Gen Z is embracing the new Boom Boom fashion trend and it looks familiar

Dress for the lifestyle you want, not the lifestyle you have – what was once a philosophy synonymous with 1980s fashion culture is now reemerging in Gen Z form.Writer Emilia Petrarca, in The Cut earlier this year, described the up-and-coming trend called “Boom Boom” fashion.She cited fashion forecaster Sean Monahan, who said that the “fetishization of the past” the trend employs is reminiscent of the in-your-face boldness and “visible hierarchy” of the 1980s and early 1990s.Though branded “gilded and greedy” in the piece, the idea is rooted in excess and favors thinness (with weight-loss drugs taking partial blame).It also rejects some of the more progressive fashion ideologies that pushed back against the first Trump term – body inclusivity, gender fluidity and DEI, to name a few. The article says the effort to “cosplay as the one percent” hearkens back to the Alexis Carrington Colby-esque power suits Joan Collins donned on the primetime soap opera “Dynasty” during the ‘80s or what might’ve been seen in other hits from the decade, like “Miami Vice.” Then, shoulder-padded blazers, Nolan Miller gowns, furs, elegant hats with netting veils, gold jewelry and other aspects of the wealthy or “preppy” look inspired Gen Xers to aspire to something beyond their means – and try dressing the part.Now, “boom boom” replaces minimalism with similar boldness – boxy power suits, loafers, luxurious furs, ties, animal prints, vibrant colors. Petrarca relays a concern that the up-and-coming movement “reads as a thumbs-up for greed,” but others say it’s more about standing out, expressing oneself and showcasing joy.Some speculate it’s Gen Z’s way of ushering in their own “Roaring Twenties” with a bold pushback against the longstanding minimalism that painted aesthetics neutral and reflected the sentiment of the times.The change isn’t isolated to the U.S., either.The UK Sun writes that the over-the-top trend i...