20 Of The Most Ridiculous Fashion Trends We Hope Never Return

1. Weird Crochet Blanket Shirt

Image Source: Reddit

Not sure how this one got started. We guess you can kindaaa see what it's trying to achieve over those classic camis we didn't take off our bodies. But you were essentially walking around with a blanket draped over your shoulders at the club. Who let us do this?

2. Thongs

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Specifically, we're talking about displaying your thong, very intentionally, in your low rise jeans. Somehow this was THE look that every celeb was sporting, and we all thought it was SO cool. In retrospect, there are worse trends, but this feels far from classy now that we're all in our Sofia Richie era.

3. Boob Scarf Shirt

Image Source: Reddit

Three words that should never go together. We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but we're pretty sure we've seen comparable tops popping up over on Revolve. It's a lot of faith in a small piece of fabric for the girls, so we'd rather leave this one in the past.

4. Designer Trucker Hats

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Look, we love a good hat as much as the next girl, and the maximalist bucket hats currently on display are somehow charming. But the designer and bedazzled trucker hats that we were all sporting with our Ed Hardy shirts and low rise jeans were NOT IT. Please let this trend stay in the past.

5. Burnt Velvet

Image Source: Reddit

We know that velvet will always be used in fashion in some way. It's just a staple material that's been around forever. But do you guys remember the very specific burnt velvet blouses and dresses that were everywhere in the 90s? Again, not the WORST, but we just think there are better looks out there.

6. Crystal Encrusted Statement Belt

Image Source: Pinterest

We really thought we did something with these. It felt like a great way to show off your personality through both words and a bejeweled belt buckle. In hindsight, these things were so tacky. Wear what makes you happy, but we'd prefer if these don't make a strong comeback!

7. Super Low Rise Jeans

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We're talking about the ones where you had to make sure your stomach was perfectly flat and that everything below the belt was shaved because these pants were THAT low. We know all the Gen-Z girlies think they've brought back low rise, but nothing says body dysmorphia like these.

8. Arm Warmers

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Apparently, in the early 2000s, only our wrists got cold. This trend of tank tops with random arm warmers is not something we'd like to repeat. You probably spent WAY too much time trying to find the perfect pair to match with your outfit, and for what.

9. Pleather Chaps

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We have, collectively, as a human race been through enough these past few years between politics and pandemics. Please don't let these come back. Pleather in general had such a chokehold on us, but this specific look of pleather chaps is unforgivable!

10. Ed Hardy Everything

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We gotta give it to Ed Hardy. This brand really convinced us that it was so fashion forward and edgy. In reality, we all looked like fools. There was a time when you could get virtually any piece of clothing Ed Hardy-fied. It was truly a dark and unsettling time in the history of America.

11. Decorative Belts

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These belts literally served no purpose. We just thought that they visually looked cool. But did they? They certainly weren't doing what belts are designed to do... help hold up your pants or shorts or skirt. These belts were also always very wide, and you could wear them with literally anything!

12. Furry Boots

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Nothing brings back more memories of Jersey Shore than these furry boots. Snooki brought them into the mainstream, and for a hot minute, everyone wanted them. People still wear them, especially if you're into the rave scene. They are just kind of ridiculous looking, but we get that they're maybe really comfortable?

13. Dress Over Jeans

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Why did we need both? As you can see from the photos, it wasn't because it was particularly cold. So why wear a spaghetti strap dress with jeans underneath? FASHION, of course! Whether it was a dress or a skirt, it wasn't complete without a pair of jeans underneath. It doesn't look good!

14. Saggy Pants

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Saggy pants started in the 90s, but then when pop stars like Justin Timberlake started sporting them in the 00s, they were EVERYWHERE. Similar to the ladies showing off the thongs, wearing your jeans around your ankles allowed men to show off their boxers to the world. A lot of schools banned this look!

15. Ruffled Mini Skirt

Image Source: Reddit

We've seen this look floating around again, in a slightly updated way, and it makes us want to cry. Yet another item that contributed to body image issues, because they really only looked good if you were a size zero, and even then, did they really look ~good~? We should have burned all evidence of them!

16. Bathing Suit Dresses

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Maybe it was in the name of modesty, but the bathing suit dress was branded as a swimsuit that was two-in-one, because you could go for a swim, dry off, and head to drinks with friends in the same outfit. Why bring a change of clothes when you're good to go? These are still on the market today, but their popularity has lessened significantly.

17. Fascinators

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We honestly blocked this one from our memories. There was a brief time in fashion history where EVERYONE was wearing fascinators as if they were a guest of the Queen. While it makes sense if you're going to a garden party, less so if you're accepting a Grammy? Don't let fans of The Crown know these almost went mainstream.

