Scientists have proven: fashion comes back every 20 years

The researchers studied some 37,000 images of clothing from the late 19th century to the present day.

They analysed key elements:

• skirt length
• waistline
• the shape of the neckline

This allowed them to visualise fashion as a set of measurable parameters and trace how they changed over time.

"As far as we know, this is the first time it has been possible to create such an extensive and accurate database of fashion over more than a century," says study author Emma Seidela.

The details

The analysis showed a clear pattern: trends don't disappear forever, they come back.

The average cycle is about 20 years, which is in line with what the industry has long been saying.

"We got some very interesting results, including the fact that the 20-year cycle we found coincides with the industry's own perceptions," notes Seidela.

The scientists explain this through the balance between the desire to stand out and the need to fit in with society.

"Over time, this constant desire to be different from the recent past causes styles to fluctuate," explains study co-author Daniel Abrams.

Why it matters

In recent decades, this pattern has become less prominent.

Today, more different styles exist simultaneously, and fashion has become less "unified."

"There used to be two options - short dresses and long dresses. Now there are many more options," says Zaidela.

Fashion does obey cycles - and this is now confirmed by data.

But in today's world, these cycles are becoming more blurred due to the diversity of trends.

Source

American Physical Society (APS), Northwestern University study