Even the most stylish people occasionally make a style of faux pas. However, certain fashion trends are so unflattering and widespread that they have earned the status of becoming legendary in their own right. From the leisure suits of the 1970s to the light-up sneakers of the 1990s, some of the worst fashion trends ever are so absurd by today’s standards that it is impossible not to laugh.
Travel back in time with us as we discuss the worst vogue from the year of your birth, beginning in 1940. This Is the “It” Hairstyle the Year You Were Born is another fashion throwback.
1940: Popover Dresses
Since both England and France had joined the war by 1940, American designers were able to take over the global fashion industry. Some, like Claire McCardell, assisted in filling the hole left by the lack of fresh styles coming out of Paris; in the first few years of the 1940s, she invented the popover dress. This wrap dress was intended to be a ready-to-wear utility garment but quickly became a go-to style item all over the nation. You might wonder what makes it so ludicrous. According to a display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, every $7 garment was offered with an oven mitt that fastened with a button.
1942: Siren Suits
Largely as a result of fabric restrictions, World War II had a significant impact on fashion. The majority of clothing was made with that in mind. But safety also played a big part. Introducing the siren suit, a one-piece outfit that could be easily thrown on and run to the closest air raid shelter over clothing or pyjamas. Both men’s and women’s suits were created, and Winston Churchill (seen here) was one of the fashion’s strongest supporters.
1945: Hair Snoods
There was no better way to keep your hair out of your face in the 1940s than with a hair snood. A headscarf might be tied like a snood, as the working woman in this image demonstrates, but they were frequently crocheted (like a nice hairnet). This was the expression of factory-working wives whose husbands were in war. (Ponytail holders, thank God for their innovation.)
1946: Aloha Shirts
Aloha shirts, also known as Hawaiian-style floral print shirts, have origins that go all the way back to the 1920s, and you’ve probably seen them on everyone from Brad Pitt to Elvis over the years. Their true ascent, however, began in the late 1940s and continued through the 1950s. The U.S. military, according to Racked
1947: Propeller Beanies
According to legend, science fiction author and cartoonist Ray Faraday Nelson created a propeller hat for one of his space-dwelling characters as a joke in the summer of 1947. After the cartoon and his helicopter-themed hat were unveiled at a science fiction convention, others quickly ran with the concept. It was distributed across the nation in the late 1940s by a number of organizations, including storied toy manufacturer Mattel. Nelson failed to obtain a patent for his “invention,” and as a result, he received no money from the sales of this shameful and widely adopted trend.
1953: Balloon Sleeves
This ludicrous piece of apparel is thanks to Cristóbal Balenciaga. The balloon jacket, according to The Design Museum, “appeared to stretch the legs and set the face on a type of pedestal,” and was created by the Spanish designer in 1953. Yes, if you ever wished you had a missing neck, this was the 1950s fashion for you.
1958: Trapeze Dresses
By the close of the decade, trapeze dresses—flowing, waistless, triangular garments—seemed contemporary in contrast to the tight hourglass dresses that were fashionable during the 1950s. Here is Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret sporting the silly expression from the Yves Saint Laurent-designed Dior collection from 1958.
1960: Culottes
The pant-skirt combination known as culottes is in and out of fashion like the tides. However, they enjoyed tremendous popularity in the 1960s, particularly as a travel outfit. They were frequently promoted as “playsuits” for adults, as the McCall’s blog observes. Cringe!
1965: Space Age Fashion
It is not surprising that fashion during the middle of the 1960s, when the Space Race was in full swing, reflected the prevailing cultural fixation. A fashion Space Race was started by designers like Pierre Cardin and André Courrèges. In fact, according to W, Courrèges had such a passion for space exploration that NASA even extended an invitation for him to visit Cape Canaveral in Florida. Retro-futuristic styles like leather skirts and suspenders and construction hats with a 23rd-century feel were popular on the runway during the Space Race.
1970: Male Jumpsuits
In the 1970s, jumpsuits were popular regardless of gender and persisted for the entire decade. As this advertisement from The Fifth Season at the time demonstrates, they frequently had the “silhouette of a garage mechanic, a carpenter, an army medic, a home painter,
During that time, the New York Times reported that it was a “pilot.” It’s true that we wish we could simply unsee this “one easy piece.”
1973: Crocheted Everything
“Crochet became popular in the 1960s and 1970s as a form of freeform expression,” according to the Crochet Guild of America. While crocheted carpets and tapestries are still popular today, we find it difficult to imagine wearing crocheted garments.”
1985: Acid-Wash Denim
Denim with an acid wash was undoubtedly in style throughout the 1980s, but it was especially prevalent in the middle of the decade. Today, we’re a little smarter and understand that light jeans might look fine, but pants that have corroded to the point of fading, not so much.
2000: Low-Rise Jeans
Ultra-low-rise jeans were popular in 2000 and, tragically, for a short time afterward, even on Grammy winners the Dixie Chicks (seen above). When it came to denim, the lower the better, especially when paired with safety pin belts and shirts that just touched belly buttons. And right now, according to Glamour, they’re about to come back.
