The Ugliest Trends of All Time (And Why We Loved Them)
During the biannual "fashion months" here at Teen Vogue, our editors sift through every runway show from New York to Paris to Australia, scouting the top trends for the season to come. With similar shapes, silhouettes, and colors continuously resurfacing, these born-again styles (hello, socks with sandals) constantly have us rummaging through the depths of our closets for those forgotten pieces that were once cool...and then uncool...and then cool again.
Isn't it crazy how quickly we deem a once-loved trend a non-wearable faux-pas? How we can obsess over a style one day (Harem pants! Platform sneakers! Vinyl jackets!) and consider it hideous the next? The truth is fashion is fickle, and whether or not we want to admit it, things that might seem ugly to us now were once totally our jam. So, we decided to gather up 10 bygone trends and remember why we loved them...because we did...in a big way.
Click through to revel in some serious fashion nostalgia, and don't forget to add your favorite passé style moments in the comments—you know you have them!
Photo: Alamy1/11Bandana Tops
A tiny piece of cloth designed to cover your hair that also works as a top? Hey, why not? We're always fans of a double-duty piece. It's all about convenience, people.
Photos: Alamy2/11No haters, please.
Photo: Alamy3/11Barely There Colored Lenses
We have to say, this does not top our list of most functional trends (where's the sun protection?!), but we do remember thinking those virtually transparent lenses were pretty killer. Clearly, Rebecca Gayheart's character in Jawbreaker was totally with us.
Photo: Alamy4/11Halters and Hip Huggers
Remember hip huggers?! That super-low rise and flared leg was all the rage back in the day, and a super-tight knit halter was its perfect mate. We remember the trend fondly, and we're sure we'll see those hip-grazing styles come back around someday, but is anyone else feeling thankful for the high-rise trend right about now? Anyone? Charmed sisters?
Photo: Alamy5/11Platform Flip-Flops
Before there was the flatform, there was the platform flip-flop. It wasn't much for ankle support (remember when Julia Stiles fell off that table in 10 Things I Hate About You?), but it sure was an easy way to add a good three inches of height. We wore 'em everywhere from the beach to class to da club (all ages, baby!)...you really can't shake a stick at that kind of versatility.
Photo: Alamy6/11Ruffled Salsa Tops
Remember this look from Welcome to the Dollhouse? So classic. There's something about the peasant-meets-salsa-dancer quality of this silhouette that really struck the right style note with us. Can't say we feel the same way now, but talk to us in a couple of years.
Photo: Alamy7/11Statement Hats
Cher and Dionne are still two of our favorite fashion icons, and we are dying over Di's hat in this scene. We mean, where did it even come from? It's like Clueless meets In Living Color...in the best way possible.
Photo: Alamy8/11Tracksuit Jackets
Some of us may have received a velour or terrycloth tracksuit for every night of Hanukah back in the day, so let's just say we have a particular affinity for this one. Circa 2004, a soft, comfy, cool-hued hoodie was definitely a wardrobe staple, and we may or may not still break one out on a rainy day at home. What? They're totally fetch.
Photo: Alamy9/11Tiny Shades
Compared to the super oversized sunnies we've been sporting for the past couple of years, these little lenses look kind of hilarious. Although we're pretty sure the full-coverage face-framers we're wearing today are probably also going to look ridiculous to us a couple years down the road. Apparently, there's no such thing as a timeless pair of sunglasses.
Photo: Alamy10/11Iridescent Nylon Fabric
We remember thinking this psychedelic fabric was so rad. It was just like wearing a hologram! And while we wouldn't necessarily sport these getups to our high school reunions, we totally applaud Romy and Michele for going all in for theirs.
Photo: Alamy11/11Everything in This Photo
The Spice Girls may be one of the most infamous pop girl groups ever, and their style is just as iconic. From Geri's amazing technicolor two-piece and platform sneaks to Mel B's barely-there leopard print and Emma's pigtails, the "Wannabe" songstresses have managed to take on just about every fad on our list (and then some) over the years. We give them major props for ecution over the years and for continuing to stay totally on-trend—we're looking at you, Victoria Beckham. Girl power! (OK, that one's still too soon, we think.)
