Expensive Dated Fashion Trends That Aren’t Worth The Investment Today

Average Price: $20*
Era Of Popularity: 2010s

While shapewear may not be the most attractive to look at on its own, it does wonders for the body and is designed for all shapes and sizes. The purpose is not to make anyone look ‘skinnier’ but rather to smooth out natural curves allowing our clothes to fit seamlessly without lumps and bumps. 

Shapewear @Carousel / Pinterest.com | @spanx /Pinterest.com

The founder of Spanx, Sara Blakely, created an empire worth a staggering $1 billion today. Spanx are as popular as ever, which should tell us something about their effectiveness. The successful entrepreneur says her morning routine does not include a coffee, but skipping the caffeine certainly did not have a negative impact on her productivity! 

The reason they are so popular is that they work. Shapewear elevates the look of an outfit without the observer even realizing that this is the reason. Well-fitted garments look instantly more glamorous and chic. By contrast, regardless of the quality of the dress, if it fits poorly it will not look good at all.

Average Price: $6.99*
Era Of Popularity: 1990s

Choker necklaces have a long history and date back to the Renaissance era. They were popular throughout history and brought to the spotlight again in the 1920s. The flapper fashion was all about the short, blunt bob and the choker necklace perfectly complemented the hairstyle.

Chokers @Cosmopolitan / Pinterest.com

More recently it was interpreted as a symbol of rebellion, with angsty 90’s teens wearing velvet chokers rather than the ornate designs of previous years. Natalie Portman from Leon or young Drew Barrymore wore the grunge-inspired trend well. So unless the look you’re going for is angst-ridden 90’s teen, probably best to skip the choker.

Average Price: $19*
Era Of Popularity: 1990s

Who can forget Drew Barrymore, Pamela Anderson and Mariah Carey in the 1990’s with their pencil thin eyebrows. Any of us who were there may have brows that never recovered from the carnage of the 90s brow trend.

Thin Eyebrows ©Olga Ekaterincheva / Shutterstock.com

Today we are at quite the opposite extreme with oftentimes painfully thick eyebrows on trend. There is a legitimate reason why thin brows are less appealing though, and it is about aging. When we get older we naturally lose hair, therefore thicker brows look more youthful. Though let us not get too carried away with that either, shall we?

Average Price: $49*
Era Of Popularity: 1960s

Floral patterns or any bright prints are quite tricky to pull off, especially head to toe. If it were a small amount, for instance, a scarf or a skirt, and the rest of the outfit was neutral it could work. Bright prints should be treated with caution though as they can be overwhelming and unflattering.

Floral Patterns ©Oleg Gekman / Shutterstock.com

As a general rule of thumb, large prints or horizontal stripes make one appear wider. By contrast, vertical lines and small print make one appear slimmer, as does the color black. There is no blanket ban on anything in self-expression, but certain clothing types are more challenging to pull off, and this is one of them. 

Average Price: $19*
Era Of Popularity: 1940s

Unless it is the absolute dead of winter and the only other option is to freeze, a turtle neck should be avoided at all costs. Totally distorting the body proportions, they create an almost ‘bobble head’ appearance while accentuating the jawline, which is not a good look.

Turtlenecks ©Victoria Chudinova / Shutterstock.com

Though as with all fashion, it is not a matter of one size fits all. The clothes that suit us best depend entirely on our proportions. So, for a person who is very tall, a turtleneck can be very flattering. Though for a person who is shorter, the turtleneck will only make the proportions even shorter.

One should aim to elongate the neck and body, which is impossible when a large woolly piece of fabric is swallowing your neck. A more elegant option for winter is a silk or cashmere scarf. Both fabrics are chic and soft while keeping the wearer warm and snug, and looking chic. 

Average Price: $60*
Era Of Popularity: 2000s

Over the years Crocs have been both the most adored and the most despised shoe of the times. We have seen so many celebrity endorsements from Justin Bieber wearing his own design to Priyanka Chopra who is their brand ambassador and even little Prince George sporting a pair back in 2015.

Crocs ©Haelen Haagen / Shutterstock.com

Balenciaga created a platform pair of Crocs and sent them down the runway causing a frenzy amongst conflicted fashion followers. Devoted fans rushed out to purchase a pair at a staggering $900, proving that fashion and beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. Or perhaps the takeaway here is: Get a popular brand or influencer and you can sell just about anything.

Average Price: $149*
Era Of Popularity: 1960s

While Chanel had a heavier version of the jersey dress in the ’20s and ’30s, the look wasn’t mainstream until the swinging ’60s. Mods embraced the look, with icons like Twiggy cementing it into our fashion history books. The jersey dress still has a place in modern fashion, though one should beware.

Jersey Dresses @barnonecountry / Pinterest.com

The fabric can be clingy and somewhat unflattering, and the length of a classic jersey dress cuts one off at the knees. A more flattering fabric is high-quality cotton or silk, which will sit beautifully on the body, accentuating the natural curves without sticking or bulging.

If a jersey dress is to be worn, one could consider using the shapewear discussed above. This is a great example of how the smoothing effect of shapewear can elevate a look. The idea is to smooth, rather than to remove any shapeliness. To accentuate our natural shape, rather than to change it.

Average Price: $29*
Era Of Popularity: 2010s

Cargo shorts, or dad shorts, are the go-to for men during the warmer months. The message they send is ‘I threw this on without much thought and I have a lot of pockets to do important things. Typically these Cargo shorts are paired with some kind of flip flops and scruffy T-shirt which could also use an upgrade. 

