# Why Do Old Things Look So Ridiculous Now? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 17, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-things-look-so-ridiculous-now/317475 "2005-08-17T20:32:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![yo\_no\_se](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b487fb/32.png) [@yo\_no\_se](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yo_no_se)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-things-look-so-ridiculous-now/317475/41 "2005-08-19T20:18:10Z")
I think it’s simply because you don’t see those old styles around anymore that make them seem … so ridiculous. Like flare bell bottoms: they were in, then went out, then came back – looking kinda ridiculous until… you saw them enough. Tight shirts, tight jeans, tight b-ball shorts, etc. VW bugs were lookin kinda funny there for a while – until they came back. The more I see something, the more mainstream it becomes in my mind’s eye… it might be as ridiculous as ever, but seeing it so much… I just look past it. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-things-look-so-ridiculous-now/317475/42 "2005-08-19T21:31:32Z")
[Classic](http://www.cars-on-line.com/21371.html) Except it needs to be pea soup green. And that moviegown link is da bomb! ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-things-look-so-ridiculous-now/317475/43 "2005-08-20T02:54:28Z")
Actually, I think this works both ways. I remember twenty years ago when I was a teenager, and seeing pictures of futuristic concept cars that were all swoopy and aerodynamic and looked like bubbles on wheels, and thinking, “Well \*that \*looks stupid.” But twenty years later, that’s pretty much what we’ve got, and it seems perfectly normal. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-things-look-so-ridiculous-now/317475/44 "2005-08-20T19:33:49Z")
> [@Jim B.](#): > > I’m sure I am not the only person who feels this way. When I look at old styles of clothing, automobiles, etc. they look ridiculous. Oh, sure, they do look dated and from another time. But the strangest thing is, when I see old styles (esp. of automobiles) I can’t help but ask myself, How could these things have **ever** looked normal? In the early thirties (1934) the Air Flow Chrystler was so far ahead of it’s time (modern) that sales were virtually nonexistend. It was taken off the market and the design ideas gradually incorporated into the designs of the following years. ---
**Author:** ![deevee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@deevee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deevee)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-things-look-so-ridiculous-now/317475/45 "2005-08-20T22:01:03Z")
So you’ve seen my ex wife then. I keed you mrs.vee xxx ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-things-look-so-ridiculous-now/317475/46 "2005-08-20T23:06:41Z")
Was the answer to the question, “Ginger or Mary Ann?” the same when _Gilligan’s Island_ was in first run as it is now? Or did the guys all prefer Ginger? I look at Ginger and say, “Eeewwww…” I think teenage girl style now looks a lot better than the teenage girl style when I was a teenager. I’ve been known to quietly scoff at women slightly older than myself who are still running around with Farrah Fawcett hairstyles. Or men slightly older than my father who are still doing that Bryl-Creem thing ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-things-look-so-ridiculous-now/317475/47 "2005-08-21T03:10:12Z")
I get an enormous laugh out of seeing grown men wearing huge baggy shorts that come down to mid calf. And the crooked ball cap is the icing. I would love to see the look on their faces when they see pictures of themselves in about 15 years. _“What was I thinking???”_ ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-things-look-so-ridiculous-now/317475/48 "2005-08-21T04:57:29Z")
> [@Renob](#): > > I guarantee in 25 years people will be asking that about the PT Cruiser. I have a PT Cruiser. People ask that now. The only way for it to look normal is if it’s the first thing you see every day when you walk out of the house. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-things-look-so-ridiculous-now/317475/49 "2005-08-21T05:32:24Z")
> [@jasonh300](#): > > The only way for it to look normal is if it’s the first thing you see every day when you walk out of the house. After a stiff drink. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-things-look-so-ridiculous-now/317475/50 "2005-08-21T05:40:54Z")
