The 10 Fashion Trends That Defined 2014

It’s hard to picture how what you’re wearing right now is going to be characterized in the future. We’re sure our counterparts in 1974 couldn’t imagine a day when suede bell bottoms and men’s platform shoes would seem like a costume. Certainly our circa-2000 selves couldn't fathom wearing jeans that were anything but low-rise flares. That’s the funny thing about trends: Each one's only novel in the beginning of its life cycle and years after it ends.

This year was actually a pretty distinctive one for fashion. Silhouettes started splitting into two camps (severely tomboy and severely feminine); a new emphasis was placed on basics, and for the first time in a while, practicality and comfort were prioritized as much as good, eye-catching design. Red carpet style got more daring and ostentatious, while the streets started experimenting with subtlety. You lived through it, and now’s the time to relive it: We’ve picked the top 10 trends of 2014 that one day — fingers crossed — your grandkids will admire (if not gently mock).