Teen Fashion Trends: 2004 and Beyond – Fibre2Fashion

In 2024, the teen fashion market is a vibrant mix of individuality, innovation, and the revival of retro styles. Social media, celebrity influence, and a growing focus on environmentally friendly, sustainable practices are the key drivers behind these evolving trends.

This article explores the latest fashion trends shaping the teen market.

Comfort Reigns Supreme

For many teens, life gets busy with school, sports, and other extracurricular activities, so prioritising comfort in clothing becomes a priority.

The comfort aesthetic blends functionality and fashion, offering a practical yet chic approach that allows teens to be themselves without any discomfort. Comfort fashion sees items like cropped hoodies, sweatshirts, oversized T-shirts paired with loose-fitting jeans, joggers, and biker shorts with comfortable sneakers to create an effortless look.

While many teens prioritise comfort in their clothing choices, they do not compromise on style. Modern teens often choose vivid and lively outfits that are visually striking yet comfortable. Colours such as sky blue, bold reds, vibrant oranges, bright mint greens, and the more subdued forest green are particularly popular among the teen demographic.

Gender-Neutral or Genderful Fashion

Gender-neutral or genderless fashion is another trend that continues gaining momentum in 2024 and shows no signs of slowing down. This trend focuses on designing and marketing clothing that is not tied to a specific gender, offering versatile styles for everyone. Gen Z and Gen Alpha are driving this shift, valuing diversity, inclusivity, and self-expression. They are looking for brands that offer unisex options, often favouring minimalist designs, oversized fits, and neutral colour palettes that can be styled in various ways.

As fashion continues evolving into a limitless expression, stereotypical gendered fashion is fading. In its place, a new concept called ‘genderful’ fashion is emerging. According to L’Officiel, this term, gaining traction in the fashion world, goes beyond ‘genderless’ and ‘gender-neutral’ by intentionally creating a fashion environment that is inclusive of all body types, sizes, and genders1.

Athleisure for Everyday Wear

As teens prioritise comfort in their style, athleisure wear is continuing to assert its dominance with young fashion enthusiasts. A report by Piper Sandler Survey mentions that Nike reigns supreme in the athletic market and is the number one brand for all teens in the apparel and footwear market2.

Athleisure wear extends beyond traditional sportswear, with teens incorporating athletic pieces into everyday wardrobes. Items like leggings, joggers, and hoodies are paired with casual and even dressier pieces to create versatile, stylish looks.

The influence of social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok has helped amplify this trend, with influencers and celebrities frequently showcasing their athleisure outfits online. This surge in popularity reflects a broader shift towards a more relaxed and practical approach to fashion, where comfort meets style.

Nike capitalises on this trend by offering innovative designs and incorporating cutting-edge technology into its fabrics to enhance performance and aesthetic appeal. The retail giant also excels in securing celebrity endorsements, which heavily influences teens and their buying options.

Athleisure wear also offers practicality for a teen’s on-the-go routines, allowing them to transition from school to sports to social gatherings. Its comfort and flexibility make it ideal for various daily activities. Moreover, with teens seeking out gender-neutral or ‘genderful’ fashion, athleisure wear is an excellent choice as more brands create versatile styles that promote body inclusivity and transcend gender norms.

Streetwear Empire

The influence of streetwear is prominent within teenage culture. According to Global Sources, this trend is characterised by its roots in skating, hip-hop, and urban culture3. It encompasses oversized clothing like hoodies, jackets, crop tops, and graphic tees, typically paired with sneakers and baseball caps.

The streetwear trend is also closely tied to the rise of social media and the influence of celebrities and influencers who champion its brands. The report also notes that icons like Kanye West and Travis Scott, along with brands such as Supreme, Off-White, and A Bathing Ape, have profoundly shaped the aesthetics and desirability of streetwear. These brands are known for their limited releases and often sell out within minutes, which drives demand and creates hype.

Streetwear’s exclusive and limited-edition items make it a hot commodity within the young adult demographic. Teens are drawn to exclusive pieces, making them “in the know” and trendy amongst their peers. The high demand for limited-edition pieces creates a sense of urgency, prompting teens to purchase quickly.

As streetwear brands gain success and demand rises, teens seek to enhance their reputation among their peers. Purchasing a limited-edition item becomes a status symbol and helps establish identity and foster a sense of community and a feeling of belonging.

Vibrant Hues & Vivid Patterns

Bold colours and patterns are on full display in fashion this year. Colours like vibrant reds, royal blue, sky blue, lilac, greens, and peach stole the spotlight, brightening wardrobes this spring and summer.

