Bell-bottoms to ballet flats: The glorious revival of vintage fashion trends

The 1990s and early 2000s were fun decades for fashion. ‘Experimentation' was the buzzword with innovative and fearless styles taking centre stage. Dresses over pants, chunky belts and jewellery with every outfit, low-waste jeans with crop tops - these Y2K fashion trends ruled the runway and the streets alike. Almost two decades later, the fashion industry is undergoing a wave of nostalgia, bringing back the fashion of the past.

2024 is bearing witness to the resurgence of vintage fashion. The recently concluded London Fashion Week also featured collections that gave a modern twist to Y2K fashion. Burberry's Spring/Summer 2025 collection gave a nod to Y2K trends with models wearing low-rise trousers, capris and cargo. The collection also reimagined trench coats with a modern take, transforming them into cropped jackets.

Ask celebrity stylist Yashasvvi Jagparvesh Mehlawat if vintage fashion is currently ruling the runway, and she says, "I believe that fashion is ever-lasting, trends are not. But they do keep coming back to us, for example, the Y2K style which offers bright colours and a maximalist outlook to the style involving stacking up jewellery, butterfly tops, crochet tops, mini-skirts and bedazzled accessories."

Also Read: How lab-grown diamonds are disrupting traditional mining and jewellery-making

Why are vintage fashion trends making a comeback?
The resurgence of vintage fashion trends reflects a growing preference for timeless fashion. The allure of bringing back past trends and styles lies in evoking a sense of authenticity and uniqueness in a world dominated by fast fashion. In this dynamic industry, the past is a muse for present and future styles.

Celebrities and pop culture also play an important role in the mass revival of past fashion trends. For example, Charlie XCX's Brat Summer featured a Y2K fashion aesthetic that took the world by storm.

With a wave of eco-consciousness engulfing fashion, consumers are also mindful of their fashion choices, opting for pre-loved pieces instead of buying from fast fashion brands. As a result, vintage pieces have found a place in many people's closets.

Timeless revival
The vintage fashion trend that Melwani loves the most is the ‘siren core aesthetic'. She elaborates, "It brings in bell sleeves, bell bottoms and lace back in trend. The feminine glam is also added by corsets."

"One of my other favourite vintage trends is also the mob wife aesthetic," she adds.

The mob wife aesthetic resurged with a viral TikTok trend earlier this year. Francis Ford Coppola, the director of the iconic film Godfather, had also commented on it. In an Instagram post, he wrote, "I hear the ‘mob wife aesthetic' is making a comeback…"

This style is characterised by animal prints, flashy jewellery and big fur (or faux fur) coats, essentially demonstrating boldness. However, this trend received appreciation and critic alike on social media when it first resurfaced.

While fashion aesthetics involve many elements, we decode some vintage clothing items and accessories that have made a comeback and are used to complete such aesthetics and styles.

Bell-bottom jeans/pants
Bell bottoms and flared pants were all in the range in the 70s. Their popularity continued to 90s. Skinny and well-fitted jeans took over for a while, but now, bell-bottoms are back in trend. Many celebrities like Gigi Hadid, Blake Lively and Jennifer Lopez have made a case for this style. Closer home, Bollywood actors like Sonam Kapoor and Janhvi Kapoor have also donned bell-bottoms or flared pants on many occasions.

Melwani shared the following tips to style bell bottoms:
• One can experiment with bell bottoms by pairing them up with crop tops, sheer shirts and body suits to accentuate the perfect midriff, giving you a taller look.
• It can be worn with heels and boots.
• One can wear a leather jacket and accessories the look with a hat.
• Bell bottom pants can also add a perfect zing to a power suit look.

Psychedelic prints
Psychedelic prints are vibrant and bold, often associated with ‘dopamine dressing'. They can elevate both men's and women's fashion. Melwani says, "When it comes to bold prints, people often shy away from wearing them or are skeptical to pull it off. I believe psychedelic prints are a perfect example of a comeback of the Y2K trend."

Here are some styling tips:
• Psychedelic printed shirts can be paired with a cool pair of cargos, linen shorts or pants.
• To make the print pop, one can pair it up with neutrals.
• Try colour blocking for a more experimental outlook.

Graphic tees
Spotting someone wearing a graphic tee on the streets is the norm these days. They usually have a slogan, logo, or design on them, often providing an insight into the person's psyche. For example, Hailey Bieber, after being called a nepo baby, actually wore a tee with ‘Nepo baby' written on it. Celebrities and designers alike are embracing the regained popularity of this fashion item.

One can choose the right tee and style it in the following ways:
• An oversized graphic tee can be styled with shorts and platform sneakers.
• It can also be tucked in, paired with loose denim jeans.
• To experiment further, one can also pair it with a mini skirt and tall boots.
• Be mindful of the design/text of the tee before wearing it to ensure it doesn't say something you don't intend to.

Also Read: Indian men rule the bling: Statement jewellery takes centre stage

Waistcoat
Formal waistcoats were considered a thing of the past in women's fashion. It is now making a comeback, with people donning it not only for formal occasion but also for casual outings.

Here are some styling tips:
• It can be worn over a shirt with matching trousers to get a formal look.
• It can also be styled without a shirt, paired with wide-leg trousers or sleek midi skirts.
• One can also opt for a waistcoat-shorts co-ord set.

Ballet flats
Heels are not out, but ballet flats are also in. More and more people are opting to wear ballet flats, not only for comfort but also for style.

Here are some outfits that ballet flats can be paired with:
• You can never go wrong in pairing ballet flats with short feminine dresses. Ensure that the colour matches the outfit.
• It can also be paired with a classic jeans and top combo. Blue and black ballet flats usually work well in this case.
• Avoid wearing socks or stockings with ballet flats.