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Following a new, hot-of-the-press trend can be extremely enticing. Our need to fit in and belong is perhaps the main reason why. And let’s face it, making a fun little video to a viral song or updating your wardrobe with the latest fashion craze can give us the dash of serotonin we desperately need to get through the day.
But fads come and go, leaving us cringing at our old photos sporting frosted tips or grinning in a room decked out with Beanie Babies. Recently, millennials have been posting about the weird trends they've been a part of that don’t look as ‘dope’ today as they did back then.
Fancy a nostalgic throwback? Then all you have to do is scroll down!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Defying Gravity Below the Waist
I know the young kids have hated on millennials for their skinny jeans but mf you should have SEEN how baggy the pants were in the late 90s/early 2000s.
RELATED:
#2
Flip Flop Philosophy
Jeans so long the bottoms were just tatters. Was a weird matter of pride how destroyed your pants were.
ButImNot_Bitter_ replied:
And god forbid it was slightly damp outside. You were soaked up to your knees.
#3
Overalls With An Attitude
I remember when bib overalls were fashionable but you were lame if you actually fastened both straps. I remember my grandma calling it hillbilly air conditioning.
What often drives us to adopt popular behaviors is the desire to fit in and be accepted by our peers. Humans are social creatures, and the need for approval is deeply ingrained in our nature. Following trends and keeping up with them fosters a sense of community among people who have similar interests and preferences and can provide a sense of comfort.
There’s also the fear of missing out (FOMO). In a fast-paced and advanced society, individuals may feel pressured to jump on the latest fad to avoid being left out or disconnected from current events. Social media magnifies this by constantly pushing new trends that people would want to imitate and experience.
#4
Low-Rise, High Drama
Whale tail: where your thong was visible above the waistband of your low-rise jeans.
#5
Smile Hiding Secrets
I have a tribal tramp stamp and waxed my eyebrows so thin they've never been the same. Good times.
Little Wonder 1 year ago
Yep, I know women to this day with basically no eyebrows due to overplucking/waxing in the 90s.
#6
Ready, Set, Quirky
Frosted boy band tips. I'm not proud.
Ovata Acronicta 1 year ago
This is something that definitely needs to stay back in 2000 and not appear again. Even just the little wiry spikes without the frosty...no.
However, this comes at a cost. And no, we’re not talking about you cringing at your photos sporting chunky highlights, but rather about the negative consequences it has on society and the environment.
With so many trends coming and going, the number of times an item of clothing is worn has gone down by around 36% in the last 15 years. It was found that the average American consumer throws out 81.5 lbs. of clothes each year, of which 66% end up in landfills, taking decades to decompose. Such wastefulness is not only a big problem for the environment but also causes rising amounts of textile waste.
#7
Collar Game Strong
Two polos…with both collars popped. I’m ashamed. 🤦🏽♂️.
John Mosley 1 year ago
I appreciate the popped collar(s) especially with a fedora. I appreciate them showing me they're an asshat before I waste time talking to them.
#8
Denim Gone Wild
JNCO jeans. My largest pair had a 69 inch wide leg. I won an award for having the largest pant legs ever.
#9
Luck Wears Flames
Those shiny button down shirts in bright colors like lime green that everyone wore for a while. Frosted tips. Those bowling shirts with flames on them. There was a time when I was for all intents and purposes, Guy Fieri.
Michael None 1 year ago
Having been in my teens and early 20's in the late 1990's early 2000's I can honestly say that Guy Fieri was never a fashion icon. That was just you.
The need to be “in vogue” can additionally be harmful to our emotional state, leaving us dissatisfied every time we struggle to keep up with the latest fad. People may start feeling insecure when the fashion craze changes and we no longer get validation from imitating others.
It also limits personal growth and independent critical thinking, as people miss opportunities to improve and uncover their unique abilities when they concentrate on copying others.
#10
Vintage Tech Revival
TYpiNg lyke DiS. What was I thinking? Thank goodness there’s no records of my communications from high school.
#11
Pants With Attitude
Lace-up low-rise pants. There is a picture of 16-year-old me wearing jeans with an orange lace-up fly that I modified myself, and it is terrible. I thought I was so cute ugh.
troufaki13 1 year ago
I was always very self-conscious about my mid-section so I never wear low rise pants.
#12
Edgy Vibes Only
Those plastic choker necklaces and chunky highlights.
However, it’s possible to find a healthy balance by using caution when following trends. This can be done by focusing on an individual’s unique style, interests, values, and goals and adopting popular behaviors that really fit and resonate with their personal view.
#13
Status Update Vibes
Facebook statuses being song lyrics about your mood. Basically we went from moody away messages, moody MySpace post, to moody Facebook post.
Ovata Acronicta 1 year ago
Memories allows me to see back into the time when Facebook was set up in such a way that it would make sense to talk about yourself in third person.
#14
Fashionably Casual Standout
Jeans under dresses 😩.
