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15 Best Fashion Trends of All Time

The best fashion trends have staying power. They may drop away from the limelight for a time, but they always come back, better than ever — more wearable and more sophisticated than they were in the previous iteration.

Investing in these classic styles is the closest thing to a sure bet in fashion. Take a look and see which pieces you already own, and which should bump to the top of your must-have list.

From ancient to recent: The best fashion trends of all time

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1. The bikini

Woman wearing black bikini near resort pool.

The modern-day bikini drew scathing reviews as scandalous fashion when it  debuted in Paris in the summer of 1946. It was named bikini by one of its designers in reference to an atomic testing site, Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands. What a blast, right?

2. The leather bag

Close-up of woman sliding pen into front pocket of leather bag.

Coco Chanel’s signature leather black quilted handbag with gold chain straps, officially called 2.55, debuted in February 1955, and set a worldwide standard. Rarely can you walk into a store or shop online and not see all manner of handbags with that iconic look.

3. Blue jeans

Short-haired woman wearing glasses and blue jeans leans against metal fence outside.

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Blue jeans became official on May 20, 1873, when Levi Strauss and a tailor patented one of the processes to make the denim pants. The blue jean answered the call of Gold Rush miners for sturdy clothing.

Imagine what the two inventors would say about today’s blue jean styles in neon colors or deliberately tattered.

4. Camouflage

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From a military staple, camouflage clothing has evolved into a long-lasting fashion statement. It’s amazing how designers have whipped the original drab green pattern into shapes, combinations and colors hardly imagined when U.S. troops first prominently sported camo in World War I.

5. Cuff bracelets

Close-up of woman wearing gold cuff bracelet and white blouse and jeans.

Egyptian Queens and Pharaohs sported probably the most beautiful and elaborate cuff bracelets in the world. Made of gold and adorned with gemstones, the gleaming jewelry covered much of the lower arm or could be positioned on the upper arm, just shy of the shoulder. Many museum shops have wonderful replicas for sale. Wearing a wide cuff seems so empowering.

6. Cubic zirconia

Close-up of cubic zirconia stud earrings.

No doubt a pair of diamond stud earrings can dress up whatever you’re wearing. But what price will you pay for beauty? Cubic zirconia (CZ) provided a cheaper option for people who couldn’t or didn’t want to pay for real diamonds.

CZ was created in a lab by Russian scientists in the 1970s. The man-made stone quickly became known as the best imitation of a diamond.

7. Leopard print

Woman wearing leopard print romper sits cross-legged on step.

Animal prints have continually made fashion appearances, but now the leopards, zebras, ocelots, and cheetahs are on a long-running rampage. After one hiatus, the prints came roaring back with their stamp on shoes and any other untouched item, like fingernails.

8. The little black dress

Woman wearing little black dress and leather jacket.

It’s not as though there were no little black dresses during Coco Chanel’s reign. But Chanel’s straight black dress with flowing long sleeves forever changed the fashion landscape when it graced Vogue Magazine in 1926.

9. The safari jacket

The safari jacket became popular as a non-utilitarian piece in the 1950s, years after it was standard for the British colonialists to withstand the African heat. Author Ernest Hemingway helped put it on the fashion map as his dress of choice when he went game-hunting. Yves Saint Laurent sent the jacket down the runway many times beginning in the early ’60s.

10. Gladiator sandals

Gladiators have been mocked over the years in reviews. But all that poking fun doesn’t keep them from showing up on the streets and runways.

11. The t-shirt

Model wearing white t-shirt leans against wall.

You might say the t-shirt and blue jeans make up a universal uniform. The U.S. military brought the shirt to attention as underwear dating back to the Spanish American War. Actor Marlon Brandon then flaunted his pecs and biceps in a T-shirt on a 1951 movie poster, turning it into an outerwear fashion statement.

12. The twin sweater set

If a twin sweater set has managed to find its way into a Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, then we, without hesitation, label it a trend in fashion history. Hollywood actresses of the 50s, including Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn famously wore the sets. In more recent years, former First Lady Michelle Obama has caused a heated resurgence of the trend with her modestly priced “twins.”

13. The trench coat

Woman wearing trenchcoat walks on boardwalk outside.

When British fashion house Burberry developed its rain-resistant fabric (gabardine) in 1879, the orders came in for coats to protect fighting soldiers from the elements. Rival fashion house Aquascutum also sold trenchcoats during those years.

14. The tennis bracelet

The “tennis bracelet” became a fashion trend more than 25 years ago after a malfunction on the tennis court — champion Chris Evert’s in-line diamond fell off her arm. The match was stopped temporarily so Evert could search for her jewels.

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15. The one-shoulder gown

On the Red Carpet, long flowing, draped gowns with one shoulder seem to dominate the gown styles of these celebrity galas. Hmmm, it reminds us of the toga/tunic garb worn in Julius Caesar’s day.

Certainly, there are more trends that could have easily made it on our list of the best fashion trends of all time. If we missed your favorite trend, let us know in the comments.