20 Of The 2010s’ Very Best Fashion And Beauty Trends

A look back at some of the defining beauty and style moments of the decade.
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The 2010s weren’t that different from decades past when it comes to fashion and beauty. What’s old is always new again, and what’s really good eventually makes its way back into the mainstream.

This is both great and terrible news for people who never want to get rid of anything from their wardrobes ― on the one hand, you’ll probably want to eventually wear it again, and on the other hand. you’ll eventually probably stop having room in your closet for all the stuff.

Having said that, there are a few things from this decade we’d recommend holding on to. The 2010s ushered in an era of big brows, comfort as king and so many Birkenstocks ― and that’s just naming a few.

As the decade ends much like the way the last one did ― wearing ’90s fashion, of course ― we’re taking a look back at some of the best style and beauty gifts of the 2010s that will no doubt follow us all into 2020 and beyond.

Chokers

Taylor Swift at the BMI Pop Awards in Beverly Hills on May 10, 2016.
Mark Davis via Getty Images
Taylor Swift at the BMI Pop Awards in Beverly Hills on May 10, 2016.

This ’90s trend came back in a big way in the 2010s, both on the red carpet and in our Instagram feeds. Chokers add a cool factor to any outfit ― just like this one did on Taylor Swift during her platinum blonde moment in 2016.

Turtlenecks for women and men

Will Smith at the premiere of "Bright" in London on Dec. 15, 2017.
Mike Marsland via Getty Images
Will Smith at the premiere of "Bright" in London on Dec. 15, 2017.

Another trend with roots dating far, far before the 2010s came back in a big way this decade. Both men and women looked chic in turtlenecks in real life and on-screen (ahem, Shiv Roy).

Big brows

Cara Delevingne at the British Fashion Awards in London on Dec. 1, 2014.
David M. Benett via Getty Images
Cara Delevingne at the British Fashion Awards in London on Dec. 1, 2014.

Bless these brows. The 2010s ushered in the bold and beautiful brows we’re used to seeing today. Cara Delevingne is often celebrated for her epic pair, but letting it all grow in has been a welcome change for people who spent the ’90s overplucking.

Birkenstocks

Frances McDormand wearing Birkenstocks at the Oscars with Sam Rockwell on Feb. 24, 2019.
Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Frances McDormand wearing Birkenstocks at the Oscars with Sam Rockwell on Feb. 24, 2019.

Let’s be honest ― Birkenstocks never really went away, they just skyrocketed to high fashion this decade thanks to designer collaborations and their constant appearance on the feet of fashionable folks. Gone are the days when they only roamed the foothills of your summer camp. If they’re good enough for Frances McDormand at the Oscars, they’re good enough for us.

Ombré and balayage

Chrissy Teigen at the 23rd annual Screen Actors Guild awards in Los Angeles on Jan. 29. 2017.
Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images
Chrissy Teigen at the 23rd annual Screen Actors Guild awards in Los Angeles on Jan. 29. 2017.

Highlights became more natural looking in the 2010s. Balayage made our hair less streaky and more blended thanks to its painting-on technique, and ombré allowed us to let our roots grow out for months at a time, guilt-free. Chic and budget friendly ― a win-win.

High-waisted pants

Maude Apatow at a dinner hosted by Chanel in Los Angeles on Sept. 12, 2019.
Stefanie Keenan via Getty Images
Maude Apatow at a dinner hosted by Chanel in Los Angeles on Sept. 12, 2019.

Fashion forecasting be damned, we’re standing our ground in saying that when it comes to pants ― the higher, the better. In the 2010s we were gifted “mom jeans,” a Levis style literally called “ribcage” and no shortage of support from high waist enthusiasts.

Athleisure

Khloe Kardashian in Los Angeles on Aug. 24, 2015.
STRF/STAR MAX/IPx
Khloe Kardashian in Los Angeles on Aug. 24, 2015.

Love them or hate them, the Kardashians have really gotten it right when it comes to wearing your comfortable gym clothes at all times. This decade it became socially acceptable to just wear things that make it look like you’re going to be working out at some point, and we’re here for it.

Two-piece sets

Selena Gomez at the premiere of "Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation" in Westwood, California, on June 30, 2018.
Jon Kopaloff via Getty Images
Selena Gomez at the premiere of "Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation" in Westwood, California, on June 30, 2018.

Is there any easier way to get dressed than by putting on two pieces of clothing that match each other? Not really. Two-piece sets come in many shapes and sizes, but all look polished and fashion forward. That’s probably why they’re a staple for celebs like Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift.

Tailored Suiting

Amandla Stenberg at the CFDA Awards in Brooklyn on June 4, 2018.
Taylor Hill via Getty Images
Amandla Stenberg at the CFDA Awards in Brooklyn on June 4, 2018.

Colorful suits have had a long-lasting moment this decade. As fashion becomes gloriously less gendered, red carpets and clothing stores are flush with tailored suits. Not all of them are as cool as the one seen here on Amandla Stenberg, but they’re still pretty cool nonetheless.

Mixed Prints

Kerry Washington at the Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, on Feb. 23, 2013.
Alberto E. Rodriguez via Getty Images
Kerry Washington at the Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, on Feb. 23, 2013.

