This year caught us off guard, to say the least. Shaking up pretty much every aspect of life for pretty much every person on earth, the pandemic and the lockdowns that followed changed the world as we knew it. Like most industries, fashion was affected drastically — forced to adapt to new ways of living, working, and government sanctioned-goods.
Looking back on the products of 2020, it's impossible to avoid the ubiquitous face mask. Then there's the hand sanitizer and even tools to prevent you from having to actually touch an elevator button.
Alongside the new essentials that 2020 enforced, though, were a host of show-stopping products that had absolutely nothing to do with preventing the spread of a pandemic. In honor of such light relief, we've also picked out a number of these standout items — from Bottega's bold puddle-ready boot to Travis Scott's huge collab with McDonald's.
Scroll on for the products of 2020 you can still buy.
Luxury Face Masks
Crescent Moon Print Face Mask
Marine Serre
You may be sick of looking at these things, but it would have been crazy not to include one. The face mask became both a government-sanctioned essential and collector's item this year, with StockX reporting that more than $1 million had been spent on them in 2020. Marine Serre was just one high fashion label to offer a luxury take on PPE.
Kamala Harris' "We Did It Joe" Sunglasses
Lahti
Mykita
A video of Kamala Harris calling President-elect Biden to confirm that "We Did It Joe" went viral after the tumultuous election, soon becoming one of 2020's few moments to cherish. In the clip, future Vice President Harris was sporting a pair of MYKITA LAHTI sunglasses. Good for shielding your eyes from sore losers.
New Essentials
Sweatpants
FOG - Fear Of God Essentials
With work, play, and pretty much everything else happening at home, sweatpants became one of the year's most in-demand items. Fear of God ESSENTIALS had another crazy year, too. Combined, this pair is powerful.
Travis Scott x McDonald's
Jack Smile II T-Shirt
Travis Scott x McDonald's
Say what you want about fast food, the Travis Scott and McDonald's collab was a huge moment this year, taking the Houston-born artist to Michael Jordan-level fame. In Celebration of Travi's signature meal, the duo also dropped a huge capsule collection including clothing, accessories, and that chicken nugget pillow.
WFH Footwear
YEEZY Foam Rnnr "Ararat"
adidas
It's weird, sure. But add its wild comfort to the fact it's sustainably-made from algae and your opinion of the YEEZY Foam Runner will probably change. A product of 2047, brought forward a few decades by Kanye and adidas.
Branded Hand Sanitizer
1.5oz Maak Lab Hand Sanitizer
Brain Dead
Another new essential this year, hand sanitizer was harder to cop than a collab Dunk at the start of the Pandemic. Thankfully, though, our favorite brands got on board with producing hand sanitizer, from Brain Dead to Cactus Jack.
New Balance Collabs
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Casablanca x New Balance
New Balance had a year to remember, mostly thanks to how well its collabs went down. Casablanca, WTAPS, and Aimé Leon Dore were just three of the roster names to make an impact.
Harry Styles' Pearl Necklace
"Wash Your Hands" Pearl Beaded Necklace
éliou
After featuring in the music video for Harry Styles' "Golden", now at more than 67 million views on YouTube, sales of Miami-based Éliou's pearl necklaces skyrocketed. A trip to the Amalfi coast not included.
Bottega Veneta Puddle Boot
Puddle Boots
Bottega Veneta
One of the most talked-about new footwear choices of 2020, the Bottega Veneta Puddle Boot first made its bold entrance during Milan Fashion Week in February. Like a warped Chelsea Boot from the future that you can wear at the beach, this boot is made from Biodegradable Polymer that will eventually break down into bacteria.
BODE Shorts
Senior Cords Rugby Shorts
BODE
Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, and Harry Styles were all spotted in BODE shorts this year. To the relief of those three, though, none of them were the same. That's thanks to Emily Bode's penchant for hand-painted, individually unique garments.
Louis Vuitton x Human Made
Soft Trunk Damier Ebene Giant Mini
Louis Vuitton x Nigo
Japanese streetwear legend Nigo and a Virgil Abloh-helmed Louis Vuitton announced their collab collection in late 2019, which dropped this year. Virgil's earlier comments about the death of streetwear seemed to be reflected in the pair's vision for a new kind of formal.
Nike x Dior Air Jordan 1
Jordan 1 Retro High
Dior x Nike
The sneaker embodiment of the luxury and streetwear meeting that has been discussed and dissected so many times over the past few years, the Nike and Dior team-up hit the runway during Kim Jones' FW20 in Miami. Expensive as hell, but a must-have for many.
Our designated Selects section features products that we love and want to share with you. Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase.
