The fads of the fashion world are always evolving. This is good news because style choices should stay fresh and exciting. If nothing ever changed in the fashion world, there wouldn’t be professional designers, runway models, or fashion shows to attend. Movies like “The Devil Wears Prada” wouldn’t exist.
Magazines full of stunning clothing inspiration would disappear. Some fashion trends have been beyond disappointing, though. Just because everyone is hopping on the bandwagon to wear a certain style, it doesn’t mean the trend in question is an actual winter.
To gather this list of fashion fads in history that would raise everyone’s eyebrows today, 24/7 Tempo consulted several fashion-forward sources including Urban Matter, Society 19, Budget Fashionista, and Who What Where.
Corsets – 1900s
Miss Smythe of 10 Brompton Square, London, 10th May 1905. (Photo by George C. Beresford/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Corsets of the 1900s are not the same as corsets that fashionistas can purchase for themselves today. Modern corsets are made with soft material that gently cinches your waist without causing severe pain. Back in the day, corsets were extremely abrasive and harmful. They made it hard for women to breathe and crushed women’s ribcages.
Hoop skirt dresses – 1910s
The hoops used to support the crinoline dress during Victorian times. (Photo by London Stereoscopic Company/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The logistical reason behind women wearing hoop skirt dresses during the 1910s makes a lot of sense! Still, this style is still something modern individuals would raise their eyebrows over. Back in the day, women wore hoop skirt dresses to keep the heavy fabrics off of their legs as a way of keeping their body temperatures down in hot climates. These days, a hoop skirt dress would be a cumbersome and obnoxious thing to wear in a public place.
Boater hats – 1920s
Danish-born American press agent A Toxen Worm, American playwright Wilson Mizner, American playwright and journalist Paul Armstrong, and Raoul Cincinell, each wearing a hat as they stand aboard French ocean liner the SS La Provence en route to Europe, 1900. (Photo by Paul Thompson/FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images)
In the 1920s, boater hats rose in popularity among both men and women. Men wore them for outdoor activities like playing cricket or going sailing. Not long after, women started wearing them to protect their faces from the rays of the sun. Today, boater hats simply don’t have the same appeal. They don’t compare to modern hat styles that offer more coverage like sun hats and fedoras.
Heeled oxfords – 1930s
ST HELENA, CA - NOVEMBER 15: Actress Shailene Woodley (shoe detail) attends the Variety 10 producers to watch and indie impact presented by Mercedes-Benz at The Culinary Institute of America on November 15, 2014 in St Helena, California. (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images for Variety)
Heeled oxfords were popular in the 1930s, but they aren’t considered a fabulous or attractive footwear choice today. Back then, these shoes were meant to be worn in formal settings. They helped women show their peers how sophisticated and chic they were at that time. These days, heeled oxfords can be swapped out for simple close-toed pumps in a solid color.
Mini bowler hats – 1940s
1944: Stan Laurel (1890 - 1965) and Oliver Hardy (1892 - 1957) prepare to board a small aircraft holding an accordion in a scene from 'The Big Noise'. The film was directed by Mal St Clair for 20th Century Fox. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Typically, people rely on hats to protect their eyes and face from harsh sunlight rays when they’re outside. When mini bowler hats started rising in popularity during the 1940s, they didn’t actually serve a purpose. Their size didn’t allow for any coverage, rendering them sort of… useless. As of now, people only think to wear this hat style as part of a costume.
Bullet brassieres – 1950s
circa 1955: Portrait of American actor Jayne Mansfield, wearing a sleeveless sweater, pointy bra and red shorts, leaning against a wooden post, 1950s. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
During the 1950s, bullet brassieres were considered super trendy among women. These days, most folks only think about bullet brassieres when they think of edgy musicians like Madonna or Katy Perry. They’re known for wearing eccentric stage outfits during their over-the-top performances. Bullet brassieres make a woman’s chest look sharp and pointy! Modern bras offer a more rounded result.
Paisley patterns – 1960s
A blonde woman models a paisley print blouse with a wide belt, c. 1970. (Photo by Leo Vals/Getty Images)
Paisley patterns were all the rage in the 1960s, but they weren’t able to maintain that level of love and admiration as time progressed. Modern fashionistas would certainly raise their eyebrows at a person wearing a paisley-patterned outfit from head to toe. Style-crazed individuals have used words like “tasteless” and “ugly” to describe paisley when discussing pattern options.
Bellbottoms – 1970s
Soul Train dancer during a photo shoot for Right On! magazine, United States, circa 1970s. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Bellbottoms were considered trendy in the 1970s during the hippie movement. Bellbottoms were often made of denim, cotton twill, or linen. These days, pants that have straight legged bottoms or skinny bottoms are more common. If someone wore bellbottoms in public today, fashionistas would definitely raise their eyebrows in judgment.
Parachute pants – 1980s
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Jwan Yosef attends Hammer Museum's 18th Annual Gala in the Garden on October 08, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Hammer Museum)
Parachute pants are slightly similar to bellbottoms aside from one significant detail. They remain billowy from the hip to the ankle – all the way through. Bellbottoms are tighter over the thigh and looser below the knee, which makes parachute pants a tad more dramatic to look at. They were beloved during the 1980s, but not anymore.
Jeans under dresses – 2000s
Wearing jeans under dresses would be a total embarrassment today, but the look was beyond favorable in the early 2000s. Celebrities like Ashley Tisdale, Lindsey Lohan, Miley Cyrus, and Vanessa Hudgens showed up to red carpet events wearing jeans under dresses all the time. These days, people are better off wearing jeans with a T-shirt or dresses with tights.
Crocs – 2010s
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 22: Footwear is offered for sale at a Crocs retail store on July 22, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. Crocs Inc. today reported second-quarter net income of 9 million, topping Wall Street expectations. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
The argument for Crocs is that they’re super comfortable to wear. The argument against them is that they’re horrendously unappealing to look at. Regardless of where your opinions fall on the matter, Crocs were rose to fame throughout the 2010s following their 2002 release. If you choose to wear Crocs today, prepare to be judged by members of the younger generation.
Exposed thongs – 2020s
It’s 2024 now, but the trend of wearing outfits with exposed thongs surfaced in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Some outfits were designed with fake thong-like straps sewn onto skirts or pants. Other times, actual thongs were required to pull off this provocative look. The exposed thong trend was a hot topic just a few short years ago, but it’s no longer considered anything chic or worthwhile. On the topic of recent fashion, click here to uncover 13 fashion trends that defined 2023.