The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of her campus.
This article was written by a student writer from VCU’s Her Campus Chapter.
Knee-high socks, riding boots, and layered tops fill the campus, along with yellowing and rotting leaves. As the weather changes, students reflect on what the 2010s were like, including the growing influence of media and iconic fall television. While these past trends have been modernized, I’ve noticed that much of student fall fashion is shaped by past trends created during the nostalgic decade of the 2010s.
Much of the fashion content appearing on social media takes style inspiration from characters created in the 2010s. Examples include Elena Gilbert from the Vampire Diaries series, Aria Montgomery from the TV show Pretty Little Liars, and Bella Swan from the iconic Twilight film series. . These classic, cozy fall episodes reignited this decade’s fashion trends and inspired the style of many on campus.
Elena Gilbert, played by Nina Dobrev in the hit TV series The Vampire Diaries, created the iconic layered long sleeve, low-rise bootcut, and sneaker combo. A high school student, she maintains a simple yet fashionable look even as she intertwines her two vampire brothers with the realities of a normal teenage life. In keeping with the fall vibe of the show, many of her style choices include subdued dark colors and minimal makeup and jewelry combinations. Her style has inspired many fall looks on campus because it’s attainable, stylish, comfortable, and perfect for any lecture.
Four high school girls, burdened with the heavy responsibility of investigating their missing friend Alison, have recently revived fashionable style choices from the 2010s to the current decade. The TV show Pretty Little Liars has skyrocketed in popularity through social media due to the characters’ relatable and stylish fall wardrobes. One of the four leading girls making an impact in the media these days is Aria Montgomery, played by Lucy Hale. Her costumes throughout the series consist of layered, muffled dark tones, often paired with sheer tights. Alia often wears short cardigans or cropped jackets over long tops, paired with skater dresses, skirts, and skinny jeans. In addition to these combinations, she always pairs chunky necklaces, thick belts, and suede or leather boots to complete her iconic look.
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Bella Swan was the most popular fashion star of fall 2010 across social media while juggling a complicated romance with a mysterious vampire. Her style is similar to Elena Gilberts, pairing long tops with low-rise bootcut jeans and Converse. She also includes a number of fitted knit sweaters and zip-up hoodies throughout the series with lace tanks peeking out from the top.
Although these style choices have been modernized, primarily replacing skinny jeans with baggy and bootcut jeans, much of my fall fashion content on social media is driven by these past fashion trends. It seems configured. While these styles are fashionable, they’re also easy to achieve, as many of these items flock to older siblings’ closets or local thrift store inventories. As a member of Generation Z, it’s very interesting to watch the fashion trends of our youth resurface. It’s like parents discussing their vintage clothing trends. Being finally old enough to wear these characters’ clothes while incorporating my own personal style has given me a level of nostalgia and creativity that has deepened my love for fashion.
