Year Ender 2021 | From dopamine dressing to ‘hot girl’ fashion: A trend recap of 2021

From Kim Kardashian’s blacked-out Met Gala look to the green retro tracksuits from Squid Game, 2021 was the year that pop culture officially became the runway for fashion.

After more than a year spent lounging in sweatpants, 2021 brought us the vaccine and with it a careful transition to the ‘new normal.’

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Here’s a look at what was trending in fashion in 2021.

Dopamine dressing

In 2021, we were finally able to dress up to go out...and go out we did. We swapped our loungewear for clothes that made us feel good, a phenomenon that has been dubbed ‘dopamine dressing.’ Fashion platform Lyst’s data shows that searches for bright, bold colourful pieces, specifically in hot pink, orange, yellow and green, spiked 191 per cent from April to August.

Just doing 'hot girl' things

The nightlife and concert culture also saw a revival in most parts of the world. This meant the resurgence of ‘party’ clothes. People were clearly ready to bring sexy back as searches for mini skirts and dresses jumped 221 per cent year on year. The demand for ‘disco heels,’ in particular, saw a steep 233 per cent rise.

Sports are still cool

While heels seem to definitely be back, 2021 was also big on sports events. Specifically, searches for “football” and “soccer” T-shirts increased 33 per cent. Meanwhile, skateboarding and sneakers worn by skaters were a hot favourite from the Olympics.

What’s up with workwear

As in-person working slowly returns, the 9-to-5 uniform has become more relaxed yet sophisticated. The demand for wide-leg pants started peaking in July and oversized suits saw a 109 per cent rise in August. In fact, Levi’s straight-leg loose-fit jeans were the most wanted item of 2021.

The Y2K vibe

We saw the return of Y2K (or early 2000s) fashion in full force with young people embracing throwback outfits of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. The #y2kfashion hashtag has generated more than 220 million views on TikTok while searches for “Y2K” increased 389 per cent year on year.

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