Back in the day, there were plenty of trends that we thought were the absolute coolest like huge shoulder pads & shutter shades. Most of these fads were fun while they lasted. But deep down, we’re kinda glad they’ve stayed in the past! So, here are twelve nostalgic fads that had their moment in the spotlight and why we secretly hope they never come back.
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Massive Shoulder Pads
Back in the ’80s, shoulder pads were everywhere in fashion and they gave each outfit a bold & boxy shape. Why? Because they gave you a powerful look—people wanted to show they were confident! While they definitely caught our attention, most of us don’t want to pad our shoulders with foam again. It looks incredibly dated. And let’s not forget how uncomfortable it was wearing shoulder pads.
Sagging Pants
During the ’90s, sagging pants were a major fashion statement among young people and the trend came from hip-hop culture. It involved wearing your pants way below the waist. Of course, it spread quickly but also became controversial—some places even banned it with dress codes! Given how impractical this trend was & all the fuss it caused, we’re okay with leaving sagging pants in the past.
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JNCO Jeans
Speaking of pants, JNCO jeans took baggy jeans to the extreme. They featured ridiculously wide legs & enormous pockets which made them popular among skateboarders and the rave scene. Rather than practicality, these jeans were meant to make a bold fashion statement. And that they did! These days, hauling around all that extra denim doesn’t seem all that appealing and, if anything, we struggle to believe we ever thought it looked good.
Pet Rocks
During the ‘70s, the Pet Rock was a strange yet popular fad. People bought ordinary rocks packaged in little boxes with breathing holes, pretending they were low-maintenance pets. But all they did was waste their money on plain stones! It did give us a laugh back then, of course. Yet we don’t really need to bring back this odd trend—we have other things to spend our hard-earned cash on.
Slap Bracelets
The late ’80s & early ’90s were when slap bracelets became a huge hit. You simply had to straighten one out and slap it on your wrist—then it would curl snugly into place. We couldn’t get enough of them! However, problems arose when the metal inside started poking through the fabric because this caused injuries, so schools began banning them. Even if you’re not a parent, you’re probably glad this fad has faded away.
Pogs
Pogs were all the rage in the early ’90s. Kids collected these small cardboard discs with various designs, stacking them up & using a heavier “slammer” to flip them over in a game. They were so popular that trading pogs was a big deal on the playground! However, these toys encouraged kids to gamble and you don’t need us to tell you why that’s so bad.
Chain Wallets
If you were a punk or grunge fan in the ‘90s, you just had to have a chain wallet. The wallet was attached to a chain clipped to a belt loop, giving you an edgy look & keeping your cash secure. However, fashion these days has moved toward slimmer styles and digital payments are common. Chain wallets have fallen out of favor—we’re fine with leaving this trend behind.
Ed Hardy Apparel
Ed Hardy clothing was everywhere in the mid-2000s & the brand featured strong, tattoo-inspired designs on T-shirts, hats—and so much more. It was often covered in rhinestones, too! For a while, it seemed like everyone was sporting these flashy graphics but they fell out of favor. It’s not hard to see why. We’d much prefer wearing something more subtle today!
Planking
Around 2010, planking became an internet sensation and people took photos of themselves lying face down in unusual places. The trend went viral because it was quite amusing—at first. Soon enough, it led to dangerous stunts and lost its novelty. As such, most of us agree that planking should stay as a memory from the early days of online challenges. We don’t need people planking off hotel balconies anymore.
Shutter Shades
In 2007, shutter shades emerged but only briefly. These sunglasses had horizontal slats instead of lenses—which made it hard to see & gave us little sun protection. People wore them for the flashy style rather than practicality. Even though they looked cool at parties and concerts, most of us now see how utterly pointless they were. Instead, we prefer shades that actually help us see and protect our eyes.
Velour Tracksuits
The early 2000s saw velour tracksuits becoming the perfect outfit for those times when you wanted to look stylish yet casual. Celebrities wore them constantly—soon enough, everyone was rocking these matching sets in bright colors. Don’t forget the sparkly logos! However, looking back, the head-to-toe velour look was rather dire. In fact, we wish we’d listened to our parents when they told us how bad these looked!
Hair Crimping
In the ’80s and ’90s, crimped hair was hugely popular and people used crimping irons to create tight, zig-zag waves. Sure, it was fun at the time—but all that heat wasn’t great for our hair’s health. It left a lot of people with damaged & frizzy locks. These days, many people would rather have smoother and healthier hair. As such, we’re not keen on reviving the crimped craze.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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