18. Ties with Tanks

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We wore ties with tank tops and thought it was so punk rock. Was it though? My friends and I spent so much time digging through bargain bins at thrift stores for the PERFECT tie to wear with our plain white tank top. It was definitely a fashion choice. Pair it with some Chuck Taylors and were you peak fashion.

19. Poodle Skirts

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Poodle skirts were largely popular in the 50s. That's also when women's fashion in the US started being taken more seriously. That said, poodle skirts were probably not the reason why. They literally had designs of poodles embroidered on them, and continued to pop up through the next few decades.

20. Popcorn Shirt

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We have to admit, these shirts were FUN! They were super tiny on the hanger, and then you put it on, and it expanded to fit your body. They were branded as one-size-fits-all, which was mostly true, and all the cool kids were wearing them. Let's leave them in the 90s though, please.

21. Shutter Shades

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These "sunglasses" literally did nothing in terms of sun protection. They did really impair your vision though, so that's... something. These started out in the 80s, but then Kanye wore them in his "Stronger" music video, and they went very mainstream.

22. Pedal Pushers

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Not a single pair of my jeans made it out of the pedal pushers unscathed. It seemed like the perfect solution. Not quite pants, not quite shorts, but your legs got all the air they needed. A great opportunity to show off your knees and calfs? And the best part, that pair of jeans you weren't wild about could easily be made into pedal pushers with a pair of scissors.

23. Newsboy Caps

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I don't think a single celebrity did not fall victim to the plethora of newsboy caps in the early 2000s. They could be found is so many different styles and colors. And while we do think that they can work for certain outfits and looks, they should by-and-large stay in the past!

24. Harem Pants

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These pants are super baggy, but then tight at the ankles. Well we appreciate the Parisian fashion designer taking influence from Middle Eastern clothes, it was also a time of chunky belts and corsets over t-shirts, and we kind of all just looked like pirates or genies. We've seen them popping up again recently, and we're scared.

25. Belly Chains

Image Source: Reddit

Okay, okay, we've actually seen these popping up again, especially on the red carpet. But we're hoping that we can stop the trend before it gets too widespread. We know, it seems fun. It seems flirty. But those of us who lived through it the first time know the deep regret that comes with it when looking back on the photos. No more belly chains!

26. Cropped Pinstripe Pants

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This is one of those pieces that we were told could go from day-to-night. Why were were always trying to go from day-to-night? Cropped pants always look kinda weird but this half summer vacation half office casual look is very confusing! We're not sure who let this trend happen.

27. So. Many. Vests.

Image Source: Reddit

These were truly the height of fashion. I remember BEGGING my mom to get one of these after I saw Ashlee Simpson wearing one. Who decided it was cool to walk into English class looking like a butler? Not sure. Either way, we think this trend should stay in the early 2000s!

28. Velour Warm-Up Suits

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Juicy Couture really had us convinced that this was high fashion. The girls at my school went absolutely FERAL trying to get their hands on the latest Juicy suit. It was important to get them in your school colors so you could wear them for Spirit Week. But please, please don't bring these back!

29. Socks with Sports Sandals

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I've been known to throw on a pair of slides or pillow slippers when I also have socks on to go walk my dog. But this particular look with this particular sandal was very popular back in the day, and we'd prefer if neither the sandal nor the combo comes back around! This screams Granola Girl, but in a bad way?

30. Camo EVERYTHING

Image Source: Reddit

There was a time when you could get camouflage print in basically any color or any item of clothing imaginable. We understand if you need camo for practical reasons. But does anyone really need a pink camo romper? Let's leave this where it belongs, many many moons ago!

31. Boot Cut Jeans

image source: cosmopolitan.com

Okay, before you go and change because you're offended, we know these are still a stylish jean option if you're not a huge fan of skinny jeans, slim fit or mom jeans... because the truth is they can work, and people definitely wear them better these days! But 'back then' boot cut jeans just seemed to be off, like there was something too weird about the fit that wasn't quite right. On top of that, they were never plain, they were always some heavy corduroy option with embellishments - and then celebs went and paired them with the worst possible top or loose cardigan, meaning you lost all shape! So yeah... we hope the bad way

to wear these doesn't come back.

32. Corsets

image source: cosmopolitan.com

So women in history went through a lot of painful days and nights having to be crammed in one of these things. And just when we think people have evolved enough to realize that women actually need to breathe, we start wearing these voluntarily

- what? Okay, so we know they can look great for say a cosplay, Halloween costume or for certain outfits if you want to wear a fashionable corset. These days they come in beautiful designs you can actually see rather than being unseen under a heavy dress. But there was an era where celebs just wore these fashion corsets over everything, for every event!