#15
Old School Social Check-In
Posting albums with hundreds of photos on Facebook. Here's every millisecond of the past weekend everyone! Enjoy!
#16
PrincessAintPeachy reply
For me, it's *I can has cheeseburger* way of talking.
#17
MartialBob reply
Tribal tattoo.
Mila Sliacka 1 year ago
Looking back tribals had expiration date written all over them. It was only one of my tattoos that I got covered.
#18
Wise-Strength-3289 reply
Weird pointless asymmetry being the only cool way to wear anything. Wearing your backpack on one shoulder only instead of both because that's for nerds (my poor back!). Wearing your belt with the buckle waaay off to the side. Side bangs. Side ponytails. Baseball cap backwards and off-center.
Amanda Rose 1 year ago
I always wore my backpack on only one shoulder. Never realized that was a fad/issue. It was just what was comfortable and allowed for getting it on/off quickly.
#19
Statement Piece Vibes
Gaucho pants and those wide circle belts 😭.
#20
Classic Sarcasm Mode On
The long sleeve shirt under the short sleeve shirt look 😂.
#21
PatMenotaur reply
Clear, neon colored furniture. I either ordered mine from the Delia's catalog, or bought it at Spencer's, in the mall. I'd buy a chair, blow it up, it would last 2 weeks, and I'd be out there buying another one. The "Big Blowup Chair" industry had me by the throat. Lingerie as a shirt. TY Paris Hilton Mini denim skirt, leggings, and ballet flats.
#22
Spike Style Goals
Puka shell necklaces or spiky hair probably.
#23
Pocket Secrets Revealed
Sweat bands on the wrist, the chain wallet, and safety pins everywhere.
#24
Casual Confidence Zone
Getting my belly button pierced 🤦♀️ my mom was right that the hole never goes away.
Aliaksadr Lukauski 1 year ago
Holes dont go away? I thought they would "grow away". Guess not everywhere
#25
smooshee99 reply
Sun-in.
WillingnessOk1797:
My gateway drug to being blonde. But also made me think my untoned, box bleached hair later in college looked good bc i was used to the orange from sun in.
After-Leopard:
I can smell this comment.
#26
Energy Saving Mode
I planked at the summit of Mt kilimanjaro in 2011 when it was cool. Unfortunately its the only photo of me at the summit.
Lydsylou (she/her) 1 year ago
That was such an entertaining trend though! I never participated but scrolling through pictures of people planning on bins or car rooves was always so entertaining for some reason
#27
Ok_Abrocoma_2805 reply
Skater aesthetic despite not being able to skateboard whatsoever 😂 I was obsessed with Blink-182 and pop punk and wore mostly brands like Hurley, Vans, Quicksilver and wanted my mom to buy my clothes from Pac Sun and Hot Topic. The “t-shirt over a long-sleeve shirt,” puka shell necklaces, and studded and seatbelt belts were frequent parts of my wardrobe. What I really wanted was a “skater” boyfriend. I lived in fear of being called a “poser.”.
Lydsylou (she/her) 1 year ago
I also can't skate but I do love the aesthetic and sometimes wear it anyway!
#28
Glitter Goals Unlocked
The body glitter fad.
ElfVibratorGlitter 1 year ago
I wish this would come back. I must have been a crow in a former life because I love love love all things shiny and sparkly. Kinda have a thing for glitter.
#30
Badge Bling Rules
All the band buttons on my corduroy vans bag. I recently found it 20 years later and it’s such an artifact.
CrazyKnitter 1 year ago
I thought this was still a thing. Just enamel pins mostly, not the round ones?
#31
malphonso reply
Backwards pants for Kriss Kross.
#32
crocodile_in_pants reply
Tamagotchi. I didn't even have the real thing. I had some happy meal knock off. Still wasted time on that instead of my gameboy.
Annik Perrot 1 year ago
I remember being "in charge" of them while my kids were at school. As if it was not enough to have 4 kids to keep fed, watered, clean and rested. Was glad when the fad went away... but not à single tamagotchi died on my watch! 😇
#33
Vintage Blog Vibes
LiveJournal. I found my old one once which I thought had been lost to time and had the worst cringe I’ve ever experienced.
#34
Astarkraven reply
Those braided rope bracelets that shrunk around your wrist and that you didn't take off for a few months until it got nasty enough and then you cut it off? Yeah, I loved those 😆.
#35
Bigbubbajenkins reply
I’d roll my socks down into my shoes to create ankle socks because my lame parents wouldn’t buy me ankle socks.
Display_Name 1 year ago
Mine wouldn't either so as an adult I skipped the ankle socks and went straight to no-show socks.
#36
Classic Dreaded Selfie Angle
That unspeakable moment in history where every white person was suddenly emo.
