Whether it’s silk or chiffon; leather or lace; bubbles or balloons, fashion is truly cyclical. Just when one trend disappears, another takes its place, pulling from centuries of fashion history and evolution.
As cycles repeat themselves, patterns appear — something especially true in the world of fashion. Instead of differences in clothing, materials and styles, we have arrived at a crossroads of art and aesthetics, establishing an “anything goes” attitude that tolerates no restriction of any kind.
With more fervor and frequency, a “vibe” or art style enters the scene, ruling an entire season with its feelings, colors and associations, rather than with the garments themselves.
From the “indie sleaze” movement to the “clean girl” aesthetic, there’s no doubt that ideas have dominated the fashion industry’s growth and development more than actual clothing, especially in recent years.
While one could point to fishnets and animal print as physical indicators of the movement, indie sleaze was more so interested in demonstrating the power of nostalgia and proving that “punk” never really goes away.
The same goes for the Clean Girl Aesthetic. In a time of overconsumption and excess, this style encouraged minimalism not only in clothing, but also in daily life. From afar, it may have looked like a push for an increase in athleisure, but the trend cared more about self-care and waste reduction than anything else.
The most recent aesthetic to take control is that of freedom and fun. Between the universal yearning for childhood whimsy and the use of art as escapism, it makes perfect sense that the world of fashion would care more about nurturing a feeling than selling a style.
Floating up to meet us here is the bubble. From shaping skirts to blowing minds, this iridescent phenomenon has taken the world by storm.
The bubble-shaped skirt or dress — described as “a childhood Pinterest board and a '90s fever dream” — first appeared in the 1950s, according to an article from HELLO! Magazine. While originally popularized by French designer Pierre Cardin, the bubble skirt reappeared in a grand way in the 80s, taking the iconic silhouette to new heights.
The fashion industry hasn’t only harnessed the bubble as a shape, however. The bubble has been making its way back into fashion discourse for years now, using its whimsical nature and childlike spirit as an easygoing reminder of the past.
The bubble popped up as proof of art in fashion, bringing forth the discussion of art and aesthetics within the industry. According to an article from Minnie Muse, photography and film director Melvin Sokolsky introduced the bubble to Harper’s Bazaar in 1963. Held within large bubble-like structures, models floated on city skylines, rivers and even in trees, reflecting the nature of the clear, floating cage, both an all-encompassing shape and a form of simple liberation.
The ability to fly is something achieved in comic books and dreams, by superheroes as well as the unconscious mind. Sokolsky’s mashing together of art and fashion, however, showed the world that simple manipulation of a common item can free anyone from the painful shackles of gravity.
In the end, the bubble truly is the simplest representation of freedom and spontaneity. Both abstract and enduring, it acts as a point of simultaneous safety and expansion. Fashion aesthetics have taken this image to heart, returning to youth and innocence with the presentation of pastels and shimmering fabrics.
In a recent showing at New York Fashion week (NYFW) 2025, Sandy Liang thrust into the limelight a collection full of light pinks and blues, straight dresses and lace. The current fashion leader in girlhood and nostalgia, according to Vogue, Liang returned everyone in the audience to that childhood bubble.
With clean faces, free of any type of statement makeup, models walked the runway in these simple styles, golden stars and first place ribbons adorning their dresses. Completely embracing their theme, the brand went so far as to use actual toys in their clothing, sewing doll’s outfits onto the bodices and layering strings of pearls along the models’ necks.
While it’s true that trends come and go more quickly than ever, whimsy and innocence will always be hearkened back to. Between the fashion industry’s indulgence in nostalgia and society’s collective yearning for the past, there’s no telling how many times the theme will come back around. Poke holes in as many passing trends as you’d like, but this bubble will never pop.
