Wet flies are a pretty varied lot. The colorful quill wing attractor patterns in Trout fell out of favor many years ago. People have begun tying them again, I think, as much for their beauty as fish catching ability. The more representative quills such as the lead wing coachman or winged hares ear, or the soft wing wets such as the pickerpin or professor, are not as popular but did not disappear. They are easier ties and are certainly fish catchers. Soft hackles have been in favor for at least the past twenty years.
The UK patterns, some of which Jeff touched on, were never in favor in the US. They should be. Two of my favorites what he calls Bailie's black spider (some call it Stewart's spider) and the Invicta. I particularly like the silver body version with a hen pheasant wing.

I will put in a good word for Wotton's DVD Wet Fly Ways. He touches on flies but it is principally about the UK approach to fishing them.