> [@spingears](#): > > In the early thirties (1934) the Air Flow Chrystler was so far ahead of it’s time (modern) that sales were virtually nonexistend. > It was taken off the market and the design ideas gradually incorporated into the designs of the following years. Believe it or not, Airflows are _still_ not in great demand compared to other vintage cars of that era. Anyway, they seem reasonably priced vs. say, a '32 Ford V-8. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-things-look-so-ridiculous-now/317475/51 "2005-08-21T06:04:49Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > I get an enormous laugh out of seeing grown men wearing huge baggy shorts that come down to mid calf. And the crooked ball cap is the icing. I would love to see the look on their faces when they see pictures of themselves in about 15 years. _“What was I thinking???”_ Whaddya mean? Are you saying that [this](http://www.larrymudd.com/images/bj.jpg) isn’t the ideal fashion template for an adult male? ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-things-look-so-ridiculous-now/317475/52 "2005-08-21T11:33:46Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > I get an enormous laugh out of seeing grown men wearing huge baggy shorts that come down to mid calf. And the crooked ball cap is the icing. I would love to see the look on their faces when they see pictures of themselves in about 15 years. _“What was I thinking???”_ Yes, I’m actually looking forward to fifteen years from now, when I’m pushing sixty, when I’ll be back to wearing proper short shorts. 😃 [sub]Agree with you about the ball caps, though…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-things-look-so-ridiculous-now/317475/53 "2005-08-22T23:25:20Z")
Check out [these photos of downtown Buffalo street scenes](http://www.wnyheritagepress.org/photos_week_2004/shopping_downtown/shopping_downtown.htm), circa 1962 - especially the last photo. The men shown in those photos, mostly wearing suits, don’t look that different than what you might see today. The ties are narrow, but otherwise they could step into 2005 and not really stand out. Note the lack of hats! All the women, though, look absolutely frumpy as hell. Drop them into 2005, and many will be seen as wearing “old lady clothes.” ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-things-look-so-ridiculous-now/317475/54 "2005-08-23T00:43:10Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Check out [these photos of downtown Buffalo street scenes](http://www.wnyheritagepress.org/photos_week_2004/shopping_downtown/shopping_downtown.htm), circa 1962 - especially the last photo. > > The men shown in those photos, mostly wearing suits, don’t look that different than what you might see today. The ties are narrow, but otherwise they could step into 2005 and not really stand out. Note the lack of hats! > > All the women, though, look absolutely frumpy as hell. Drop them into 2005, and many will be seen as wearing “old lady clothes.” That guy in the middle looks like a Smith! (Or Elrond, I’m not quite sure.) ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-things-look-so-ridiculous-now/317475/55 "2005-08-23T02:43:32Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Check out [these photos of downtown Buffalo street scenes](http://www.wnyheritagepress.org/photos_week_2004/shopping_downtown/shopping_downtown.htm), circa 1962 - especially the last photo. > > The men shown in those photos, mostly wearing suits, don’t look that different than what you might see today. The ties are narrow, but otherwise they could step into 2005 and not really stand out. Note the lack of hats! The lack of hats is not so remarkable to us today as the presence of _any_ hats. I’ve heard it said it was JFK who popularized bareheadedness for businessmen. Look at a picture from 1957 or 1952 and you’d see quite a few more hats. And as for the narrow ties, note that the collars, lapels, pant legs, and most of all the accepted color palette, are also narrow. Finally, although it’s the sixties, it’s not yet The Sixties. Everybody is dressed relatively formally –no jeans, no sneakers, no wild hair, no message-bearing clothing. > [@](#): > > All the women, though, look absolutely frumpy as hell. Drop them into 2005, and many will be seen as wearing “old lady clothes.” I dunno. There’s a sleeveless shift or two that could pass today. But for the most part you’re right – harlequin glasses, spiky heels, and hairspray. And hairspray…! ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-things-look-so-ridiculous-now/317475/56 "2005-08-23T04:34:27Z")
Have you noticed that we’re going back to hats? Between ball caps, skull caps, and toques, we’re all starting to put things on our heads again. Or maybe there never was a time where we stopped wearing caps - they just keep changing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-things-look-so-ridiculous-now/317475.md?page=2)