Neutral colours like grey, tan, olive green, brown, black, and white also remained popular, particularly in the fall. Neutral and earth tones are favourable for many because they complement any skin tone. Neutrals also have a timeless appeal, are versatile, and can be paired with just about every outfit.

Hot pink and Barbie pink, influenced by the hit movie Barbie, were the colour of choice in 2023. However, fashion enthusiasts slightly strayed away from the bold pink this year and opted to strut muted pinks instead. Fashion lovers may enjoy this pink seasonless colour because individuals can wear it year-round, serving as a foundation for many outfits. Neutral pinks can also be unisex, making them a versatile choice for a wide range of styles and settings.

Classic animal-style prints like cheetah and zebra remained relevant in fashion. Plaid, another classic print, has also made its way to teens’ closets. While plaid and animal prints never truly go out of style, the fashion landscape sees a surge in these trends. Teens may wear long flannel dusters and oversized shorts with black leggings or denim to complete the look.

Ultra-feminine or Coquette Aesthetic

While the ideal fashion choice for many teens is comfort, oversized, or athleisure wear, the ultra-feminine aesthetic, or the coquette, trend continues to grow in popularity. Modern teens are engulfed with aesthetic fashion trends due to social media. Platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok have also played a significant role in popularising the coquette, or hyper-feminine trend, with influencers and fashion icons showcasing their own interpretations.

Teenagers enthusiastically embrace this trend by rocking feminine items reminiscent of Marie Antoinette and adding a modern twist. Today’s teens style their outfits with items like barrettes, bows, lace, pearls, pink pastels, kitten heels, sandals, and more to create a hyper-feminine look.

Teenagers embodying this aesthetic may also accessorise with delicate jewellery, floral prints, ruffles, and vintage-inspired handbags. Makeup and hairstyles play a crucial role, with soft curls, rosy cheeks, and winged eyeliner enhancing the overall feminine look.

This trend inspires a playful take on fashion, encouraging teens to tap into their creativity and enter a world of elegance and beauty.

The Re-emergence of Retro and Vintage Classics

What’s old almost always becomes new again, and 2024 is seeing the revival of various decades come back to life within these popular fashion items:

Graphic Tees: Dating back to the 70s, with dominance in the 80s and 90s, graphic tees have always been a canvas of self-expression. In 2024, teens are hopping in on this trend by wearing printed designs, graphics, album art, slogans, and sketches with bold colours and patterns.

Vintage Denim: Styles may come and go, but denim is forever. From high-waisted jeans to denim jackets, denim remains a fashion staple that always stays in style. This year, a resurgence of 80s, 90s, and 2000s denim styles has dominated fashion trends. Modern teenagers are embracing items such as acid wash denim, wide-leg cuts, distressed denim, low-rise jeans, and knee-length Bermuda shorts or jorts, all of which have made a strong comeback. According to the Instagram account Data But Make It Fashion, ASOS reported a 29 per cent increase in searches for the ‘controversial’ jorts in April4. On X, searches for ‘long denim shorts’ surged, and TikTok saw 77,000 videos using the hashtag #jorts, showcasing fashionistas styling and sporting this divisive denim trend.

Leather Jackets: Leather jackets have timeless appeal and are incredibly reminiscent of the rebellious times of the 1950s and 1980s. In 2024, leather jackets continue captivating fashion lovers, including teenagers. Cropped jackets, studded embellishments, and various colour options add edge to an outfit with top-notch versatility.

Fashionable Footwear

When it comes to footwear, teens are ‘kicking’ it up by pairing their outfits with comfortable sneakers and reviving the classics.

One shoe trend emerging is chunky sneakers. Chunky sneakers have been trending in the past few years and continue to make fashion statements in 2024. Often called “dad” shoes, this trend refers back to the footwear styles of the ’80s and ’90s. The shoe style has been refined a bit in recent years and is less clunky than in the past. The chunky sneakers have become a modern wardrobe staple, adding an edgy touch to both casual and tailored outfits. Brands like Nike, Adidas, Fila, and even Crocs have embraced this trend, favouring a sporty look that can be paired with just about every outfit.

In 2024, teens are tapping into the nostalgic era by sporting vintage-inspired sneakers. Converse’s Chuck Taylor All-Stars, Adidas Stan Smith, New Balance’s retro trainers, and Vans classic skate shoes continue to be timeless favourites among teens.

Bright and bold-coloured fashion items are a great way to make a statement, and teens are amplifying their wardrobe by stomping in bright-coloured kicks that will turn heads. According to Marie Claire5, red has been one of the definitive colour trends of the year. Still, unexpected hues like lime green, inspired by popstar Charli XCX’s Brat album, have made their way to the fashion scene, including in the sneakers market. Bright yellow and vibrant pink are also popular shoe colour choices.

