Now and then: Hot trends from the last decade — and their contemporary counterparts
WE’RE GLAD that one of the inherent qualities of a trend is its brevity, because if we’d had to endure a lifetime’s worth of leggings, scrunchies, and New Kids on the Block, we’re not sure we’d still be around to talk about it. In the last 10 years, what were once obsessions have trailed off to distant memories, only to be replaced by more contemporary counterparts. (As for the next 10 years, we can’t wait to see what comes next — just, please, not the hot pants again.)
1997
THEN
basic black
Minimalist-chic was in, Calvin Klein was our man, and black was our color. In fact, 1997 was the year black pants became our uniform. Shapes were sleek, spare, and streamlined, so we wore the hue head to toe, with shades of charcoal for a little variety. Might a patterned scarf or something in paisley have brightened our moods? Probably. But we were too busy stomping around like a humorless New York fashionista to care.
NOW
jewel tones
In contrast, the more recent red carpets have been the perfect backdrop for fashion’s latest color craze: jewel tones. Tired of looking dismal, starlets have been gravitating toward lush purples, velvety blues, and vibrant greens for their eveningwear, and designers have used similar shades to make a statement on the runways. Visit American Apparel (138 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.536.4768) for basic pieces in high-impact hues. The current collection at Anthropologie (799 Boylston Street, Boston, 617.262.0545) skews towards brights, and at Wolford (Copley Place, 100 Huntington Avenue, Boston, 617.236.5070) you can swathe your legs in hues like “True Red” and “Mazarine Blue.”
1998
THEN
boy-band heartthrobs
That bleached-blond hair. Those chiseled abs. Those overalls. Boy bands were hot in ’98, with groups such as the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, and 98 Degrees belting out cheeseball love tunes and causing millions of girls — and women — to squeal with excitement. Boy bands, no matter their canned harmonies, cookie-cutter personalities, and dubious fashion sense, ruled the airwaves and, we’ll go so far as to say, the world in 1998. We have the trading cards and ticket stubs to prove it.
NOW
indie-rocker heartthrobs
Lately, a new crush has emerged on the music scene. Indie rockers might not bring us to tears like the boy bands of yesteryear, but their bad-boy personas, nerdy glasses, tight pants, and sensitive lyrics serve similar purposes. Bands such as the Shins, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Nada Surf, and Death Cab for Cutie paved the way, and now it’s hip — and hot — to be indie.
1999
THEN
feathered hair
Farrah Fawcett’s locks may have peaked during her Charlie’s Angels days, but her ’do was back in style (with a little less oomph and a lot less hairspray) in 1999, with soft, sweeping layers showcased on stars such as Gwen Stefani. (It might’ve helped that hype for Drew Barrymore’s Angels remake, which hit theaters the next year, was in full swing.) We thought the feathered look made for a smooth transition out of the Jennifer Aniston–inspired Rachel cut we’d been rocking for years.
NOW
movie-star curls
We’re so glad that classic looks — including glamorous movie-star curls with a 1940s flair — are back. Best suited for evening, the full, bouncy ringlets pair nicely with this season’s statement-making red lips. Jessica Alba wears the style with the mix of elegance and sex appeal that we aim for — even if our red carpet is actually the welcome mat outside our door.
2000
THEN
designer jeans
We admit it: we got a little obsessed. We could identify a brand from its pocket stitching a mile away, and though we’re normally a little thrifty, we couldn’t stop collecting pair after pair of designer jeans. It was the year that denim megabrand 7 For All Mankind launched, and dozens of others followed. We bought light washes and dark, wore them with our cutest flats and our favorite heels, and pulled out the credit card whenever a new line appeared on shelves. But with pairs going for $150 to more than $300, our bank account wasn’t such a fan.
NOW
Target collections
When one of Target’s GO designer collections hits stores, we’re among the first lined up to tear through the racks. Thus far, the retail giant has partnered up with superbly credible brands including Proenza Schouler, Behnaz Sarafpour, Libertine, and, most recently, Alice Temperley for limited-edition collections at almost laughably low prices. Following Target’s lead, we’ve seen Vera Wang for Kohl’s and Kate Moss for Topshop. Now if only there was some way to keep the eBay resale value from skyrocketing.
2001
THEN
the Cosmopolitan
From the minute Carrie Bradshaw picked up a delicate martini glass and sipped her first Cosmopolitan, the drink has been all the rage — much to the chagrin of the bartenders who were forced to mix them up night after night for troupes of giggly young women. We won’t deny having once had a taste for the sickly-sweet pink cocktails, but this trend was one that hung on well past its prime.
NOW
the renaissance of classic cocktails
When it comes to cocktails, everything old is new again — and our taste buds couldn’t be happier. Locally, people such as John Gertsen at No. 9 Park (9 Park Street, Boston, 617.742.9991) and Jackson Cannon at Eastern Standard (528 Comm Ave, Boston, 617.532.9100) have been spearheading the renaissance; just reference Cannon’s cocktail menu for a huge listing of classics, among them the Negroni ($9), the Sazerac ($10), and the Jack Rose ($10). And we’ve already told you about the ladies of LUPEC (Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails), led by Misty Kalkofen of Green Street (280 Green Street, Cambridge, 617.876.1655). Theirs is one history lesson we can stomach.
