As 2020 just one-month past, and we really start to think back and reflect on all the fashion trends that conquered in the past year, we realise that a majority of them fall under one big giant trend: Nostalgia.

Throughout the last year, heritage brands have been capitalising on decades of design to offer up authentically retro pieces for shoppers, starting in January, when the sports-oriented menswear label Perry Ellis launched the second drop of its ‘Perry Ellis America’ capsule collection — a homage to the sub-label of the same name that the brand first launched in 1984 with Levi’s. The five-piece series was the second instalment in an archival remix that saw it update and reimagine nylon tracksuits, washed denim and other pieces with a vibrant red, black, white and grey colour palette and classic logos.

Tommy Hilfiger got in on the act, adapting its vintage 1986 ‘Tommy Jeans Coca-Cola’ collaboration for a modern audience. The designer tweaked the original pieces to display a new logo fusing both the iconic Coca-Cola and Tommy Jeans symbols, but kept the all-American vibe of the original collection, riffing on a colour palette of royal blues, reds, whites and yellows.

The same month saw US fashion label Guess roll out ‘#GUESSVintage,’ which involved more than 150 authenticated vintage pieces sourced from all over the world and sold exclusively at the LA retailer Fred Segal.

Gap marked its 50th anniversary over the summer with a ‘Denim through Decades’ collection of revamped styles from the ’70s, ’80s and’ 90s, and a ‘1969 Premium collection’ of elevated pieces. Target celebrated 20 years of high-end designer collaborations by re-releasing items designed with Missoni, Anna Sui, Rodarte, Jason Wu and more over the years, while Coach honoured its roots with a New York Fashion Week pop-up called ‘The Coach Originals‘. And this month, the ’90s streetwear label DKNY Tech announced it was making a comeback, launching a new collection inspired by archival pieces exclusively at Urban Outfitters.

Whatever the reasons behind the throwback fashion trend, the appetite for retro fashion ties in neatly with some of the major trends seen on the catwalks this year, such as Nineties streetwear, Eighties denim and Seventies colour palettes. Will 2020 see fashion continue to channel the good old days?

All sartorialists know that fashion is cyclical. Over the different seasons throughout the year, we see a variety of styles that make an impact on the runway, to be adopted by top trendsetters around the world — only to be found in the back of our closets come the next fashion cycle.

Earlier this year, we’ve already seen the slow demise of the chunky ugly dad sneaker (a trend we surely won’t miss). Let’s face it: only the most universal and timeless of fashion choices can truly have a lasting impact. Think power suiting for women and leather, the latter of which is going through a renaissance into chic sustainability.

It’s not going to be any different come 2020. Here are five fashion trends we predict are going to set the pace for the rest of the year.

Oversized Backpacks

We can’t think of a time where the size of bags was universally standardised. Last year, it was the micro-bag trend started by Jacquemus and his Le Chiquito bag that could barely hold a credit card. This year, it’s oversized backpacks that Jeremy Scott debuted at the Moschino pre-fall presentation. The mega bags dwarfed some of the models carrying them down the runway in an ironic, campy statement. Now people can finally carry their emotional baggage all in one place.

Bucket Hats

The Onitsuka Tiger bucket hats featuring sporty motifs referencing their anniversary and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. (Photo courtesy of Onitsuka Tiger)

The bucket hat is one of those accessories that you either pull off with ease or never look cool wearing. Despite the polarising nature of the hat, it’s still one of the trends that brings some much-needed diversity when our streets are filled with basic snapbacks. Onitsuka Tiger showcased a variety of bucket hats emblazoned with retro prints reflecting the sporty nature of the brand. Prada too gave the bucket hat a literal twist with the brim flipped up and inside for their Spring 2020 collection.

Monochromatic Neutrals

Chloé Sevigny in a neutral Givenchy dress from the house’s Spring/Summer 2020 collection. (Photo courtesy of Givenchy)

Who said you had to dress up in fine selection of the rainbow’s spectrum? Sometimes, a single colour will do more for your style reputation than colour-blocking your way around town. The introduction of Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS set the tone for neutral, monochromatic basics. Those that want to dress up a tad more can look towards Givenchy, where Clare Waight Keller is doing wonders with single-coloured outfits.

Pinstripes

Timothée Chalamet in a pinstriped waistcoat and trousers from the Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2020 collection. (Photo courtesy of Alexander McQueen)

One of the most classic things about menswear is the pinstripe. Thankfully, it’s no longer just for the wolves who work on Wall Street. Just take a look at wonderboy Timothée Chalamet in this pinstriped waistcoat and trousers from Alexander McQueen’s Spring/Summer 2020 collection. If it works for Chalamet, it can work for you too.

Prints

The Dior Men’s Pre-fall 2020 show featuring a variety of different prints. (Photo courtesy of Brett Lloyd/Dior)

Past trends like normcore and logomania have really pushed the appeal of prints way down the ladder, but as all things go, it’s back in full bloom. Kim Jones’ recent Dior Men’s pre-fall show was a cornucopia of printed fashion featuring florals to python. Richard Quinn’s fantastical Spring/Summer 2020 collection also featured his mastery of floral patterns. Yes, florals for spring might no longer be groundbreaking, but it’s a tried and true trend, and next year you’ll be seeing that and more.