It's almost said with an eye-roll, 'the broad-shouldered blazer from the '80s is back' or 'Seventies boho chic is in again'. But this criticism of fashion‘s lack of originality is nothing new. Instead of envisioning the future, or using AI, 3D printers, or new materials to transform the design process (and our looks), most labels prefer to stay on the nostalgia carousel. Sometimes it‘s flared pants, sometimes culottes, and sometimes the A-lines of the '60s are revived. But why is that? If fashion is the ultimate gauge of the zeitgeist, a mirror of society, then my suspicion isn’t too bold: we have only ourselves to blame.

When I scroll through stories on Instagram, I’m often shocked, especially by women in their 40s and 50s. An increasingly nasty thought occurs to me: 'My God, they look old.‘ And I mean this purely in a fashion sense. One woman only wears flared pants with round block heels because she discovered them in one of the earlier '70s revivals when she was 30. Another still relies on blonde beach waves and colorful Ibiza kaftans, as if there have been no years since 2004. And those who grew up during Phoebe Philo‘s time at Céline simply can‘t let go of her oversized elegance. But every look, no matter how great it once was, ages. And no matter how good it looks on someone, eventually it makes one appear, well, a bit outdated.

That doesn’t mean one should regularly discard their own style; it just means this: If you want more fashion excitement, you first need to look in the mirror. Am I still interested in the zeitgeist, or have I simply stagnated over the past few years? Fashion houses that utilise smart customer data analysis do nothing more than provide us with what we want.

However, it’s not the case that the '90s revival of recent years looks exactly like the original. The newness can be found in the smallest details, in cuts, silhouettes, and shoe combinations. Mesh flats paired with wide trousers have long since replaced sneakers. The slim, long black coat is the new everyday coat. Shoes and bags are again being color-coordinated, just like, yes, in the '50s. It’s possible that in six months it will all seem outdated again. Fashion is never boring. It just isn’t for dropouts...