What are the items that we have bought and worn the most in 2021 and what do they tell us about where fashion is going? Twelve months ago, the most sought-after articles of 2020 were all focused on comfort and daily life, while society was literally put on pause by an unknown virus and were getting used to a new life within the walls of the house, familiar and alienating at the same time, we have rediscovered the charm of loungewear. Of course, it was before the vaccine, the second and third dose, the variants, and yet, despite the months that pass, the uncertainty for the next Fashion Week and new alleged lockdowns make us doubt if all of this will end. After all, due to social distancing, we have had very little reason to buy something new, yet in uncertain times why not shop? If 2020 was characterized by a sense of restraint and caution, 2021 was pure hedonism by comparison, an invitation to seize every moment of lightheartedness. As confirmed by Lyst data, the most desired objects of this contradictory 2021 have been equally contradictory, from the cottage-core trend that reminds us that we are still in full pandemic, to sexy cardigans and cut-out dresses that whisper to us persuasive words of freedom and nocturnal life, even when they shouldn't.
1. Levi's Loose Fit Jeans
Are loose jeans the new skinny jeans? According to the data, searches for the
denim trend have increased by
52% in the last year and has shifted drastically from snug and tight silhouettes to more relaxed and voluminous shapes:
baggy or wide-leg jeans have received almost double the clicks of compared to skinnies. One of the hottest pieces of SS21 was indeed the classic Levi's house model, the distressed-looking Loose Fit Jeans, beloved by celebrities such as
Gigi and Bella Hadid, Katie Holmes, Hailey and Justin Bieber.
2. Rolex Submariner watch
According to Lyst, the
Rolex Submariner is the most sought after accessory of the year, the famous model, that went down in history as the first waterproof wristwatch in
1926 and soon became the archetype of diving watches, has also established itself on the mainland for its unique and elegant design, the steel details and the contrasting dial, available in black, steel, blue and green. A growth that is placed on a more general increase in sales regarding watches (
+ 13%), in particular the category has seen a significant growth associated with terms like "couple", "engagement" and "wedding",
53% more in the last year, definitely the chicest way to quantify the time with the people you love.
3. Bottega Veneta Mini Jodie Bag
With the iconic woven print, the side knot and the most disparate shades of colors - although the dimensions do not suggest it is the most comfortable and roomy bag available on the market - the Jodie Mini Bag was an essential accessory for all trendsetters, as well as the most searched it bag on Lyst in 2021. For fans of Kendall Jenner and Elsa Hosk, the bag that draws on minimalist luxury aesthetics has become a staple of street style with its 90s-inspired Instagram-friendly appeal.
4. Birkenstock Boston Clogs
A must between home and outdoor, the
Boston Clogs were the true genderless footwear of 2021. Although the brand has continued in the wake of the already proven collaboration strategies with high fashion brands (
Stüssy, Proenza Schouler and Jil Sander just to name a few), the real hit this year was surprisingly the brand's classic model that received 36% more views this year. The shoe that has been able to combine the comfort of a sandal with the warmth of a mule has succeeded in bringing
Birkenstock out of the summer imagination, making it a must for every season.
5. Thom Browne pleated skirt
After a Thom Browne "
groom's skirt" was worn by Dan Levy's David Rose during the
Schitt's Creek finale, searches for the American designer skyrocketed: clicks for preppy looks and the brand's signature kilts increased by
48%, while the black pleated skirt was one of the most sought after items, as well as the first skirt to enter the
top 10 of the most purchased items of men's clothing according to Lyst. Celebrities like
Harry Styles, Bad Bunny, Billy Porter, Kid Cudi, Lil Nas X have paved the way for this moment throughout the year, choosing to wear skirts on the red carpet and in music videos, not least comedian
Pete Davidson, who he showed up at the
Met Gala 2021 with a Thom Browne midi skirt, white blazer and sunglasses.
6. Asymmetrical mini dress by Nensi Dojaka
For
Nensi Dojaka, 2021 was a year of great success, the Albanian designer took home not one, but two of the most prestigious fashion awards this year, the
LVMH Award and the
British Fashion Council Foundation Award for Talents emerging, thanks to an aesthetic made of a skilful mix of haute couture and cut-out sensuality. Tears, sheer dresses and petal-shaped bras worn by
Dua Lipa and
Zendaya were an instant hit, but women all over the world bought 90s-inspired mini dresses especially during the summer, from June to August, when
Emma Corrin,
Emily Ratajkowski and
Rihanna were spotted with the most desired dress of 2021 on.
7. Prada crochet bag
The
Prada summer bag was a success that was able to exploit the hype around the
DIY and
crochet trend, combining a capacious silhouette with pop colors and maxi logo, it is therefore no wonder that the hot pink shade is gone sold out soon, but you may still be able to get your hands on the sunflower yellow or beige version. Overall, searches for Crochet Tote Bag increased in searches by
56% in 2021, but it was Prada's raffia bag that earned Lyst's coveted third-quarter spot of hottest products, filtering millions of items. by volume of social media mentions, searches, page views, interactions and online store sales.
8. Jacquemus "La Maille Pralù" Cardigan
The micro cardigan was a true evergreen of the season thanks to Jacquemus' bold knitwear. Cropped, in vitaminic colors, with the subtle chain lacing with logo, the Pin-top quickly went viral, since its first appearance on the catwalk with
Kendall Jenner to open the
La Montagne collection, immediately appeared in an infinite loop of influencers at replicate
Megan Fox's head-to-toe crimson look wearing the open front cardigan or the sensual street styles of
Bella Hadid and
Hailey Bieber in LA. The pin-top was the head of the summer: in August, searches increased by 79% for this particular model, "top tie front", "top with laces" the most searched keywords.
9. Pangaia Hoodie
Eco-friendly loungewear brand Pangaia has been in trend all year, but a Harry Styles co-signature, which was spotted wearing a fuchsia "Flamingo" sweatshirt in October, caused a 91% spike in searches. Overall online searches for the brand's hoodies have now increased 172% during 2021: Made from organic cotton and painted with eco-friendly dyes through a water recycling system, Pangia's hoodies were sold out during the pandemic, but Styles' favorite color recently returned to stock along with a rainbow of kiwi, sky, and tie-dye colorways.
10. Striped Sweater by & Other Stories
Striped sweaters that tell stories of days spent lounging on a boat or afternoons on the lake: the & Other Stories knitwear was the perfect low-cost substitute for Loro Piana's fine knitwear for all that slice of Gen Z that on Tik Tok has rediscovered the Old Money aesthetic. With over 83 million views, the hashtag #OldMoneyAesthetic summarizes the interest in clothes and accessories considered classic and timeless, celebrated through images found on Pinterest or in the old family albums of the Kennedys or English royalty, while in Italy the trend takes life thanks to old photos of residences on Lake Como, once inhabited castles. Searches for nautical-style striped sweaters increased by 125%, polo shirts by 37%.