2002
THEN
stilettos
For a while there, it seemed like we were all competing to see who could teeter and totter around the longest on the skinniest of heels. Sexy they were; practical they were not. We can’t even tell you how many times our spikes lodged in the cobblestones and brick walkways of Faneuil Hall and Government Center — and the cobbler fees were atrocious. But armed with handbags full of backup flip-flops, we soldiered on.
NOW
chunky heels
Our poor, pained feet rejoiced when the chunky heel clomped down the runways of almost every fall collection. They’re not the unflattering, squared-off heels of old: these pumps are sexy, sleek, and modern, often with a hint of retro sensibility. Now our toes aren’t throbbing and staying upright isn’t a challenge — even after a few martinis. Habit (703 East Broadway, Boston, 617.269.1998) carries a line called DRU New York that we love, and Marc Jacobs (81 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.425.0707) stocks a range of styles.
2003
THEN
the South Beach Diet
When Dr. Arthur Agatston’s The South Beach Diet hit shelves, even the Atkins-obsessed thought they’d found their miracle. Using three phases (and thankfully reintroducing carbs in phase two), the plan aimed to help dieters make a natural — and actually achievable — lifestyle change instead of yo-yo dieting their way to their goals. The diet was hugely successful, spawning a range of cookbooks, cereal bars, salad dressings, and more. We even considered trying it — until we realized that Phase One requires two weeks of alcohol-free hell. We’ll live with our pudge, thank you very much.
NOW
eating locally
The current eating craze is all about intermingling environmental goodness and overall health: eating locally. T.W. Food (377 Walden Street, Cambridge, 617.864.4745) and Craigie Street Bistrot (5 Craigie Circle, Cambridge, 617.497.5511) are known for stocking their kitchens with locally-grown products, and the increasing importance of farmers’ markets has been emphasized over and over in our city. The idea of the 100-mile diet, which sprung from one couple’s realization that most foods we eat travel 1500 pollution-filled miles before reaching our table — see Alisa Smith and J.B. Mackinnon’s Plenty: One Man, One Woman, and a Raucous Year of Eating Locally — further underscores the trend.
2004
THEN
SUVs
It wasn’t long ago that mammoth sport utility vehicles lumbered with mind-boggling frequency down Newbury Street. (Al Gore wasn’t quite so Inconvenient yet.) When it came to the status vehicle, bigger was unquestionably better, and spacious, tricked-out interiors rivaled the scope of some city apartments. But countless sideswipes and mirror dings — not to mention gas-price increases — later, Boston’s elite started rethinking things.
NOW
hybrid cars
Perhaps it was celebs like Leo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz buzzing around LA in their sporty Toyota Priuses, or maybe we just collectively grew a conscience. Whatever the catalyst, we’re liking the change: stroll Newbury Street now and though you’ll still see plenty of BMW SUVs and Mercedes M-Classes, they’ll look like monstrosities compared with the perky little eco-conscious vehicles scooting by. And don’t you know, less gas consumption means more money for Newbury Street cocktails.
2005
THEN
small plates
For a while there, it seemed like we couldn’t get a normal-sized entrée on a normal-sized platter. Instead, small plates were all the rage, inspiring course after course of two-bite dishes — and the puzzle of trying to fit them all on one little table. (Back in the kitchen, the nonstop dishwashing couldn’t have been much fun, either.) But as much as we loved the creativity that went into so many of these tapas-style dishes, we really sucked at sharing.
NOW
high-end sushi
We know sushi isn’t a new trend. What’s noteworthy is that we’re finally willing to shell out the big bucks for it. The Leather District’s pricey O Ya (9 East Street, Boston, 617.654.9900) is known for its execution and sumptuous flavors. Not too long ago, the swelling popularity of closet-sized Oishii (612 Hammond Street, Chestnut Hill, 617.277.7888) forced the opening of a South End location (1166 Washington Street, Boston, 617.482.8868) with décor to match its new neighborhood. Back Bay’s chic Douzo (131 Dartmouth Street, Boston, 617.859.8886) is packed on a nightly basis, while Ken Oringer’s Uni (Clio, 370 Comm Ave, Boston, 617.536.7200) is popular as ever with the Black Card set.
2006
THEN
skulls
Johnny Depp rocked his Pirates of the Caribbean look with such flair that we emblazoned everything we could with bony skulls. They dangled from our necks, leered from our knuckles, and sported sinister smiles on our sweatshirts. Then there’s the other Johnny in our lives — Johnny Cupcakes, that is — whose ubiquitous confection-and-crossbones stamp also found its way into our T-shirt drawer.
NOW
snakes
Snakes are the latest icon to appear on clothes and jewelry all over town. They look great wrapped around wrists in bangle form and slithering across trendy T’s. Portia de Rossi even wore a bedazzled snake to help hold up her dress at the 2007 Emmys. We’re crushing on the Antonio Palladino Silver Snake Ring ($465) at Barneys New York (100 Huntington Avenue, Boston, 617.385.3300); for thriftier types, Urban Outfitters (11 JFK Street, Cambridge, 617.864.0070) carries a super-hot snake belt ($28) in gold mesh. @
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