33. Denim Skirts With Embellishment

image source: cosmopolitan.com

The thing about denim skirts - and denim in general - is that of course it's always going to remain fashionable (apart from the double denim look, but we'll get to that). Denim skirts are still fashionable today provided you wear them right and rock the right length for you. But back in the day, there was just something far too popular about this denim skirt in particular: the knee-length, pretty much shapeless denim skirt with embellishment around the top of it. Or the bottom of it. Or all over it! And then of course it would be paired with a thick belt which really did nothing for the overall statement...

34. Double Denim

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Speaking of denim... we did say it would always be fashionable, but as we know, there are mistakes you can make. And many of us did, celebs and everyday folk alike, by pairing our favorite pair of jeans with our favorite denim jacket to match. Embellishment optional. Sometimes you have weird things that celebrities wear that you think 'oh yeah actually they weirdly pull that off' just because they like to make a statement - but even Britney and Justin couldn't rock this look, which is when you know you're going wrong in the fashion world. One denim item at a time please! And don't even think about pairing it with a denim hat.

35. Embellished Jeans

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No, we are most certainly not done with things you should never do with denim - and next we have embellished jeans as a huge, hip-hanging no no! Let's just call veto on any kind of embellished denim, ever, please! The thing with embellished jeans is that you had to take into account the color of the embellishment to make it work with your outfit overall, but how can you find a top that matches when you have embellished sequins and stitching in a million different colors? Even Beyoncé couldn't pull this off, which is definitely saying something. So let's just leave that embellishment in the closet, shall we?

36. Any Sort Of Visible Underwear

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We know that saggy pants and very low cut pants were a fashion trend all in themselves, but there was also the trend of giving yourself a wedgie just to have a huge portion of your underwear showing over the top of your jeans, trousers or skirt. Why? We have no idea. I mean, it was good everyone was wearing underwear, but it's just funny how these days people are making more of an effort to avoid visible panty lines when back in the day you wanted the entire panty seen! It doesn't matter whether it was a thong, bikini brief or a full boxer short, for some reason celebs just wanted everyone to know they had some on.

37. Denim Whiskers

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You thought we were done with denim? Hah! Never. Because we need to talk about denim whiskers. These days ripped jeans are found everywhere, and you can think what you will about that trend whether you like it or not, but back in the day denim whiskers were the done thing - and we really, really wish they weren't. Denim whiskers were when the fabric had that kind of liney finish to it, either right up the pant leg or around the top of the trousers, so you could see the variation of faded denim and color. It didn't look good, let's be honest - and you probably paid more for a pair of whiskered jeans compared to regular.

38. Velvet Chokers

image source: cosmopolitan.com

Okay, so, just like the boot cut jean situation, there's no doubt chokers can - and should - still be worn as fashion items in this day and age, because they can still look really cool. There's nothing wrong with a choker, or a velvet one, but the problem was when velvet chokers were a huge fashion trend with celebs on the red carpet - but then they had the HUGE dangly accessories on the front, like a massive medallion all in itself catching the light of the camera. There are chokers that look good and then there are... whatever Kate Winslet was wearing.

39. Cardigans As Whole Outfits

image source: cosmopolitan.com

Now, the cardigan is still a cute look - we're not denying that. Even a cardigan buttoned up nearly all the way with nothing underneath can look right if you do it right! But celebs used to wear full cardigans not only as whole tops, but they wore them at premieres and events as though they were formal attire! And the wood cardigans were always too small so the buttons stretched in the middle, and all in all, they just didn't sit right. They were probably also cropped with embellished jeans or skirts and chain belts... and a choker...

40. Leather Trench Coats

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Trench coats are hit and miss at the best of times - while they can look stylish even in this modern day of fashion, let's be honest, the first thing we think with a trench coat is a flasher or a guy trying to hide something. Well, back in the times of outdated fashion, not only were trench coats popular, but long black leather trench coats were popular. Sure, it worked for Neo in The Matrix, but that's just because he looked cool in his slow-motion backwards bend. For everyone else, it was just a trend that very quickly needed to go away.

41. Peasant Skirts

image source: cosmopolitan.com

You want fashion that makes you feel like a million dollars, not fashion that makes you quite literally feel like a peasant. Alas, that's what peasant skirts were all about - albeit it a little nicer and brighter than what actual peasants used to have to trail through the mud. You'd think the fact that peasant skirts came in a million different colors was great because it meant you could choose your favorite, but really it just meant everyone ended up wearing them. And you had that drawstring addition on top... we're all for an elasticated waist, but really?

