Have you ever looked back at your childhood photos and thought to yourself, “Gosh what was I wearing?” It’s just a reminder of those fleeting, yet unforgettable times when a style trend takes over, making its mark on society and declaring a new era. From music to clothes. It is practically impossible not to acknowledge or participate in the current, most popular styles. Each era had its ups and downs but collectively shaped us into who we are today. So let’s take a trip down memory lane and rewind to the top five5 biggest style trends from the past decade:

Tumblr

Mustaches and mood boards pretty much sum up this quirky time. From 2010-2018, this highly influential app gained traction for its cryptic quotes, grainy polaroids and black-and-white imagery. 

Remember “Keep Calm and Carry On”? Well, that was essentially Tumblr’s domain and half of society’s iPod wallpaper. 

Unlike some on social media today, Tumblr was less about scrolling and flaunting but instead finding a vibe and living it. Not only did it influence everyone to embrace their inner artist, poet, or activist, but it built a haven for blogging everyday adventures and indie band lyrics. 

If someone was trying to decorate their room during this time, it would typically have teal walls with many emoji pillows, fairy wings, grainy Polaroids, and feather accents.

Vsco

“Not all heroes wear capes,” and regarding VSCO, it was scrunchies. With puka shells and Fjallraven in hand, this eco-conscious era set its heart on helping save sea turtles from water pollution.

 The beach style featured oversized tees, reusable water bottles covered in stickers, portable metal straws, checkered Vans or Birkenstocks, and messy buns. Skincare was also a significant part of this trend. Carmex lip balm and Mario Badescu were the most common, as makeup was very minimal at this time due to the culture of sustainability and living your best natural life.

 VSCO also had its own slang, from “and I oop” to “sksksksk.” If a water bottle fell in class, the sound of it would shortly be masked by these statements. 

Painting was also a significant part of the VSCO era. Several people would paint their Vans, electrical outlets, mirrors, or simply a canvas. 

This photo app reached its peak popularity in mid-to-late 2019 and now mostly features in Instagram bios. 

Decorating a room during VSCO times meant a whole wall dedicated to taped-on pictures of memories, quotes, or random objects that had similar colors. Having succulents or other types of plans in your room was also pretty prevalent at the time. 

Alt

Self-expression was at an all-time high when this rebellion wrapped in fishnets and hair dye entered the scene. The key to fitting in was standing out, as hyper-stylized outfits became the norm. 

Times were dark during quarantine and especially the clothes. The most common features you would notice during this time were eyeliner, layered silver chains, ripped jeans, band tees, plaid skirts, Demonias, or other chunky boots and brightly colored hair. 

This era reigned from 2020-2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many students were doing online school and joined TikTok. On TikTok, “wolf-cut” haircuts were most popular, as the edgy, do-it-yourself style of it helped stand up to societal norms at the time.

 Because it is so dark, I doubt anyone could see what would be in an alternative-themed bedroom. Still, you would typically see band posters, tapestries, a guitar or maybe even skateboards displayed on the wall.

Indie

You could say the warm-toned, oversaturated filters in this era acted almost as rose-colored glasses because the trend of this time was to be different and underground, even if everyone else was doing the same thing.

 This era lasted until 2022 and inspired many to purchase items second-hand and embrace wear. For example, many trendy items during this time were Converse worn down to the soles, animal-shaped hats, fashion chains with gummy bears or mushrooms, cow print, tote bags and hair with colored money pieces. 

Nostalgia was one of the largest factors during this time, as the over-saturation of photos and incorporation of Takashi Murakami was meant to inspire participants to feel more in touch with their childhoods. Even if you did not have a record player, collecting and displaying records was not out of the ordinary. 

This trend did not just carry across fashion, but also how people styled their rooms. Faux vines streaming across ceilings, tapestries on walls with colorful LED lights around the whole room helped fully immerse participants in this era.

Y2k

The era of Y2k was bright…literally. Even if you could not afford the clothes or hairstyles, the number one thing everybody could do was shine in rhinestones by bedazzling something. This trend first made its debut in the early 2000s but made a small recovery in early 2024. Low-rise jeans, leopard and tortoise print made several appearances during these times, as well as velour tracksuits and oversized sunglasses. 

When making its return, its modern revamp left flip phones behind and introduced baby tees. The use of this, along with vintage Coach bags and butterfly clips helped this trend feel more connected to its earlier 2000s roots. 

This almost makes it ironic that when it first originated the purpose was to feel futuristic, while after its revival its purpose was to reminisce in the nostalgia it brings. In a Y2k-themed room, you would most likely find pink zebra or leopard print, PINK pillows, Juicy Couture decor along with various 2000s film posters.