Some Trends Will Never Cease To Confuse Us
The fashion industry is always pushing the envelope when it comes to innovation and creativity. However, as often as there are hits, there are misses too, with some styles so horrendous and impractical, that they leave us scratching our heads decades later. Here are 20 of the weirdest fashion trends we will never understand.
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1. Hobble Skirt
The hobble skirt was a short-lived fashion in the early 20th century. It was a skirt that tapered in at the ankle, making it impossible for women to walk in without doing a faceplant. Needless to say, it didn't stay in fashion for very long.
2. Leg Warmers
The 80s trend of wearing leg warmers over tights or with shorts has seen a baffling resurgence in the 2020s. Why can't we all just agree to save the leg warmers for the dancers?
3. Puffy Slides
Puffy sandals recently became all the rage after blowing up on TikTok. We're not sure what style people who wear these in public are going for, but it's certainly not elegant.
4. Bleached Eyebrows
Bleached eyebrows are a common runway trend. Aside from the risk of putting a harmful chemical so close to your eyes, it just makes most people look like they're missing their eyebrows.
5. Powdered Wigs
In the 17th and 18th centuries, men wore long, luxurious, wigs as a status symbol. The trend was started by King Louis XIV to cover his baldness, but quite frankly, being bald is a better alternative.
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6. Crocs
One trend that bafflingly doesn't go away is crocs. These rubber shoes are very useful if you're planning to spend your day walking in a stream. However, if you're just going to work or school, they look silly, especially when worn with socks.
7. Uggs
We've all seen people make the unfortunate mistake of wearing uggs on a wet day, the suede exterior slowly soaking up puddles, getting soggier with every step. Making a boot that can't be worn outside is extremely impractical.
8. Perms
It's not as popular nowadays, but in the 80s, people with straight hair who wanted curly hair would get their hair "permanently" curled with chemicals. Thus, women everywhere were walking around with over-the-top curly bushels of hair, marking the era.
Erik Schaddelee-Schaddelee Fotografie on Wikimedia
9. Mullets
Another crazy 80s trend, the "business in the front, party in the back" look was popularized by The Beastie Boys. We can only imagine the level of cringe the countless boys with mullets felt when looking back at their high school photos ten years later.
10. Detachable Jeans
The idea of having jeans that can be zipped into shorts is nice in theory but in practice? Not so much. The thigh zipper always looks awkward.
11. Boyfriend Jeans
The aptly named boyfriend jeans are essentially ill-fitting jeans cut for boys but worn by girls. They're always unflatteringly boxy, not showing any curves.
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12. Cropped Jeans
There was a time not long ago when cropped jeans were so popular, it was hard to find pants that covered the ankles. Cropped jeans are in the awkward purgatory between pants and capris that just make it look like you've outgrown your pants.
13. Tracksuits
Remember the velour Pepto Bismol-colored tracksuits of the early 2000s? From the available colors to the material and the word "Juicy" across the bum, this trend was absolutely terrible.
Sergio Calleja (Life is a trip) from Barcelona, Spain on Wikimedia
14. Sneaker Wedges
Another confusing trend is sneaker wedges. Brands like Nike decided their sneakers needed to look more like stilettos to be marketed to women. The result is a horrendous high-heeled sneaker that somehow became popular in the 2010s.
15. Bralettes as Tops
Lacey, light, and pretty, a bralette is a wonderful garment when worn under a shirt. However, people started wearing them without anything on top which looks trashy and is far too close to just going out topless.
16. Chacos
Chacos, the hiking sneaker became a hipster mainstay in recent years. This sandal wasn't made for fashion, but somehow, it became a statement, worn with jeans and even dresses.
17. Camo Pants
When did camo pants become civilian attire? They make a lot of sense when you're in the army, but any other time, they're unacceptable, especially when they're in different colors like pink or blue.
18. White Socks & Sandals
20 years ago, no one would get caught dead wearing sandals with socks; however, more recently, it somehow became "in." We don't care if the young folks are doing it, it still screams nerd.
19. Corsets
It's crazy to think that women wore corsets for hundreds of years. These body cages are impossible to breathe in and would force the female frame into an unnatural shape.
20. Thong Jeans
Thong jeans are jeans with almost nothing intact except the waistband, pockets, zipper, and some stitches, leaving your legs almost completely exposed. They're jeans that don't do their one job at all, but despite that, became extremely popular after being showcased at Tokyo Fashion Week in 2017.
