Style Trends That Are Going To Blow Up Before The End Of 2020

Fashion trends are always in flux, but let's face it: 2020 has changed everything. With so many of us now working from home, debating whether to wear the pencil skirt or the flat-front trousers has become a dilemma that feels like it belongs in a previous century. When we do leave the house, there's the overwhelming concern about coronavirus transmission — which means we don't really want people to be close enough to us to see all of the details of our clothes and jewelry, anyway. If someone can comment on the pretty eyelet detail on your blouse's neckline, after all, they're probably less than six feet away from you.

But that doesn't mean there aren't new fashion trends we can all embrace in this new quarantine culture. In an interview with The List, Katie Sands, style host and founder of Honestly Kate, said that "usefulness" is the most important quality that shoppers are seeking when shopping for clothes these days. So how can you look cute in things that are useful? It's easy, if you seek out three top style trends, according to Sands.

The idea of wearing cute workout clothes when you weren't planning on breaking a sweat — called athleisure — was a breakout trend in 2017, but previously, those Lululemon joggers were considered weekend wear, or what you'd throw on after a long day at the office before popping open a bottle of wine. Now, with so many of us working from home, it's pretty much all we're living in, according to Sands. "Let's face it, no one wants to be in anything else," she said.

In fact, she partnered with the brand Phat Buddha based on polls of her audience, who said they wanted to see her offer a stylish twist on the elastic-waist pants that had become their daily uniform. This brand's new line features bright pastel leggings and soft, stretchy crop tops that don't require an additional bra underneath for support. On her Instagram feed, Sands styles these pieces in monochrome sets as well as mix-and-match ensembles, with simple accessories like floppy hats and sunglasses.

If you're wearing athleisure all day long, what do you do when your boss throws a video conference meeting on your calendar? Are you supposed to race to your closet and see whether any of those pre-pandemic pencil skirts still fit? (Helloooooo, quarantine 15!) Nah, just throw a blazer on top, Sands said. "I have convinced almost everyone I know at this point to invest a great blazer," she explained. "Whether it be linen, cotton, or silk, a blazer is such an easy throw on to instantly turn your look from drab to fab and boost your professionalism."

You don't even have to change out of what you have on, Sands added. "You can pair blazers with almost anything, from a sports bra, silk cami, button down, you name it," she said. "They are so easy to throw on and off between Zoom calls, lives, streaming, etc. Believe me, the blazer will be on everyone's list as we wrap up the year!"

Of course, we already had cute iPhone cases and laptop stickers before the pandemic, but that was pretty basic compared to the various innovative new ways to bling out our tech that designers will be sending our way in 2020. With technology replacing in-person gatherings — not just for work but for social gathering too — we're itching to bedazzle the phones, laptops, and other tech items that have become such a critical part of our everyday lives, Sands said.

"Since we are spending more and more time on our phones and computers to socialize, I have seen an increase in creative jewelry for your technology," she said. "I have seen some of my favorite brands creating cellphone bracelets, bejeweled magnets for your computer, glitterized blue light blocking glasses, and so much more." We're staring at our laptop screens all day lately, so we might as well enjoy what we're looking at, Sands explained. "It's time to bring the fun inside, and tech baubles are the way it's heading," she added.