We look back every decade and cringe at what we once wore, but somehow, some of the most atrocious trends come back and never seem to disappear. From health issues like corsets to fashion uncertainty of dresses over trousers, the repeating pattern of fashion can be less of a blessing and more of a curse.
You may have seen skinny jeans land someone in the hospital with compartment syndrome? Fashion is not just about individual expression; it shapes our culture, influences our health, and sometimes, drives us crazy. Let’s break down the nine worst fashion trends of every decade that should never return.
1.1900s—Corsets
The corset, then the epitome of femininity, was a torture device disguised as beauty. Women squeezed themselves into these dresses so tightly that they risked internal organ injury, cracked ribs, and fainting attacks. Enjoying an hourglass figure in exchange for cramp pain and long-term health issues was the price to pay.
We know these dangers, but the modern waist trainer evokes a distressing nostalgia. The lesson: no appearance is worth sacrificing your body’s well-being. Corsets are an anachronism to leave behind, a reminder not to let beauty ideals override basic human comfort and well-being.
2.1910s—The Hobble Skirt
The hobble skirt, which restrained women, is fashion’s occasional failure to note practicality. The floor-length, highly restrictive skirts made their wearers move at a snail’s pace, the opposite of the increased independence women were fighting for at the time.
Imagine trying to get around on public transit or get the groceries done in clothing designed to hinder you. This style is an agonizing reminder that where aesthetics trump functionality, the result is not just irritation—it’s a step back for progress. The legacy of the hobble skirt is one of foolishness, not elegance.
3. 1920s—Bathing Suit Dresses
Early 20th-century swimsuits had nothing to do with swimming and everything to do with modesty, leading to “bathing suit dresses” constructed out of cumbersome taffeta. These impractical numbers made swimming virtually impossible, endangering wearers with the possibility of drowning.
The irony is biting: a swimsuit designed to inhibit swimming. The trend shows how societal norms can trump sense, focusing on appearances rather than safety. Luckily, swimwear has advanced far since, but the moral of the tale remains: fashion must not jeopardize lives for modesty’s sake. Bringing back such fashion would be going backward, not back in the spotlight.
4. 1960s—Paper Dresses
Paper dress frenzy dominated the fashion world during the 1960s with promises of cheapness and newness. These disposable garments, offered for sale by companies such as Scott Paper Company, were to be used once and then discarded.
Although unconventional, they were highly flammable and environmentally destructive, foreshadowing the throwaway culture that plagues us today (Smithsonian Magazine, 2017). The paper dress was a fleeting anomaly that highlighted the dangers of prioritizing convenience and novelty over safety and accountability.
Its brief popularity is a chilling reminder: disposable fashion is never actually disposable; someone, somewhere, always pays the price.
5. 1970s—Bell-Bottoms and Disco Disasters
The 1970s disco era brought bell-bottoms so wide they were a tripping hazard, ugly patterns, and synthetic materials that clung to the body and made the wearer hot and sweaty. Nostalgia recalls these trends as fun, but the reality was often hot and uncomfortable.
The environmental impacts of mass-produced polyester also began to surface, foreshadowing today’s issues with sustainability. Bringing back these trends would be disregarding their practical shortcomings and ecological effects. Occasionally, what is in the past must remain so for good reason.
6. 1980s—Shoulder Pads and Neon Nightmares
The 1980s were an era of excess, including shoulder pads that caused wearers to resemble linebackers rather than executives, and neon hues that veered on visual assault. These trends expressed power and confidence, but too frequently resulted in cartoonish silhouettes and sensory overload.
The psychological toll? A generation that confused volume with authority and visibility with value. As we trend toward more understated expressions of identity, the 80s remind us that bigger isn’t always better and that subtlety can be far more potent.
7. 1990s—Grunge Layering and Unconventional Pairings
The 1990s grunge look, full of flannel shirts, torn jeans, and spaghetti-strap dresses over T-shirts, was a rebellion against tradition. Not all experiments, however, aged well. Dresses over jeans or bike shorts as a daily look now appear confused rather than groundbreaking.
These combinations, once cutting-edge, now appear contrived and impractical. Fashion exists on reinvention, but some experiments are best left in the footnote of history, not as templates moving forward.
8.2000s—Von Dutch Hats and Denim Disasters
The early 2000s were a minefield of bad choices: Von Dutch trucker hats, uber-distressed denim, and side-lacing jeans. These had nothing to do with fashion and everything to do with branding and shock value.
The result? Styles that were uncomfortable, unflattering, and instantly dated. The rapid cycle of micro-trends fueled the rise of fast fashion, leading to its disastrous environmental and social consequences. Revisiting these looks would mean repeating mistakes we should by now be wise enough to avoid making.
9. 2010s—Extreme Cut-Outs and “Naked” Dresses
Extreme cut-outs and the so-called “naked” dress trend were popularized in the 2010s, with celebrities employing them to shock on red carpets and social media. Though billed as liberating, these items routinely reinforced unattainable body ideals and allowed for little comfort or functionality.
Research has determined that these trends can potentially damage self-esteem, particularly for younger viewers (Grabe, Ward, & Hyde, 2008). The fantasy of empowerment is only that a fantasy when style requires exposure at the cost of confidence and authenticity, the lesson: empowerment by choice, not coercion, and comfort, not conformity.
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