Every so often, we need to take stock of fashion trends gone horribly wrong to ensure we never repeat them. Because trends recycle, it’s a real possibility some styles that were a bad idea will be repackaged as the “next big thing” and sold to an unsuspecting public. Do you really want to see fanny packs, scrunchies and mom jeans on your college campus? Yeah, we didn’t think so. Collegiettes, introducing the trends we hope never make a comeback!
Fanny packs:
Sure, it sounds like a good idea. Carrying around a purse isn’t always practical. You can throw your keys, wallet and lipstick in a fanny pack and go. Your hands are free, and your shoulder doesn’t hurt from all the stuff you would be lugging around if you were carrying a purse.
Unfortunately, some of our favorite designers are trying to force this trend back into fashion. Don’t give in. We love Neiman Marcus, Louis Vuitton and DKNY, but we have to decline this accessory. Let’s think about this first. We’re not kangaroos. Instead of a fanny pack, there’s always the crossbody purse, which is actually a trend we can stand behind. Fanny packs? Pass!
Scrunchies galore:
This all-purpose hair accessory worked for ponytails, buns and updos of any kind. It also doubled as a bracelet. You could find gigantic scrunchies in every color imaginable. Why don’t we want these to come back? One word: tacky.
Scrunchies are fun if you’re hanging around the house, but they don’t belong in every hairstyle. Another word: messy (and not in a cute way). And if Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw has anything to say about it, scrunchies won’t make a lasting comeback on anyone’s head.
If you want to want to indulge in the scrunchie, do so in moderation. It’s a comfortable accessory but not one that should be a go-to style. Goody’s Ouchless Elastics are a better choice. Elastics hold hair better than scrunchies do and come in colors that can even blend into your hair. Your messy bun can look stylishly messy… on purpose!
Th-thon-thongs!
We’re not talking about wearing a sexy thong under your clothes. No, we’re talking about broadcasting that thong as if it’s a badge of honor. It’s not. The visible thong trend of the late 90s popped up on every street corner and on every campus. Girls and young women wore really low-cut jeans to show off their thongs. Why are we happy to leave this trend behind?
Um, yeah. Accidental pun. Anyway, showing your thong is equivalent to the droopy pants guys wear. It’s sloppy. It’s also not sexy, at least not sexy in a good way. We can also say that it was an incredibly uncomfortable trend. If your thong decided to hide in your jeans, what would you have to do? Pull the thong up or pull your pants down. Let’s leave this wedgie-giving trend in the 90s, girls.
Mom jeans:
On the opposite end of the spectrum, we had mom jeans. Women didn’t show their thongs in these. Instead, these jeans came up to the belly button, flattened the behind and destroyed the celebration of womanhood one pant leg at a time.
Motherhood is a great thing, but really. You don’t stop being a woman once you become a mom. Haven’t hot moms like Reese Witherspoon, Sienna Miller and Jennifer Garner taught us anything? They’re great moms, but they’re also beautiful, strong women. So we suggest leaving mom jeans in the past.
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Large shoulder pads:
Popular in the 40s and well into the 90s, shoulder pads helped women have a strong, broad-shouldered look. While we’re not sure why this trend became fashionable, we’re glad to see it end. Large shoulder pads create a boxy frame. It’s unflattering on most of us, and the pads tend to move around.
Although shoulder pads are still around, they are now much smaller and often sewn into the jacket. A feminine shape is maintained, and suits are less structured as a result. You can move around while wearing them! If you have to wear a suit to the office, smaller shoulder pads (or none at all) are awesome. You’ll look professional and stylish at the same time!
1980’s workout wear:
Okay, let’s get this straight. Leotards are cute. Legwarmers are cute. Leotards, spandex leggings and legwarmers worn together are not cute. The Eighties are one of fashion’s favorite throwback eras. Seriously, how often have the Eighties been repeated on the runways? (Honestly, it’s too many to count, so you don’t really have to answer that question.)
The key to wearing 80s fashion is to modernize it. Wear leotards as exercise or dance wear, but do not add spandex leggings or tights or legwarmers to the ensemble. You can also wear the leotard as an 80s-style top, assuming you haven’t just sweated in them for an hour. Going to the bathroom in a rush might also pose a problem so consider that before wearing this trend.
As for legwarmers, we’ve seen them worn with skinny jeans or leggings and tucked into boots. Not only does this keep your legs warm, it’s also an adorable look. So remember: Drawing on the 80s for inspiration is okay, just don’t repeat them exactly.
Too-plucked eyebrows:
As women who embrace our natural beauty, super-thin eyebrows are a definite no-no. Women everywhere went beyond basic eyebrow grooming and plucked their brows into nonexistence, having to pencil them in with eyebrow pencil or eyeliner. It looks tacky and fake. Your eyebrows are not the enemy, ladies. Please don’t attack them with tweezers.
Full eyebrows are back, though. The key is to groom your eyebrows to follow their natural shape. Consult your stylist for how to have nice versions of your full eyebrows. Just because natural is in, it doesn’t mean neat is out. No wild brows for us. Look at actress Camilla Bell for inspiration. She’s got natural brows done right.
Chopine shoes:
You probably haven’t heard of these before. This trend was all the rage from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance. Imagine wearing wooden slippers attached to impossibly high stilts, and you’ve got chopine shoes. Women couldn’t actually walk in these things and had to rely on chivalrous men to get from one side of the room to the other.
Why do we mention these shoes?
Well, designers are trying to bring them back. We’re serious. Check it out for yourself here. The style is beautiful as art but not practical as footwear. Leave this one be. Just leave it be.
There you have it. What trends do you hope never come back? Tell us in the comment section below!