We’ve all worn things we later regret, it’s an almost unavoidable part of life.
During your time growing up, it’s natural to want to find your way in way life and a large part of that is discovering your own identity.
When you hit your teenage years and start buying clothes for yourself, more often than not, you’ll be looking to create your own unique sense of style to match up with the person your young, impressionable, teenage self is looking to become.
It’s this mindset that has us looking back in our older years and cringing at some of the things we once thought made us super-cool. In this article, we’ll be taking a long, cringeworthy stroll down memory lane and looking back at five fashion trends we most certainly regret. So, let’s take a look.
1) Crocs
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRGjAVflZH7/
OBVIOUSLY! If these aren’t universally viewed as some of the worst footwear ever imagined I’ll eat a pair myself.
What can you say about these monstrosities? Time Magazine voted them the 22nd worst invention ever and they are probably the most hated item of clothing we’ve ever come across while researching an article.
To put this hatred into perspective, there are entire websites dedicated to the complete eradication of Crocs. It’s also tough to defend a “shoe” that has been the cause of so many cases of tendinitis, nail problems and crimes against fashion.
However, Crocs have, in fact, managed to survive over the years and are still going strong, somehow. While past experience can never prove the future, we can still be pretty sure that Crocs will be remembered the same way one shot of tequila too many is, with regret.
2) Bucket Hats
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ_IBbogKgj/
Made famous by various bands and artists throughout the late 90’s and early 00’s, bucket hats had a relatively short reign in comparison to some of the other items featured on this list.
However, that short tenure makes them no less regrettable.
While they did manage a short comeback in the spring of 2016, that phase lasted about as long as the battery charge on an iPhone. Thus, bucket hats were once again relegated to the back pages of fashion history books.
Hopefully, from now on, bucket hats will remain in the only place they belong, on the cover of your old copy of a New Radicals album.
3) UGG Boots
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRGjxU-hZQL/
The problem with Ugg Boots is, while they may be incredibly comfortable, they should never, under any circumstances, be worn anywhere other than in the privacy of your own home.
Unfortunately, this was not the case during their reign as the go-to boot for both men and women on their Sunday shopping trip. Uggs have now gained a similar reputation to Crocs whereby they are largely regarded with contempt and have even been banned from several establishments, presumably in an attempt to protect their public image.
Another common complaint about the sheepskin-lined boots is that their formless shape offers no support to the wearer’s foot.
In some cases, Uggs can cause or exacerbate damage to toes and the Achilles tendon.
Strangely, Uggs are still selling like crazy, yet it remains to be seen whether those people still purchasing them will one day look back and regret their decision.
4) Extremely Baggy Jeans
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQyzZlmlnG7/
The penultimate trend on our list is extremely baggy jeans.
Now admittedly, even I, your humble guide through this list, was swept up in my early teens by this trend.
Extremely baggy jeans, it seems, were an essential part of the “alternative” subculture in the 90’s and 00’s, along with ridiculously oversized skate shoes and a chain that never had your keys attached to it.
While the baggy jeans of that time have petered out, there are still variations of them going around today, the most prevalent being the “make-your-jeans-really-baggy-by-wearing-them-around-your-knees” look.
Strangely enough, it seems the baggy jeans trend has been turned on its head by the more recent emergence of the extremely skinny jeans.
When it comes to ways to wear our jeans, will we ever learn?
5) The Emo Fringe
https://www.instagram.com/p/BP1jrd0A83C/
Oh yes, the absolutely cringe-tastic emo fringe is our number five. And who could forget about this trend?
Well, possibly anyone who had one and is hoping it will never be remembered?
Back in the early 00’s, this trend seemed to completely take over. Bands like My Chemical Romance, Dashboard Confessional and Fall Out Boy pioneered what would come to be known as emo culture.
Dark-coloured band t-shirts, fingerless gloves, heavy eyeliner and, of course, that huge fringe were the staples of the look that seemed to have its origins amongst the MySpace (remember that?) crowd.
There were so many ways to wear an emo fringe, from dyed completely jet black and waxed to one side to highlighted and cut so that it was the longest part of your hair, the sheer number of variations were a testament to how widespread this trend was at the time.
So there we have it, our collection of five fashion trends that, looking back, we regret being part of.
For the most part, we’re glad these trends have been and gone.
A few honourable mentions would be the shell suits of the 90’s, bleached blonde hair tips, Burberry hats and the infamous all denim outfits worn by Britney Spears and then husband, Kevin Federline.
Was there anything included that you were once guilty of wearing? Or do you disagree and think that one or a few of our choices should be brought back? Let us know in the comments!
You never know, someone else might agree that the emo fringe should have never died! Anybody? No? Of course not, we didn’t think so either.
Are you looking for the latest trends of 2017? Check out our article on Round Cat Eye Frames!
