Fashion’s Most Iconic Moments of the 2020s
Design: Kristin Graham
Fashion may be a mere commodity for most people. After all, why pay such notice to simple fabrics that are only purposed to cover the naked body? The beauty in this realm rests in the palms of its leaders and the industry’s most notable moments, all of which influence the masses to either bask in innovative designs and styling or question their validity.
Through praise and discourse, such acclaimed moments in fashion have proven themselves as iconic milestones in fashion’s esteemed history. What makes them emblematic is how effective they are in shaping popular trends and conversations for onlookers to participate in—those with the power to turn one impressionable moment into a staple era worthy of embodying and looking back on.
While the likes of Old Hollywood, ‘70s hippie and ‘90s hip-hop culture have led fashion historians and enthusiasts alike to turn to the past for its famed moments, such imposing happenings are still coming to light today through the 2020s’ eclectic interpretation and practice of fashion.
Curious about how the modern has contributed to fashion? Here are six glorious fashion moments of the 2020s in all of its raving looks and notorious controversies.
Cinema Galore
Events like the Met Gala and award ceremonies make up the catwalk for celebrities to flaunt their style, but among these prestigious events are movie premiers and outreach periods that allow that opportunistic publicity to thrive beyond exclusive formality.
Zendaya’s Arachnid-Themed Gown
Zendaya appeared at the 2021 Los Angeles premiere of Spiderman: No Way Home in a custom floor-length slip gown designed by Valentino. The dress is adorned with jet-black spiderwebs laid on a beige fabric, with gems strategically sewn on the webs that glimmer as the cameras flash. The hip-high slit and backless design complement Zendaya’s tall frame and sensuality, momentarily turning the actress into an arachnid goddess of sorts.
Zendaya’s partnership with world-renowned stylist Law Roach has cemented her as an icon in fashion. While this premiere look isn’t the first time she channeled the spotlight, it was wholly emblematic of her adoration for film and fashion and thoughtful styling altogether. She doesn’t just show up in any look for all to see but rather plays with her style to better represent her preferences and artistic labor. The spider gown inspired the masses to anticipate her next red carpet looks as well as granted a clear perception of Zendaya’s intentional creativity.
Pretty in Barbie Pink
Pink, pink and more pink! The summer of 2023 added to cinema-core fashion with the crazed publicity of the film Barbie. At the forefront of the chaos is actress Margot Robbie who managed to personify the iconic doll in all of her youthful glory. Robbie’s fame isn’t just attributed to her carpet outfits but her on-set looks as well, which included real outfits that have supplemented Barbie throughout her history.
The devout love for Barbie lies in its nostalgic callbacks. Women are now encouraged to be strong, professional leaders but at the cost of abandoning their girlhood, something that is still seen as weak and trivial. The revival of Barbie and her brand was a reminder that women could still be resilient while retaining those aspirations to be beautiful and feminine. People attended Barbie’s showings clad in all-pink outfits, marking a movement that welcomes guilty pleasures and reminiscent fashion.
Moments of Notoriety
Iconic moments in fashion don’t only entail looks that have grown in popularity, but some that have sparked criticism and confusion too. Regardless of it all, these are still moments that are remembered today, praised or despised.
Billy Porter’s Tuxedo Ball Gown
Billy Porter’s velvet tuxedo gown designed by Christian Siriano made waves in the media after appearing on the red carpet of the 91st Academy Awards in 2019. Regarded as a boundary-challenging piece that detests the norms in luxury menswear, proving that men’s garments could be as opulent as luxury womenswear.
Despite Porter’s backlash for sporting such an unconventional piece to a prestigious gathering, it was still praised highly for alleviating the artistic limits that are commonly associated with menswear in general. Nowadays, boys and men can paint their fingernails and sport skirts without feeling emasculated, making fashion a universal instrument to convey the intricacies of humanity instead of a one-note reflection of the gender binary.
The Marilyn Monroe Dress
Contrasting Porter’s partial notoriety is Kim Kardashian’s massively controversial Marilyn Monroe impression at the 2022 Met Gala. Monroe’s famous tight nude dress embellished in rhinestones was worn during her performance for President John F. Kennedy’s 45th birthday and sustained in Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum in Los Angeles.
Kardashian faced weeks of criticism for ruining the fabric, tearing its threads and ripping out stones because it was too small for her frame. People also complained about the questionable diet she partook in to get the gown to fit, which was criticized for glamorizing unhealthy habits for the sole sake of looking stylish. To this day people still blame Kardashian for the state of Monroe’s dress as it is proof of how the tortured singer is still taken advantage of beyond her moment of rest.
Futuristic Fashion
An AI-designed knit sweater by Alena Stepanova, which was showcased at this year’s AI Fashion Week.
As innovative as today’s tech industry has grown, it can be fun to theorize how such improvements can venture into the fashion space as well. While there’s no definite answer for what ‘futuristic design’ entails, this era has offered some insight into how styling and design can grow linearly with our evolving society.
Rihanna and RZA
Rihanna’s first maternity photoshoot had her wearing a lengthy, bright pink padded trenchcoat, which was unbuttoned at her pregnant belly, paired with distressed light-washed denim and pointed stiletto heels. Rihanna continuously challenged the norm of maternity wear, which is commonly shapeless, practical and often unstylish, by wearing tight-fitted tops, waist jewelry and tiny bralettes—all of which accentuate her growing form instead of shamelessly hiding it.
Rihanna stressed that pregnancy is as beautiful for women as it is for their unborn child, and it is a natural process that should be celebrated in all forms of expression. While Rihanna’s fashion is never stagnant, this era had her proudly exhibiting her baby bump as a fashion statement in all of her urban-casual looks. She proved that maternity doesn’t need to feel so sacrificial and that women should be able to feel attractive despite the profound changes their bodies go through.
Coperni’s Spray-On Dress
Last year’s Coperni show at Paris’ Spring/Summer ‘23 Fashion Week ended their show with a spectacled demonstration of spraying on a dress. Model Bella Hadid was lathered in Fabrican, a specialized liquid that dries into malleable fabric, to reveal an off-white, off-shouldered gown that hugged her body tightly.
This stunt, while done for the sake of entertainment, gave onlookers a look into the possibilities of fashion in the future. It showed how something as practical as clothing can undergo prominent changes that can redefine everything we already know about it. Realistic or not, it’s still fun to see such a novelty unfold in real-time and open our eyes to how garments can be creatively made.
