By Fabulous’ Fashion Editor Clemmie Fieldsend
There are 90.2 million posts about Gen Z vs. Millennials, with hot topics of discussion ranging from the types of jeans women 27 and older wear, the length of their socks, and even the way they tuck in their shirts.
Shoulder bag
Just a bag, right? Think again.
The politics of your handbag choice are more complex than it seems.
If you were stuffing everything into a shoulder bag when you were younger, you’ve probably switched to a crossbody bag by now, like 59-year-old Sarah Jessica Parker.
You can choose a crossbody bag that rests on your hip or higher.
A longer band suggests that you belong to Generation X or the baby boomer generation.
A shorter strap, dubbed the “millennial Birkin” by TikTokers, signals that you are in your 30s or early 40s.
Interestingly, Gen Z – who typically only carry a phone and keys – now prefer the sleek shoulder bags we loved in the ’90s.
French pleat
In the early 2000s, the term “French tuck” was popularized by male stylists on the show Queer Eye For The Straight Guy. It describes the Parisian-inspired look of tucking in the front of your shirt while leaving the sides and back loose.
The 42-year-old Duchess of Sussex, a millennial, embraces this style. However, older generations, as well as Gen Z, tend to prefer a full tuck.
The hashtag “Gen Z vs Millennial Shirt Tuck” has generated 71.2 million posts, with younger users advocating for tuck-in to accentuate the waist.
If you are a Gen X or Baby Boomer, kudos for consistently choosing a full tuck. You are right on trend!
Short denim jacket
Throwing a denim jacket over your floral midi dress and pairing white sneakers with a leather Radley backpack might be your go-to ensemble, but it also gives away your age.
According to Gen Z, the classic cropped denim jacket with chest pockets and the occasional rip or embellishment is outdated. That could spell bad news for Amanda Holden, 53.
The trend now leans towards oversized denim jackets sourced from expensive vintage stores. The hashtag “Faded leather jacket” has been viewed over 450 million times on TikTok.
It’s time to bring out your oversized biker jacket or denim jacket from the eighties or nineties.
Trainer sock
Throwing a denim jacket over your floral midi dress and pairing white sneakers with a leather Radley backpack might be your signature style, but it also gives away your age.
Gen Z is declaring that the typical cropped denim jacket with chest pockets and the occasional rip or embellishment is passé. This could be unfortunate news for Amanda Holden, 53.
The current trend is focused on oversized denim jackets from expensive vintage stores. The hashtag “Faded leather jacket” has been viewed over 450 million times on TikTok.
It’s time to break out your oversized biker jacket or denim jacket from the eighties or nineties.
Mom’s jeans
The most divisive denim trend is mom jeans, named after the mothers of the 80s. Think Rachel from Friends and Cindy Crawford.
While this tapered, ankle-length style made a comeback in the 2010s and was seen on fashion-forward models like Kendall Jenner, twentysomethings on TikTok aren’t happy about older generations sporting the look.
They consider it a major fashion blunder and advise to opt for wide-leg or barrel-shaped jeans instead.
Conversing
From sixties rocker Danny Zuko in Grease to noughties icons like Alexa Chung and Rihanna, Converse All Stars have been a staple footwear staple for decades. Originally designed in 1922, these sneakers have a long history.
But Gen Z wouldn’t be caught dead in them. If you still have your pair, you’re definitely not in your twenties anymore.
Today’s trendy sneakers include the cool ‘dad’ style and striking designs from top brands like Nike, New Balance and Adidas.
Another sign of your age is that you tuck your laces into your shoes instead of tying them.
Mini-skirt
Mary Quant revolutionized women’s fashion in 1958 with the creation of the mini skirt. However, wearing one today may seem old-fashioned.
Unless it’s a micro skirt with a hem that hits above the crotch, which is the preferred length of Gen Z. Heavily influenced by the noughties “skelt” (a skirt belt), the micro mini is taking TikTok by storm.
If you prefer a more modest mini skirt that falls a few inches above the knee, a style reminiscent of the one made popular by ’90s celebrities like Melanie Sykes, now 53, you’ll look gorgeous, but you might as well have your age written all over your forehead.
Wrap dresses
It’s been 50 years since designer Diane Von Furstenberg introduced the wrap dress, and the style is still going strong. Icons like Madonna, Princess of Wales, and Michelle Obama, now 60, have embraced the style.
However, Generation Z has already declared the look passé, meaning you won’t find any twenty-somethings wearing one on a night out in your city anymore.
On social media, the wrap dress is mainly seen on women over 30. Although it flatters the waist, bust and stomach, TikTok does not think it is cool.
Generation Z favors cottagecore dresses, with a preference for milkmaid-style dresses, which are perfect for playful strolls through sunny meadows.
