Year in Review: The Biggest Fashion Trends of 2010

By Heather Summerville
December 28, 2010

With the end of 2010 mere days away, your head is likely already swimming with visions of what the year ahead will hold. But before officially closing the book on the past 365 days, we want to take a moment and look back at the fashion moments we still just can’t get enough of.

Fierce Minimalism

Celine Fall 2010 Runway (Photo by Dominique Charriau/WireImage); Giovanna Battaglia in a red, tailored jacket. (Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)

All fingers point to Phoebe Philo’s premiere collection for Celine as the starting line from which this trend hurtled into the fashion stratosphere. We can’t remember a movement in recent history that became mainstream with such wide-sweeping speed. But alas, Celine’s now notorious blend of streamlined shapes and luxe fabrics seems to be rubbing off on everyone: Kate Bosworth, L’Uomo Vogue editor Giovanna Battaglia, and the vast majority of New York’s downtown set.

Shop Fierce Minimalism on eBay now:

New Wilsons Leather Pencil Skirt

(buy it now price, $39.99)
Vintage Henri Bendel Silk Blouse

(starting bid, $24.99)
Stouls French Leather White T-shirt

(buy it now price, $199)

At Attention

Marc Jacobs Spring 2010 Runway (Photo by Randy Brooke/WireImage); Sara Jessica Parker in a military-inspired leather coat. (Photo by Mike Marsland/Contributor)

The military trend has been slowly working its way into a frenzy for a few seasons now. But thanks to Marc Jacobs and Burberry’s Christopher Bailey, it no longer translates to oversized paratrooper jackets and cargo pants. Both designers kept the cool utilitarian details, but sliced down the silhouettes to be something figure-fitting, flattering and wholly feminine. See Alexa Chung and Sarah Jessica Parker for further inspiration. And find loads of ways to capture the trend on eBay, where listings of items in the Clothing, Shoes and Accessories category with the term "military" are up 23 percent and sales are up 44 percent in a recent week (12/22-12/28) vs. a week-long period approximately one year prior.

Shop At Attention on eBay now:

Military Peplum Dress

(buy it now price, $32.85)
Je Jenevieve Shrunken Military Jacket

(starting bid, $9.99)
Vintage Soviet Military Belt

(starting bid, $9.99)

Furry Behavior

Furry Behavior

Chloe Fall 2010 Runway (Photo by Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/WireImage); Kate Moss in an oversized fur vest. (Photo by Niki Nikolova/FilmMagic)

For better or worse, fur—both faux and the real deal—is showing up everywhere and on everything. (On eBay, sales of items with the term "fur" in the listing are up 28 percent in a recent week vs. a week-long period approximately one year prior.) All accolades belong to Karl Lagerfeld and his abominable snowmen runway show for Chanel, which made waves at the Fall 2010 shows. Furry pelts showed up in more wearable forms at Chloe, Michael Kors and dozens of other big-name shows. It would take hours to recall the number of style-setters who’ve donned the material over the last year, so we’ve narrowed it down to the one that pretty much says it all: Kate Moss (over and over and over again).

Shop Furry Behavior on eBay now:

Vintage Mink Coat and Hat

(buy it now price, $339)
Vintage Mink Stole

(starting bid, $45)
Vintage Faux Fur Shawl Scarf

(starting bid, $7.72)

Maxing Out

Maxing Out

Louis Vuitton Fall 2010 Runway (Photo by Francois Durand/Getty Images); Keira Knightley at the International Rome Film Festival (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)

Skirt lengths have always been a source of great debate. But whereas past season’s left critics gasping at the lack of fabric involved, this year, they were baffled by the excess of it. Fashion houses like Fendi and Louis Vuitton, dropped their hemlines to calf-skimming lengths with plenty of floaty volume—leaving visions of 1950s housewives dancing in everyone’s heads. With trendsetters like Alexa Chung and Kiera Knightley adopting the trend early, we’re expecting to see a lot more of this retro piece in 2011.

Shop Maxing Out on eBay now:

Vintage Jaeger Black and White Checked Calf-Length Skirt

(starting bid, $13.84)
Miu Miu Ruffled Calf-Length Skirt

(starting bid, $49)
Velvet Calf-Length Skirt

(buy it now price, $24.99)

Man’s Best Friend, The Ultimate Accessory

Man's Best Friend

November 2010 Vogue fashion spread shot by Patrick Demarchelier. (Photo courtesy of Vogue); May 2010 W Magazine fashion spread. (Photo courtesy of W Magazine)

Two years ago, it was the leopard print scarf. Last year, the wedge bootie. This year, the accessory-du-jour seems to be something a lot more, well, alive. Having a dog in tow is the equivalent of carrying the latest “It” bag these days. They’re popping up in fashion features shot by Patrick Demarchelier (see Vogue’s November 2010 issue) and in the arms of fashionable starlets like Rachel Bilson. If you ask us, bags are cool and all, but we’ll take an adorable pooch any day.