# Worst fashion trend? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 29, 2014, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904 "2014-08-29T19:22:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/104 "2014-10-01T20:22:42Z")
Ah, the early 90’s. I was lookin’ good. Stonewashed jeans. (also acid-washed GREEN jeans) Zubaz pants, MC Hammer style Reebok pump high tops. Mullet. I.O.U. sweatshirts. Z. Cavaricci dress pants with two sets of beltloops, worn french-rolled. Jeans must ALWAYS be french rolled, only dorks would leave them hanging down by your shoes. Cross-colors shirts. Shaved lines in the sides of my hair. Thankfully the grunge movement came along and I switched to a skater cut and big flannel shirts. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/105 "2014-10-01T20:52:01Z")
[Velour shirt.](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2qPRxDxARm4/R5EejsoePQI/AAAAAAAAB4w/d-gL8o3Kqvs/s400/Will%2BFerrell-150x150.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/106 "2014-10-01T21:09:42Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > Low-rise jeans with high-rise whale-tail thong showing at the back when you bend down. I’ll admit I’m guilty. > > Sport bra worn under overalls. Are you male or female? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/107 "2014-10-01T22:43:10Z")
The dreaded “mall claw”. I think I went through a bottle of hairspray a week. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/108 "2014-10-01T23:28:02Z")
I wear corduroy pants almost every day to work. A co-worker noticed and said, “Hey, I remember those! Did you get them at some vintage clothing store?” ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/109 "2014-10-01T23:33:31Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > In junior high school in the 60s, we wore poncho shirts. I can’t find an image, but they had pointy hems at the bottom so they were designed to be worn untucked. Which violated our school’s dress code, dammit. > > In the 70s there were [qiana shirts](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R0gIxAIPpQs/T1m5zms_jxI/AAAAAAAAALo/pb4G61Obsxs/s1600/727-2031.jpg) and [double knit suits](https://www.thehenryford.org/exhibits/pic/2004/leisure/outfitentire_sm.jpg) and [platform shoes](http://endangeredclothing.com/sites/default/files/plats1.jpg). Qiana! I’ve always wondered what that stuff was called. I had a blouse in navy blue covered in flying birds. Ditto on the poncho top, with fringe of course. And cotton gauze tops with embroidery around the neckline. I also wore some sort of netting scarf/bolo thing with wooden beads big enough to count as weapons on each end. Could also be worn as a sash if desired. And let’s not forget the PVC jacket that totally didn’t resemble leather at all. I need to burn some pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/110 "2014-10-02T17:16:14Z")
Another I didn’t participate in, but was all the rage when I was in high school: jeans with lots of rips and holes in them. I watched one girl spend her free time in class tearing small holes in her jeans all up the legs. My uncle was a big gun collector and was a frequent hangout at a gun range. He said some teenagers showed up and wanted to shoot their jeans with a shotgun for the blast pattern. ---
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/111 "2014-10-02T18:13:47Z")
I don’t know if this was just a Long Island thing but in the late 70s, early 80s, all the girls were wearing [Capezio dance shoes.](http://www.zappos.com/capezio-daisy-ballet-pink?zlfid=191&ref=pd_brand_page_t) Then you had to take them to a cordwainer to put real soles on them. Ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/112 "2014-10-02T18:16:04Z")
> [@Foxy40](#): > > I don’t know if this was just a Long Island thing but in the late 70s, early 80s, all the girls were wearing [Capezio dance shoes.](http://www.zappos.com/capezio-daisy-ballet-pink?zlfid=191&ref=pd_brand_page_t) Then you had to take them to a cordwainer to put real soles on them. Ridiculous. > [@](#): > > A cordwainer is a shoemaker who makes fine soft leather shoes and other luxury footwear articles. The word is derived from “cordwain”, or “cordovan”, the leather produced in Córdoba, Spain. I did not know that. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/113 "2014-10-02T18:21:43Z")
> [@Foxy40](#): > > I don’t know if this was just a Long Island thing but in the late 70s, early 80s, all the girls were wearing [Capezio dance shoes.](http://www.zappos.com/capezio-daisy-ballet-pink?zlfid=191&ref=pd_brand_page_t) Then you had to take them to a cordwainer to put real soles on them. Ridiculous. An early 70s thing, too. I loved them, wore them for years and even got married in them. Never knew anyone who put soles on them, though. ---