While mixing prints is an art, it’s luckily an art that can be left to one’s imagination. There are ways to mess this trend up, but we’re all about the experimentation when it comes to texture and design we saw heightened in the 2010s.

Nail art

Elle Fanning at the Met Gala in New York on May 6, 2019.
ANGELA WEISS via Getty Images
Elle Fanning at the Met Gala in New York on May 6, 2019.

Elle Fanning’s Met Gala nail charms are not the most functional, but do speak to the ever-growing popularity of nail art over the decade. Sparkles, ombré, designs, nail rings, the growing trend of specialty nail salons and the constant nail inspo in our social media feeds are a clear sign nail art is here to stay.

Hair accessories

Ashley Graham at the Met Gala in New York on May 6, 2019.
Rabbani and Solimene Photography via Getty Images
Ashley Graham at the Met Gala in New York on May 6, 2019.

Barrettes, bobby pins, even butterfly clips were huge this decade, and seem to be even more popular as we head into 2020. Headbands are having their day in the sun too, thanks to designers like Lele Sadoughi and Jennifer Behr, who design pricey headbands seen on many an influencer.

Department store designer collaborations

Angela Missoni launches the Missoni for Target collection in Australia on Oct. 8, 2014.
Scott Barbour via Getty Images
Angela Missoni launches the Missoni for Target collection in Australia on Oct. 8, 2014.

One way fashion became more accessible this decade was through designer collaborations. Folks might recall Target’s very first collab, a line with Isaac Mizrahi that Racked cites as the birthplace of the “now ubiquitous high-low collaboration.” Since then, a slew of other designers have gotten in on the trend, from Balmain for H&M to Vera Wang for Kohl’s.

Pastel Hair

Helen Mirren at the BAFTAs in London on Feb. 10, 2013.
Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty Images
Helen Mirren at the BAFTAs in London on Feb. 10, 2013.

Helen Mirren debuted pastel pink hair at Cannes in 2019 ― but fans might be surprised to know that wasn’t even her first foray. Seen here in 2013, Mirren joins a long list of celebs who dyed their hair all hues of the rainbow this decade.

Faux fur

Laura Noltemeyer at Berlin Fashion Week wearing a faux fur coat on Dec. 12, 2019.
Jeremy Moeller via Getty Images
Laura Noltemeyer at Berlin Fashion Week wearing a faux fur coat on Dec. 12, 2019.

Luxury brands and department stores alike committed to going fur-free in the 2010s, including Prada, Michael Kors, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s and Gucci (to name a few). As a result, plenty of faux alternatives have popped up on the market, though their environmental impact is still questionable.

Wide-leg pants

Jameela Jamil at the Women in Music Billboard event in Los Angeles on Dec. 12, 2019.
Jon Kopaloff via Getty Images
Jameela Jamil at the Women in Music Billboard event in Los Angeles on Dec. 12, 2019.

Jameela Jamil hit the pajama dressing trend and the wide-leg pants trend at once in this look, popularized this year and in the past decade. Both prioritize comfort while also looking cute.

Backpacks

An attendee at Milan Fashion Week wearing a Moschino backpack and a Chanel purse on Sept. 20, 2019.
Edward Berthelot via Getty Images
An attendee at Milan Fashion Week wearing a Moschino backpack and a Chanel purse on Sept. 20, 2019.

Anything that lets us carry as much as possible while also looking stylish and giving our backs a break is a welcome change. This decade, backpacks have gotten cuter, roomier and more acceptable to wear as a fashion statement.

Dresses with sneakers

Millie Bobby Brown at the 24th annual SAG Awards in Los Angeles on Jan. 21, 2018.
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Millie Bobby Brown at the 24th annual SAG Awards in Los Angeles on Jan. 21, 2018.

There was no shortage of sky-high platforms in the 2010s (especially not on Lady Gaga), but there was also the trend of pairing fancy outfits with sneakers. Not only do they dress a look down, like in the case of Millie Bobby Brown at the 2018 SAG Awards, but they’re way more comfortable. We’re starting to sense a pattern here.

Slip dresses

Ashley Graham at the Time 100 Gala in New York on April 25, 2017.
Gary Gershoff via Getty Images
Ashley Graham at the Time 100 Gala in New York on April 25, 2017.

When the ’90s came back, they brought slip dresses outside of the house. Slip dresses came into their own in the 2010s, not as something just to be worn underneath a dress but as their own outfit too. And the sexy look is versatile ― worn belted, corseted, layered or otherwise.

More options for more people

Tabria Majors on the runway at the Savage x Fenty show in New York on Sept. 10, 2019.
Craig Barritt via Getty Images
Tabria Majors on the runway at the Savage x Fenty show in New York on Sept. 10, 2019.

Arguably our favorite “trend” of the 2010s is not a trend at all, but rather something we’ve all needed for a long, long time. It’s hard to believe, since the options are still not great, that there are many more brands making clothing bigger than a size 12 and foundation darker than a shade of white. Diversity on the runways and in media have a long way to go, but we’re definitely leaving the decade better than we started it. Thanks in part to brands like Savage x Fenty, pictured above.

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