42. Short Sleeved Baggy Shirts

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The fitted, long-sleeved shirt - bonus if it's perfectly tailored - is a look that has never, and will never, go out of fashion. It just looks good no matter whether you're going into the office, going for an interview or doing that whole 'smart casual' club look. But those short sleeves, baggy abominations? They did absolutely nothing for anybody's figure. Not only did you have the baggy torso bit, but then you had the huge baggy balloon sleeves, too, which didn't show off your arms in the slightest. The button up feature just made it all worse, somehow.

43. Dress Over Pedal Pushers

image source: cosmopolitan.com

This awful fashion trend actually combines two other awful fashion trends: wearing a dress over trousers, and pedal pushers in general. We get why it might seem logical, sort of like when you wear shorts or anti-chafing shorts under a dress just to give yourself that extra security so you don't have a Marilyn Monroe moment - but the difference with the shorts scenario is that you can't actually see them, and that's what it's all about. Because we definitely don't want to see your denim pedal pushers sticking out down to your knee!

44. EVERYTHING Pleather

image source: cosmopolitan.com

Even today, one item of leather - or pleather - something or other can look great. A pair of leather trousers, a leather jacket, leather boots... But wearing a pleather pair of trousers AND a pleather top would be pushing it. Then topping that off with a pleather ankle-leather jacket? You've pushed it way too far. And the shoes? Pleather of course. It was just too much, it looked too tight and too shiny. It was always in a really bright or offensive color, too... Like even in black that entire ensemble would be too much, so that's saying something.

45. Wearing Real Fur

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Particularly fur coats, which we know used to be hugely in fashion, especially with people who had a lot of money and wanted the world to know it. And then of course the huge fur coats would be paired with a fur hat to keep warm in winter - or even a fur shoulder accessory, like a shawl or scarf (and sometimes still in the style of the animal it came from...). Let's be real, fur does look good - that's why fake fur is always a good choice if you want a cozy winter outfit. But getting real fur and knowing about the animals that had to suffer for it? Not so good.

46. Platform Sneakers

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It's really interesting seeing the evolution of the platform shoe fashion trend, because there's no doubt it was in style, went out, and came back in again - and these days it can definitely work in terms of platform heels, platform boots or even the wedge variety of sneakers that have a higher heel at the back (provided you can walk in all those, of course). But there was something about the platform sneaker in particular at the height of its popularity that was just... not good. You either wear sneakers or platforms - pick one!

47. Wearing Sunglasses Anywhere But Your Eyes

image source: cosmopolitan.com

Seriously, what was up with the trend of sunglasses never actually being used for what they were made for?! First we had shutter shades that most definitely didn't stop the sun from getting in your eyes, then we had celebrities most definitely wearing sunglasses in any place that wasn't on the bridge of their nose! We'd have them hanging around the neck, for some reason, hanging down from the front of a shirt, being worn backwards on the top of the head so they looked like they had eyes back there... just put them on properly, or don't wear them at all!

48. Seriously Skinny Scarves

image source: cosmopolitan.com

Okay, we definitely all did this at some point - and that's the problem. These scarves weren't about wearing one in winter to keep warm - their sole purpose was to be a very questionable fashion statement, even worse if you wore them like Lindsay Lohan is in the picture rather than down front like a tie. And they were usually ALWAYS in a shimmering type of fabric, like silver or gold, and they never went with ANYTHING else. And then you got too hot or just ended up having them dangle in your food... Honestly, these were the worst.

49. Huge Sunglasses

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The key with getting a stylish sunglasses look is to get the shape that best fits your face - people with round faces shouldn't get huge round sunglasses, for example, as it only makes your face look round. But for some reason, this sunglasses etiquette only came into play in recent years, because 'back in the day' EVERYONE was wearing these absolutely huge sunglasses, no matter what. They can look good in the right style, but getting massive ones just for the sake of them being massive just looked too cumbersome.

50. Long-Sleeved Shirts Over Short-Sleeved

image source: cosmopolitan.com

Oh, geez. We all did this, didn't we? Even this photo probably just bought you very vivid flashbacks. Maybe this look is what you wake up and remember at 1am in a panic. Why did we do this? It was sort of the pinnacle of skater boi look, to have the longer sleeved shirt on the inside of the shorter one, like a rebel, instead of wearing them the appropriate way round. Then there was the trend of fashion companies actually make the shirts with the sleeves stitched in so it looked like you wearing shirts when you were, in fact, only wearing one - madness!