The Spring 2023 Chanel show was filled with tweed ensembles and stately top hats, bow-ties and larger-than-life wooden animals. Of particular interest, the show featured a lace-up boot (as seen here: https://www.chanel.com/ro/haute-couture/p/23SHC-PODIUM-003/look-3/) similar to a late 19th-century style (below), both reminiscent of a majorette shoe.

In the 19th century, Victorian boots typically came in black, tan, or a two-toned fabric (as shown above). These boots were either lace-up or required button hooks to fasten.

3. Lace for Fall

In 2011, lace played prominently in the fabric of the Fall/Winter runways. This fall, whether the lace is trim on a skirt or a lace dress slip is layered under a sweater, get ready for the lace comeback.

Two popular lace trends include Gothic Lace (above left), commonly seen with darker and heavier fabrics, and Boho Lace (above right), which often uses lighter colors, lace embroidery on maxi skirts, and delicate layering pieces to create more free-spirited look.

The Pull of Nostalgia

Trends of the past show up in the present for a variety of reasons, including nostalgia, sustainability, and self-expression.

Hollister's 2000's capsule collection is a good example of nostalgia at play. Youths who shopped at Hollister when they were younger could re-visit some of the old styles they remembered, driving more traffic to stores in the process.

Overall, recycling prior fashion trends is nothing new, and we look forward to seeing which looks make a comeback in future seasons.