Fashion is a powerful form of art and self-expression that visually defines a certain period in history or what an individual or humanity as a whole is going through in a particular time frame.
People express themselves and establish their identities through what they wear. One can definitely tell a lot about a person's lifestyle -including culture, thoughts, emotions and even political beliefs--through what clothes he or she wears.
Amazingly, although many go for a certain look that they feel suits their personality and ideology, fashion trends are ever-changing and so are people's taste in clothes.
Yearly, new fashion trends pop up and people are somehow always drawn to adhere to these emerging trends.
We abandon “outdated” looks for fresh ones because it's in our nature to constantly evolve and adapt to changes.
And speaking of changes, although fashion trends are ever-changing, old trends somehow magically find their way back, albeit most of the time with a modern twist.
So, every year, it's exciting to see what new fashion trends will be born and which old ones will be resurrected into their updated or upgraded versions.
Certainly, one of the years that will stand out in fashion history is the year 2020, a year when safety and comfort became topmost priorities as people are forced to stay at home to stay safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
But that's not to say that fashion trends this year were boring or lacked creativity. On the contrary, it's the year that many revolutionary creations were crafted in order to address people's need to be safe and stylish at the same time.
It also saw how fashion transformed into one of the most essential industries as fashion designers and labels worldwide worked hand-in-hand to address the lack of medical-grade face masks and other protective gear during the early days of the pandemic.
Some produced cloth face masks to donate or raise funds for medical frontliners, while others created face masks so that the public could have an alternative protection while surgical face masks were still low in supply at that time. Some designers even created stylish personal protective equipment or PPE coveralls.
The year 2020 also saw the birth of a new way of staging runway shows: virtual fashion shows here and abroad, and socially distant runway shows with fewer live audiences.
Indeed, it's been an exciting, purposeful and unforgettable year for fashion. Take a look at all the fashion trends in 2020 in this photo gallery.
No doubt, the biggest fashion trend in 2020 is the face mask. It was once considered only as a protective wear for those who may have compromised immune systems. But in 2020, it has become an essential part of our everyday clothing in order to stay safe against COVID-19. It came to being after medical-grade or surgical masks ran out of supply, and people from different walks of life, especially those from the fashion industry, stepped up and produced cloth face masks so that people can have an alternative protection. Various types of face masks were created, including viral creative face masks made by Pinoys and luxury face masks produced by famous brands.
The personal protective equipment or PPE was initially only meant for medical frontliners, since they're the ones who are most at risk to contract COVID-19. As fashion designers worked hand-in-hand to produce PPEs that are badly needed worldwide, the designs have evolved from simply being functional to amazingly creative ones like those inspired by 'Money Heist,' 'Teletubbies,' and 'Star Wars,' and also the PPE created by Michael Cinco that looked like a high-fashion dress.
Designers have also turned the face masks into beautiful accessories to match their wonderful creations like the bridal gown collection of Michael Cinco and the formal dresses of Christian Siriano.
Back in May, GMA Lifestyle got wind of the “trikini,” which is basically a three-piece beachwear that consists of a bikini and a matching face mask. It was created by Italian designer Scaramuzzo, owner of Elexia Beachwear.
The face shield also became a big pandemic essential and a great fashion accessory in the midst of the pandemic. Just like with the face mask, people have come up with their unique versions of it and luxury brands also released their own line of fashionable face shields.
Some of the ingenious fashion creations this year are jackets with built-in or detachable face mask or face shield. It's the perfect clothing item to wear when commuting or having close interactions with other people.
As almost everyone had to work and study from home for some time, loungewear became a practical choice for most people. Many have either hustled from home wearing pajamas or other sleepwear. While some had to pair loungewear such as sweatpants with corporate wear like coats or dress shirts for their Zoom meetings and other virtual events.
Another non-pandemic related fashion trend is the crescent moon print by fashion label Marine Serre that celebrities like Beyonce, Adele, Dua Lipa, Blackpink, and Kylie Jenner wore this year.
The backless dress has been around for years, but this year it took on a daring twist by adding the exposed thong to the overall look and design. International celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Beyonce were spotted sporting this sexy look this year, but many netizens were quick to point out that Filipina actress Ara Mina actually rocked a similar outfit way back in 2002.
When it comes to casual wear, bike shorts were also quite popular this year. Celebrities and influencers were seen sporting the bike shorts as part of their workout OOTD, their everyday ensemble and even their high fashion outfits.
As mentioned earlier comfort is the biggest theme for the year 2020 when it comes to fashion. So, high heels and dress shoes for men were stored in closets for the meantime, as comfy shoes such as slippers, clogs, slip-ons and sneakers enjoyed the limelight.
Even before the pandemic struck, sustainability had already been a big trend for several industries, including fashion. More and more fashion companies are opting to produce clothing made from sustainable materials, as more consumers demand for eco-friendly and cruelty-free clothing.