Cargo Shorts @vinischaumkel / Pinterest.com

Also known as ‘purse pants’, it is understood that in contrast to the lack of pockets women experience in clothes design, men experience a lack of man-purse (murse) options. Today, designers have made available a wide variety of men’s purses that look much more elegant than loads of bulgy pockets.

Perhaps a message which would be better received would be more like ‘I take pride in my appearance and practice self-care’. This could be achieved by wearing a more fitted option, such as jeans or shorts which fit the leg nicely without so many bulgy pockets. Add a well-fitted shirt and some leather sandals and we are good to go! 

Average Price: $399*
Era Of Popularity: 2010s

Cara Delevingne famously broke the dress code at the royal wedding of Princess Eugenie in 2018. The dress code was formal and strict, as one would expect from a royal wedding. Men were to arrive in suits and women in a day dress with a hat, however, the supermodel arrived in a fitted suit with a top hat.

Oversized Blazers ©Creative Lab / Shutterstock.com

Today we are seeing the resurgence of the power suit in women’s fashion. Often worn with matching bold colors and a tank top, today’s socialites are embracing the traditionally masculine fashion. It can be interpreted in many ways and worn in a totally personalized fashion.

There is nothing that says power like a woman in a suit. A suit makes a statement and we love a statement, though one might want to wear a fitted blazer rather than an oversized one. If it is too large, one runs the risk of disappearing, which when wearing a power item like this one, is not the objective. 

Average Price: $59*
Era Of Popularity: 2000s

Warner Bros. recently remade the film The Witches which was originally based on a book by Roald Dahl. If you read this book as a child it might be quite surprising how dark the story really is when re-experiencing it as an adult. The image of the witches’ square toes stuck with many of us as children and are as frightening today as ever. 

Square Toed Shoes @GQ / Youtube.com

Perhaps this is where the visceral dislike of square-toed shoes originates from. Or perhaps it is simply because they are not flattering at all, rather they are clunky and unnatural. Either way, this look is one that can definitely be left around the corner, away from our feet. 

In general, fashion aims to create a soft silhouette while remaining bold and powerful. The square-toed shoe is not only unnatural but also does not lend itself to any kind of elegance. Today we do see the trend leaning towards bulky soles and shapes, though still very much rounded at the toe.

Average Price: $59*
Era Of Popularity: Timeless

Jeans are an article of clothing that exists only in extremes. Either they’re very flattering or not flattering at all. These are examples of the latter, where the jeans do nothing at all for the natural curves, creating a boxy, square shape. 

Mom Jeans @girlgamrr / Twitter.com | @Carousell /Pinterest.com

The slightly higher waist is flattering on the more shapely body as it doesn’t cut the body across the waistline like the old, low waist Britney Spears 90’s jeans did. Though while the waist should be higher, the legs should fit nicely, not too tight but if they are too loose they give the impression that the body is disappearing in the jeans.

Levi’s have created over 16 different fits, and there are many resources online which assist in finding the right fit for your shape. The best thing to do though with jeans is to go into a store and try them on. The first thing is they have to feel great, and then they should look flattering too. There is no reason to look like a square.

Average Price: $29*
Era Of Popularity: 1960s

It would not be fair to put a blanket ban on long skirts as a general rule. They can be very beautiful and flattering if worn correctly and on certain body shapes. For example, shorter people should avoid the floor-length skirt as it will just shorten their shape more. However, shorter people can wear three-quarter-length skirts or knee-length skirts without the same problem. 

Long Skirts ©Ollyy / Shutterstock.com

Shoes can be a tricky issue with long skirts. In the summer it’s fairly simple as a long skirt looks lovely with a sandal. But in the winter it becomes more hit and miss, as a bulky shoe can look strange, depending on the skirt and of course the shoe itself.

The other consideration is what to pair it with. When wearing a long skirt, one should aim to create length in the body, so they should avoid turtle necks for example. The reason they are on this list though is that they are tricky and come with a warning: They might not be flattering unless worn correctly. 

Average Price: $29*
Era Of Popularity: 1930s

The key is in the silhouette, so if one chooses to wear a cardigan, it is more flattering when it is waist length rather than thigh-length. A thigh-length cardigan will have a rectangle shape from the back, which is not flattering.

Cardigans ©Maria Svetlychnaja / Shutterstock.com

One can also elevate a cardigan with an elegant shirt collar. The risk with a cardigan is that it could look very childish, so the aim is to elevate the look. This can also be achieved with jewelry, as well as well-fitted jeans or trousers.

Perhaps with the addition of a belt, it could work, cinching the waist and creating an hourglass shape. One should consider their shape and what works best for that shape. With form-fitting clothes under the cardigan, it can look flattering. However, if everything is loose, the overall look becomes frumpy.

Average Price: $20*
Era Of Popularity: 1950s and 1960s

The Capri pants highlight the midsection, while cutting it shorter. This creates a short and wide appearance, even when the wearer might not be either short nor wide. One would want trousers that reach at least the ankle, and/ or are more fitted as these are traditionally somewhat loose. 

Capri Pants @fashionforwomen658 / Pinterest.com

Popularized in the ’50s and ’60s and named after the Italian isle of Capri, these were worn by icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. While we can admire their stunning beauty with a sense of nostalgia for times past, some fashions are better left there, in the past. 

Today’s trousers are more fitted and take inspiration from suit pants. The power suit image is very modern and easy to apply to most body shapes well. With trousers, it is always best to shop in-store when possible as the fit is so dependent on small details. It is very hard to select well-fitted trousers online.