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/114 "2014-10-02T18:25:42Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > An early 70s thing, too. I loved them, wore them for years and even got married in them. Never knew anyone who put soles on them, though. How did you wear them outside without soles? Seems dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/115 "2014-10-02T18:29:50Z")
I mainly wore hand-me-downs so I missed pretty much all trends. Except tie-dyed tee-shirts. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/116 "2014-10-02T18:30:31Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by Soylent Juicy > Low-rise jeans with high-rise whale-tail thong showing at the back when you bend down. I’ll admit I’m guilty. > > Sport bra worn under overalls. > [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > Are you male or female? Female. That was when I was around 26. The thought of some dude showing a whale-tail…_shudder_. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/117 "2014-10-02T18:35:23Z")
> [@Foxy40](#): > > How did you wear them outside without soles? Seems dangerous. Well, I remember that I replaced them a lot. I think I even wore them in winter (but what with the whole hippie bare feet thing in the summer, it was a definite upgrade). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/118 "2014-10-02T18:54:34Z")
> [@seal\_cleaner](#): > > I wear corduroy pants almost every day to work. A co-worker noticed and said, “Hey, I remember those! Did you get them at some vintage clothing store?” Where did this idea that corduroy pants are some ancient thing thing that don’t exist anymore come from? Cords are sold at plenty of clothing stores. [http://www.gap.com/browse/search.do?searchText=cords](http://www.gap.com/browse/search.do?searchText=cords) ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/119 "2014-10-02T19:08:16Z")
It was the best of '80s, it was the worst of '80s… Mullet, unlaced high-top sneakers, over-sized gaudy-patterned buttoned shirts, acid-wash jeans, bandanna tied to the leg, bolo tie, Ray-bans. I basically dressed like a John Hughes movie extra for most of my teen years. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/120 "2014-10-02T19:11:04Z")
Turtleneck sweaters when I was in high school, late '60s. Only on special occasions, though, and I was thin. Then in college, really long hair. What was I thinking? I wore lots of other weird stuff back then but not from participating in any trend, just from being weird, ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/121 "2014-10-03T03:07:20Z")
I was in high school in the mid-90s, during the “grunge” era, so I wore a lot of flannel, like pretty much everyone else. I don’t think THAT counts as a bad fashion trend, fortunately. (And I outgrew the mall-claw by that time) I wore overalls, long sweaters over leggings, babydoll dresses with boots, that sort of thing. However, I did wear the body suit (which actually looked quite nice and slimming, although they gave you a hell of a wedgie!) Also, spiral perms were still in style, as well as belly chains (remember them?). ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/122 "2014-10-03T13:12:58Z")
Mid-1970’s: Powder blue leisure suit; silk shirt (unbuttoned to the navel, with front and back prints depicting a cluster of grapes that transform into glass spheres containing red wine, that shatter toward the tip, spilling the wine); black & white patent leather platform shoes; large blue-tint aviator glasses; turquoise puka shell necklace with large silver bear claw in front. Yes, I know what you’re thinking: _“that sounds like a totally awesome outfit!_” And, you’re right. On reflection, that wasn’t my worst fashion statement, it was my best. I Boogie Oogie Ogoied with some mighty foxy ladies back in the day. I still have that outfit in storage…and I’m newly re-singled again. So… …where’s the closest disco (preferably with a mechanical bull)? Ladies, once I get my pants let out a significant number of inches and find hair extensions for my shag-mullet doo and mutton chops, look out—Tibby’s back on the prowl! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904/123 "2014-10-03T13:22:56Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > I basically dressed like a John Hughes movie extra for most of my teen years. Best description ever. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-fashion-trend/696904.md?page=7)