what we bought thomas pitilli thomas I care to remember. 1 After flipping through old high school photos (yuck, lime green overalls!), I’ve decided that, The Way decades from now, when people go to aughts theme parties, they’ll all be wearing Uggs. To me, the fluffy footwear rep- We Wore resents a life without structure: What fashion dos (or The boots are literally formless slippers held together by flimsy don’ts) will we recall from seams. Unlike lace-up Converses 2 the just-over aughts? or strappy Manolos, Uggs can be slipped on and off with minimal Recently, my mom gave me what is commitment. And though it pains now my most prized possession: the me as a fashion journalist to wit- ness, they can be worn with just high-waist, cherry-red Levi’s she wore about anything. the day my dad asked for her phone Are Millennials lazy loafs 1. A lemony yellow outdoor number in 1980. Not only do I owe the who can’t make decisions? Not chair brings a sunny feel to the necessarily. It’s just that our deck ($70, CB2, 3307 M St. NW; pants my life, they’re a glimpse into a values have shifted. Compared 202-333-6204). 2. The snakeskin decade I was too young to appreciate. to earlier generations, studies trend meets the tangerine color show we’re marrying later, liv- obsession on a ladylike chain- (I was born in 1985.) Clothing can ($298, Elie Tahari, ing with our parents longer and strap bag Tysons Galleria; 571-765-3396). make one nostalgic, but it can also changing careers more often. 3. Tracy Negoshian’s knit dress serve as a window to the past. Take In other words, we’re dragging comes in a hip tribal print ($154, mom’s jeans (over my dead body): She our puffy, rubber-soled heels to Simplysoles.com). to mom she’d say, “Baby what? ing in a time capsule to represent adulthood. wore the loud pants because they were Those pants just made my butt the years 2000 through 2010 in Other suggestions from 3 de rigueur for Baby Boomers, who look good!” America, what would it be? friends that didn’t make the cut: traded their predecessor’s traditional Can you recognize a trend “A smart phone,” jokes Elka skinny jeans, ballet flats, over- as it’s happening? “Of course, Stevens when I asked her the same sized Olsen twin-ish sunglasses, values and garb for hipper ones. otherwise it wouldn’t be a trend,” question. The design programs velour track suits. Though I’m sure, if I suggested this says Daniel James Cole, professor coordinator at Howard University Perhaps it is too soon to tell of fashion history at the Fashion elaborates: “In strictly fashion what the aughts ought to look Institute of Technology. “But terms? Embracing a designer like. “Fashion history books show an image for every five years or so, The ’20s had flappers, the ’60s hippie which gives you the chicks. But what about the aughts? mistaken impression that one day women I don’t think it’s possible to culture would be the defining woke up and their skirts were analyze the meaning of fashion trend; having the latest branded five inches longer,” offers Cole. too heavily without a wee bit of item, whether it’s purchased, “But fashion is more of a gradual hindsight.” borrowed or even rented.” transition.” Regardless, I wanted to try. What did Cole from FIT say I’m too impatient to wait With the iconic looks of bygone in response to my time capsule (another trait of my generation?). decades as inspiration — flapper prompt? “A zip-up hoodie with That’s why I’m putting the lid on The author’s parents on their 1984 gowns of the ’20s, poodle skirts a big brand name on it.” Ouch. this time capsule, tucking it away wedding day. Bucking the norm, as of the ’50s, leisure suits of the You’re talkin’ bout my generation. and hoping my future daughter’s ever, her mom wore a blue silk dress in ’70s — I set out to answer this: If Though I can’t say I disagree. I’ve glad when she gets my hand-me- lieu of a traditional white gown. I had to place one article of cloth- owned more $80 sweatshirts than downs. holley simmons

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