Leather jackets have often been associated wiht bikers, military aviators, punk rock stars and wannabes, the goth groups and of course, our beloved, 5-0 (police). They have been around and produced for quite some time but they gained substantial recognition in the 20th century largely due to the movie world indulging their main characters in them. For example: Marlon Brando playing the character Johnny Strabler in the Wild One which came out in 1953; The Avengers (1983) and "The Fonz" character in the wildly popular tv series "Happy Days" which ran during the 70s and 80s but depicted the lives of people living in the 50s and 60s. Most leather jackets are made in Italy. Those that were produced for aviators and those in the military were brown and called "bomber jackets" which were seen on the Hollywood stars in the 40s and 50s. This trend is coming back, well, technically it has came back. Stores have been putting leather jackets in their stores around summer time, moving in to fall. Leather jackets have been making their way on the stars of this era as well and on the runways of some of our favorite designers. Many ladies are beginning to wear them over dresses to go out in or pairing a cropped version with skinny jeans and heels. Men are wearing leather jackets but they have actually been wearing them for longer than the female leather jacket trend has been back in action. I love the look if it is paired up right because it is perfect for goin out on a cool night with something on your arms while still staying completely chic and styled. 
LEGGINGS Leggings are "a form of skin tight trousers, a tighter version of the capris ending at the mid-calf or near the ankle" came into fashion in the 60's. They have become wildly popular today but to think of them as being "new" or such, is just not true. They have been used in many different ways throughout its
popularity, such as for workout or used as a type of leg warmers for those in the military. Leggings that are nylon-lycra material were originally worn for exercise in the 60's but became a fashion trend in the 80's. By the early 90's they were actually outselling jeans! *crazy huh*. They have recently made a comeback, well, not that recently. The trend once again started in late 2004, 2005 when people started wearing them with skirts (and some with *ugh* shorts), oversized shirts and as actual pants (meaning they wore them with regular length shirts exposing the whole legging). They are still very popular today because they are so easy to wear your fave shirt with that may not be long enough for a dress but may look ackward with jeans. I see it slowly fading within the next year or two, if you legging lovers are lucky, three. They are not officially played out or close, but be on the look out! (pictured above, Bre from America's Next Top Model, below: Christina Millian, Megan Good, and Rihanna)
Skinny leg jeans have been in commission for quite some time now. They have went through several decades of being in, then going out and so on. The first era was in the 50s where the style originated. They were popularized by stars such as Roy Rogers and Marilyn Monroe by wearing their jeans very close to the ankles. When Elvis Presley began wearing them, they became associated with 
"bad boys" and rock n roll. In the 70s the "glam rock" style began and began rockin skinny leg in contrast to the flared-leg style worny by the hippies. They fit tightly and were adorned with zippers and mismatched patches. In the 80s, styles of acid-wash skinny leg denim were popular with heavy metal bands. They were for those who did not want to wear spandex that, at the time, were linked with glam rock and were often worn with high tops. As the grunge genre rose along with hip hop in the beginning of the 90s, skinny jeans faded into the background. However, some people still wore them as a way to rebel or be seen as "old school". They have made their comeback into the mainstream of America for a while now. They started coming back, from what I remember, in late 2006 if I had to say. They seem to not be going aaannyyywhere right now! Unless they come out with a hotter pant (well, the paper bag trouser seems to be gaining some momentum) then they will be around for a while longer. Can you imagine the flare coming back?? *ugh* (pictured above, Kim Kardashian; below: Megan Fox and Beyonce)
OVERSIZED SHIRTS
This look came about in the 80's during the, you guessed it, popularizing movie Flashdance. This look consisted of one sleeve being drooped past the shoulder for an off the shoulder look they we still see today. They were put on with leggings (as you still see today. It is like they are takin the 80's back by STORM!)
or really tight jeans (skinny jeans) or over a miniskirt. Oversized or off the shoulder shirts have been manipulated in so many ways. The original look started with girls wearing big sweaters and cutting the necklines so that they are drooped over (unless they came that way) but now, they are just having the look modified so that the shirt is more form fitting and one shoulder is more drooped than the other which creates the same look. You really dont see it in its original form but the concept is still going on. It is not a wildly popular trend,even though the look has been back in effect for a couple years now but it may have the ability to really take hold as the one-shoulder movement is catching fire right now. (pictured to right: chanel iman, below: victoria beckham and cassie)
SHOULDER PADS
widely associated with the 80's, it had been being used since the 1930's (yeah, who knew?). It was originally popular with women of the 30's when fashion designer Elsa Schicaparelli included them in her designs of 1931. Shoulder pads=power dressing and bestowing perception of status and position onto those who wore them. NOW, I am doing my thing and reporting *lol* on trends that are coming back because like I said, and many people know, fashion repeats itself. I find it interesting when I see styles being brought back because these are the same things that we found disgusting that our parents wore. Well, at least I did! (Dolce&Gabbana 09 Collection pictured above right)
wear "parachute pants" but they were so much baggier and made of a completely different material. Hammer pants more closely resembled genie pants, not material wise but in regards to the shape and style- baggy in the middle and tight fitting around the ankles. I don't know what he was thinking but for whatever reason, it worked. I dream of Jeannie is what we best know genie pants from and this sitcom came out during the 60's. So Genie pants I am assuming were popular (for sitcom purposes) around that time and may have been manufactured around this time period or slightly before then. I would not classify this too much as a "trend" in the 60's but the inspiration from them coming forth by designers today are slowly making this look into one. I personally do not see anything wrong with them. I mean, its like when you see something YOU wouldn't wear but you could see it cute on someone else. I like the look on other people but it would not be something I think I would rock. But the looks that are transpiring are becoming more and more prevalent in the fashion world. (below, Ralph Lauren runway show, Eva Marcille and Lance Gross)
Madonna-queen of the 80's began rocking them as a fashion statement. Fingerless gloves were being worn before Madonna and Billy Idol, but like any other fashion trend, as soon as celebrities started wearing them, they blew up. Billy Idol wore the style that celebs like Rihanna wear which were leather ones. Not too many people today wear the lace ones that Madonna was known to thoroughly enjoy. Fingerless gloves are outrageously in demand right now but some celebs still are swagga-jacking from the 80's. They are choosing to represent an era that many designers are choosing to re-invent from. Below: Rihanna, Que from day 26 and Madonna with Kanye and Amber Rose
ONE SHOULDER DRESSES
JEAN JACKETS
