Fashion Trends: Cringe Edition
Iconic fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent once said, “Fashions fade, but style is eternal.” He was right. It happens time and again: You buy what you think is the most fashionable item of clothing and feel current and cool, at least for the time being. Fast-forward five years, and you’re suddenly overcome with remorse when you stumble across a photo of yourself wearing what you thought at the time was possibly the hottest item of clothing you’d ever owned. How on earth could you have thought that you looked good in a dress ruffled from head to toe? Spoiler: you didn’t. Here are six fashion trends we’re seeing all too much of and that we will most certainly regret in years to come.
See-through Boots
It seems fitting to start with a particularly obnoxious trend – in my eyes, anyway. So, without further ado: the see-through boot. These are basically plastic or PVC seethrough, knee-high boots that provide the perfect environment for sweat and itchiness. Perhaps most famously worn by Kim Kardashian, these boots are a prime example of something seen on a celebrity and bought for that reason alone. Unfortunately, it is highly unlikely that we’ll look back on these boots and high-five ourselves. Tiny Sunglasses
The small sunglasses trend first appeared in the 1990s and has recently made a comeback. These sunglasses seem to be getting smaller and smaller and have now reached the point where they simply look like people are stealing children’s glasses. What does need to be said, however, is that some people can pull off these miniscule sunglasses. But for most of us, it’s a big nono. That doesn’t mean you must revert back to the oversized sunglasses trend of the early 2000s. That one was equally as bad.
Dad Sneakers
Last year, chunky, old-school sneakers unexpectedly became stylish. They’re often referred to as “dad sneakers”, and for good reason. They are exactly what they sound like: sneakers your dad would wear while hanging out in the garden or at a sports game with his buddies. Along with baggy jeans and unisex shirts, dad sneakers were a major part of the normcore trend that made its way onto the pages of fashion magazines in recent years. Either way, we are going to seriously regret these sneakers, not to mention the mid-shin socks people are wearing with them. Dads might be great at giving advice, but not of the fashion variety.
Very Ripped Jeans
Alright, a few rips here and there are not too bad. But we’re not talking a little wear in the knees, we’re talking about those jeans that have more ripped out of it than what’s left in. If bought from a high-end designer, these jeans can come with quite a hefty price tag, which makes zero sense. That look your grandmother gives you when you pitch up to a family lunch in ripped jeans? It’s warranted. And her offer to stitch them up is probably the best fashion advice you’ll hear. Crossbody Moon Bags
Ah, the notorious fanny pack. These made a comeback recently, but you can guarantee that in the next few years, they’ll bring nothing but regret and embarrassment. I certainly can’t deny their convenience, but man, these bags are ugly. Moon bags recently saw increasing popularity in the hipster crowd and somehow made their way into mainstream fashion thereafter. They are a prime example of the notion that just because a celebrity made it look cool, doesn’t mean it is. Cycle Shorts
If you’re not planning on going for an actual cycle, stay away from these shorts. This trend is one of those (much like see-through boots) that you never imagined would become a thing. We’re not quite sure who the mastermind being this trend is, but it doesn’t work and whoever’s responsible needs a serious talking to. Aside from high-profile celebrities, bike shorts became particularly popular within the influencer crowd and are often styled with puffer jackets on colder days or blazers for formal occasions. Either way, give these a miss. They’re not as cute as you think.
You get it: Style changes and clothing is one of the most popular forms of selfexpression. During a time where more people are finding their voices and speaking up about things that truly matter, everyone should have the freedom to choose how they present themselves to the world. That being said, a little advice never hurt anyone. We’ve seen it happen time and time again – something that seems highly fashionable at the time, can and will make you cringe a few years later. And the truth is, we are all guilty of falling prey to some pretty horrendous fashion trends. Remember legwarmers in the 80s and tinted sunglasses in the 90s? Some things are better left in the past.