Let’s be honest: we’ve all succumbed to a few trends we now regret. I may not have been as bad as “I saw Cady Heron wearing army pants and flip flops, so I bought army pants and flip flops,” but I was the proud owner of sequined bags, Happy Bunny slogan shirts, and Gaucho pants. (I type this as I sneak a peek at my back-of-the-closet trend pile from past years that inspired this post.)
As much as I regret partaking in these trends, I learned a lot from my fashion mishaps: my mother can and will blackmail me with documented evidence. But now, with the new year in mind, I decided it was time to revisit some of those trends that I participated in back in the day.
Here, I’ll share five of my biggest trend regrets in the hopes that you’ll share yours with me. Scroll down to see them all:
Table of Contents
1. Crocs
Product Information: Shoes – Crocs
I understand that the Classic Crocs are comfortable, but I fail to see why I felt the need to have a small collection. We’re going to ignore the fact that I owned four pairs, and we’re definitely not going to talk about the sheer number of shoe charms I had for said pairs.
Despite the ease of slipping them on and knowing that even Conor Kennedy wears them, I have to say I’m glad that this trend has run its course, and I don’t have to suffer another summer with Croc tan lines.
2. Feathers
Product Information: Left to right – Metropark, Metropark, and ASOS
Did this start with feather earrings? Or was it feather extensions? I realized this got out of hand after girls on campus seemed to have more feathers than hair on their heads.
However, when I finally decided to join the “cool” kids at school and get a feather extension, my guy friends had the decency to squawk and ask me when my bird transformation would be complete. Aghast, I took scissors to my hair that night. To this day, I’m thankful that, unlike my Croc phase, my mother doesn’t have photo evidence of my so-called bird transformation.
3. Denim Mini-Skirts with Leggings
Product Information: Skirt – Hollister, Leggings – Madewell
Did anyone else go through the Abercrombie and Hollister phase? I’m guilty, but that’s a story for a different day. I’m still in shock that my fifth grade self, along with the rest of my female classmates, found it appropriate to spend forty dollars on a brand-name skirt that we all easily outgrew within a few months.
My mid-calf legging collection was also slightly obsessive: I owned practically every color under the rainbow, but really only wore navy, gray, and white. I shudder to think how my legs survived that winter!
4. Harem Pants
Product Information: Left to right – Farfetch, H&M, and Tilly’s
As much as I cringe at Justin Bieber’s diaper butt in these pants, I have to admit that harem pants are extremely comfortable (and can, in rare cases, look pretty cool). After trying on my first pair in stores, I somehow ended up buying three pairs of what the saleswoman swore were different styles.
I figured out what she meant when I was running behind for school one morning: the crotches were at different lengths. I somehow managed to pick the ones that hit my knee and wear them to school. As comfortable as they were, after countless questions of “can you keep my notebook in your pants for me?” I decided they belonged in the back of my closet.
5. Platform Flip-flops
Product Information: Left to right – Victoria’s Secret and Aeropostale
If you’re a petite girl like me, you can understand that any form of additional height is always a plus. I discovered platform flip-flops in elementary school when my friend wore a pair, and I knew I had to invest.
Did I forget to mention that I was an extremely clumsy child? You know the only way this can end is in embarrassment; my brief stint with these shoes resulted in an almost-twisted ankle, a completely quiet lunchroom, and my tray exploding everywhere. It’s safe to say where they ended up when I got home.
Thoughts?
What’s the biggest cringe-worthy fashion trend you participated in? Did you try any of the trends I mentioned above? Leave a comment and let us know what you think!
Is it bad that I actually still like harem pants? :/ I own a few pairs and find that they’re more stylish than just throwing on a pair of sweats when I feel like having a lazy day.