Thin shoes, or skinny soles, have also made their way to the fashion market. This type of shoe is slimmer and skinnier in size with minimal shoe padding. Adidas Samba, Puma, and tennis shoes were worn by fashion enthusiasts and celebrities this year and are expected to gain momentum in 2025.

Sustainability For a Better Future

The conversation and interest surrounding sustainability are continuing to grow. As eco-friendly products become imperative for parents, teens also show commitment by prioritising incorporating sustainable products into their fashion.

Teens today are acutely aware of how their consumption affects the planet and are looking for brands that use recyclable materials and follow ethical production procedures. Today’s youth are more interested in materials that are recycled, upcycled, and biodegradable, including organic cotton and recycled polyester. Thrifting and vintage shopping are also growing in popularity within the teen demographic. These options are cost-effective and aim to help reduce textile waste. They also offer unique items to curate a one-of-a-kind fashion wardrobe.

Elevating Style with Trendy Accessories

In fashion, accessories have the power to take an outfit to the next level with belts, jewellery, and more. Teens are accessorising their outfits with these top trends:

Maximalist Jewellery: In 2023, dainty jewellery was the optimal choice for accessories. This year, bold jewellery is back, dominating the scene. Maximalist jewellery tends to be more colourful, lavish, and eye-catching than minimalist jewellery, which values simplicity. Teens are boldly rocking statement necklaces, chunky bracelets and gold chains, oversized hoop earrings, and costume jewellery filled with beads, crystals, and charms, to name a few. Teens also prioritise wearing personalised jewellery to express their individuality. Engravable pendants and birthstone jewellery are a few highly sought-after customised items.

Hi-Tech Style: As the lines between fashion and technology blur, wearable tech has become an essential part of mainstream fashion, especially for teens. No longer limited to fitness enthusiasts, tech-infused fashion includes innovative garments and accessories embedded with smart technologies such as fitness trackers, temperature-regulating fabrics, and interactive elements that connect to smartphones and other devices.

In 2024, smart wearables were at the top of the trending accessory list, according to Global Sources. With technology being an integral part of teens’ lives, smartwatches, fitness bands, rings, bracelets, and necklaces with features like contactless payment, notifications, and fitness tracking were popular choices.

Classic Comeback: Other retro fashion accessories teens are sporting date back to the ’80s and ’90s, such as bucket hats and oversized glasses. Teens are channelling the retro aesthetic but adding a twist to the look, making it fresh and modern.

Stylish Anklets: A 90s staple, anklets have returned to the fashion scene. Personalisation is the latest craze, and anklets with name initials or decorated with intricate charms are favoured amongst teenagers. Other popular styles include beaded anklets for those wanting to mimic the earthy, boho-chic aesthetic and chain anklets, which opt for a bolder look.

The Global Influence

As previously stated, social media has established dominance in society, particularly among teens. With social media, society is now more interconnected than ever. And with the world just a click away, fashion has become a global phenomenon. Today’s teens are blending cultural outfits and accessories from around the globe into their everyday wear. The fusion of styles reflects personal expression and a global outlook.

Looking Ahead

Fashion enthusiasts can expect many of this year’s trends to stay relevant in 2025. Athleisure wear, sustainability, tech-infused wear, streetwear, and gender-neutral fashion are expected to keep momentum.

Playing on the sustainability aesthetic, fashion experts predict modular fashion will gain popularity in 2025. The fashion brand Buhndi6 defines modular fashion as fashion that has detachable parts, making it vital to the fashion industry as it allows for a piece of clothing to have an extended life cycle. It also allows the consumer to create two or more looks from just one garment.

Taking it back to the 1980s, bubble skirts are another trend that is expected to make a strong comeback in 2025. This playful style redefines the traditional skirt by adding a voluminous, rounded shape with a gathered or puffed effect at the hem. This trend is already making its way through social media. However, in 2025, we can expect to see more bubble styles amongst celebrities and influencers.

Conclusion

The current teenage fashion market is an eclectic mix of trends that fuse retro influences with modern aesthetics, athleisure, streetwear, feminine artistry, technology, and cultural blends. In this dynamic landscape, teens prioritise self-expression, comfort, and individuality when curating their looks. They are transforming fashion into a statement, emphasising the importance of environmental health by embracing sustainable items and thrifting, all without compromising on style and aesthetics.

The future of fashion remains bright and diverse. As we approach 2025, it will be exciting to see how many of these trends continue to evolve.