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Original poster

Worst clothes fashion trends of the last 30 years?

227 replies

LaviniaLee · 30/12/2023 21:39

What do you think the worst fashion trends have been over the last 30 years?

I was watching a BBC drama set in the early 2000s, and it reminded me that I once wore a tight pencil skirt with tight knee high boots. I think pencil skirts were the worst, largely because they were so uncomfortable.

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 31/12/2023 08:14

Apart from leggings, the fashion in 2019 or so for cropped trousers. I called it the 'short trouser virus' at the time.

You see women (mainly) who have cut off the bottom of their jeans to this day who fell for this awful trend.

I often wonder if some fashion ideas are a practical joke and the author or authors secretly laugh at how gullible people are to follow them.

scalt · 31/12/2023 08:15

Socks half in and half out of trainers: I've never liked this look, and I've always found it very uncomfortable to wear.

Mind you, I like to wear trainers without socks all year round, which I know is a terrible sin for all sorts of reasons, but it's too late: I've done it since I was a teenager.

Oppositioblue · 31/12/2023 08:26

Cold shoulder tops. They never look good on anyone.

Gladiator sandals.

I agree with those leggings that gather up your bum. You’d be as well going out naked. They are awful.

I am 70 born so lots have come and gone through the years. Shell suits, jelly shoes, trainers laced a certain way (including using Grolsh bottle tops), the Bros look and the Madonna look.

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Scrantonicity2 · 31/12/2023 08:27

There was a period from around 2008 where the shops were full of "dresses" that were polyester, slightly too short so more like tunics, and shapeless with the waist being a thin bit of elastic. Did my head in as they all looked awful on me. I think you were supposed to wear them with leggings.

Cold shoulder tops are terrible too.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 31/12/2023 08:48

This came up on my Facebook today. Why? Just why???!

birdling · 31/12/2023 09:06

Oh my word! That's a terrible look 😨

Maireas · 31/12/2023 09:17

thenewaveragebear1983 · 31/12/2023 08:48

This came up on my Facebook today. Why? Just why???!

I'm going to wear a pair of men's y-fronts over a pair of American Tan tights and my slippers. Yes, it's a look.

sashh · 31/12/2023 09:20

Not sure of the years but:

Denim shorts that are shorter than the pockets so you can see the pockets hanging under them.

I quite liked the denim shorts with black tights but not on anyone over 25 and has to be accompanied by a scarf in some fancy shape.

Platform shoes / boots.

Cold shoulder - no point at all.

Shell suits - why?

Velour track suits.

Patterned tights with dots or bows or something.

Matching tights to the colour of your skirt and shoes.

Worldgonecrazy · 31/12/2023 09:56

I googled cold shoulder top, given all the hate on this thread. I must have erased that trend from my memory because they are truly hideous.

Ginmonkeyagain · 31/12/2023 10:16

As well as being ugly, cold shoulder tops are pointless - if it is warm enough to have bare shoulders, then it is too warm to have sleeves. See also the abomination that is sleeveless polo necks.

PedantScorner · 31/12/2023 10:50

Cold shoulder tops - the ones with a roundish cutout. Usually worn by plump women who look like they have potatoes for shoulders.

Cropped/ankle grazer trousers. Pedal pushers

Big eyebrows and obvious face contouring

Straightened hair

Those dreadful skinny joggers worn by young men

fromhellsheartistabatthee · 31/12/2023 10:54

IcakethereforeIam · 31/12/2023 00:47

Legwarmers especially in neon colours.
Batwing and raglan sleeves. I'm worried they're coming back 😰
Shoulder pads in everything even socks and dishtowels (I feel I'm only exaggerating slightly).
Tops with holes round the neckline, can't wear them in the sun.
Big pouffey sleeves on tops and dresses.

OMG yes, massive shoulder pads on women's business suits, as if looking like a prop-forward somehow boosted your credibility at meetings.

oneflewoverthe · 31/12/2023 10:55

Feather boas. Loved wearing them to the school discos and nightclubs in my teens

BCBird · 31/12/2023 10:57

Shell suits. Fortunately never had one

BCBird · 31/12/2023 11:00

Men in tight leggings type tracksuit bottoms nooooo. Men wearing their jeans belts waist and in some cases below buttocks 🙄🤣

BCBird · 31/12/2023 11:01

Sleeveless polo necks ? Never seen them.

Heyhoherewegoagain · 31/12/2023 11:02

BCBird · 31/12/2023 11:01

Sleeveless polo necks ? Never seen them.

I had one around 1985

SquashPenguin · 31/12/2023 11:04

Bootcut jeans
Ugg boots
Skirts over jeans
Crop tops
Flesh coloured anything
Those leggings that go up your ass
Sliders

hadwebutworldenoughandtime · 31/12/2023 11:04

I love a maxi dress as long as it is fitted at the waist and a-line midi dresses/ skirts suit me as I have wide shoulders and fairly narrow hips in comparison. For many years I have dressed for what suited me rather than the trend and end result is I think I look well dressed rather than super trendy which at 50 I feel a bit past anyway. A lot of these fashions became fashions because they looked good on someone with the right body shape and became bad fashion moments being copied by people they didn't suit.

Riverlee · 31/12/2023 11:17

I love a maxi dress!

PedantScorner · 31/12/2023 11:20

Artificial nails

DinoDays · 31/12/2023 11:25

Isseywith3witchycats · 30/12/2023 21:47

a bit further than 30 years but ra ra skirts were awful

I was going to say ra ra skirts too. But they were 40 years ago!! WTF.

I also tried to find a picture of them to post but actually they seem to look quite nice to my old eyes now!!!

deepsea9 · 31/12/2023 11:28

Definitely that mid-00s look of ultra low rise jeans with thong showing. Sometimes you’d get the odd effect of a low slung, weave belt riding up so it would go belt, thong, jeans working downwards.

chrisntmas · 31/12/2023 11:34

Lala87 · 31/12/2023 00:54

Anyone remember the banana shoes? Almost folded in half with a really elastic bit?

Jesus Christ, yes, I had bright pink ones from MKOne