#37
Visible but Unseen
I wore the livestrong bracelet but I (hipster voice) wore it before most people because my family are big cycling enthusiasts and we’ve always watched the Tour. So we were already very familiar with Lance Armstrong and supporting him(remember this was before s**t came out) so I was like the first person I knew to have a livestrong bracelet and I wore it for many, many years. Lowkey I wish I still had it for nostalgia sake.
Probably the dumbest fad I engages in was taking edgy MySpace photos lmao. I would go to like, some abandoned construction site or an old building or something “grungy” looking and stand around taking pics at that sky-high MySpace angle lmaooo. The angle where you’re bent over so we see your face huge and then lil legs dangling out below… good times.
#38
lettucepatchbb reply
Any diet. Not worth it and definitely not worth my mental health.
CrazyKnitter 1 year ago
My mom would jump on diets like they were lifeboats. Scarred me for life. I am extremely skeptical about any diets.
#39
Tie Game Energy
Wearing a tie with t-shirts a la avril lavigne 🙃 also popping the collar on my polo shirts (we had to wear them for our school uniform, it was my attempt at being ~fashionable with it).
CrazyKnitter 1 year ago
I love the tie with the tee and vest. Still one of my favorite fashion trends.
#40
LabExpensive4764 reply
I bought a shake weight. Lol.
#41
hannahmel reply
Baby doll dresses. I loved them!
#42
BrashPop reply
At the end of grade 9 I was SUPER HARD into the 60s/70s revival stuff going around. We all made our jeans into bell bottoms by sewing in side panels, we watched Brady Bunch and The Monkees, the Beatles, the Doors, etc. I think the first songs I ever downloaded from The Internet were Joni Mitchell songs.
#43
BeatnikMona reply
Mustaches on everything.
MrsFettesVette 1 year ago
I feel bad for the millennials who are stuck with a mustache tattoo on their index finger.
#44
littledipper16 reply
Posting dumb s**t like "rawr I'm a dinosaur xD" or "lol I'm so random... cheese," making and wearing/using duct tape accessories like wallets, purses, bracelets, earrings, etc, those stupid hair feathers, but luckily mine were just clip ins and not the ones that were semi-permanently attached to your hair.
Rayne OfSalt 1 year ago
I will happily take a billion "rawr I'm a dinosaur xD" posts over 1 more blatantly transphobic hate post.
#45
horce-force reply
Pogs. The stupidest collectible/game ever invented “Hey buy these cardboard disks, stack them up and then smash them with a metal disc and see how many flip over!” “Also they are now worthless!”.
ElfVibratorGlitter 1 year ago (edited)
I got pogs from a friend for my birthday. I was very confused by them and never actually played them because none of my friends had any. She did buy me a narwhal slammer though (I literally did a report on narwhals from grade 1-8) so her knowing my favourite animal was the best part!
#46
Particular_Ad_1435 reply
Fake leather pants. Bonus points if yours were bright red. Also I never wore it myself but those pants with the weird straps between the legs that looked like bondage gear. I was soo jealous I couldn't wear that in middle school.
Ovata Acronicta 1 year ago
TRIPP. Apparently they're still around... I had a pair that, when the chains/straps were removed, looked ALMOST professional. Surprised to see they still exist. More surprised that they're prohibitively expensive now. Tempted though...
#47
SilenceDobad76 reply
Remember when everyone said "epic fail" for everything.
#48
meangreen23 reply
I’m an elder millennial (2/82) and I used to wear purple jeans, a tweety bird shirt and black Reebok’s 😭 that was in maybe 94? By the year 2000, I had graduated and I don’t think my wardrobe was too bad in my early 20s.
#49
transformher82 reply
I was trying to be punk/goth, and bought a chain dog leash and black nylon collar to wear. I was poor so i couldnt get a real collar and chain.
#50
Bill_Piff reply
Remember when everybody was wearing those thugged out roger rabbit shirts. They’d have Warner brothers characters holding money with gangster quotes….. whoever thought they would be able to make cartoons thuggish.
#51
literarygirl2090 reply
Planking and Harlem Shake. Does that count? My friends and I have photos of planking at random places but I had fun doing the Harlem Shake.
Also, how did planking become a thing? I'm still not sure why I participated in it.
#52
timshel_turtle reply
Wearing superlow jeans with no underwear cuz honestly there wasn’t room for them.
#53
alondra2027 reply
Popping out the lenses on 3D glasses from the movie theater as nerd glasses.
#54
monkeypoopfight reply
Bleached my hair a couple times in middle school for the Eminem look....
ally Doritos 1 month ago (edited)
Leather hairshield with a wooden pin. I even had my hair cut for it. 😭 My hair was too long and heavy. It otherwise would fall out all the time. A sure sign that the brains of a teenager do not work fully yet..
#55
Dobbys_Other_Sock reply
I don’t know if this happened everywhere, but around the early teen years (for me, a younger millennial) my area had a big wave of teen nightclubs. Basically adult night clubs would open just to teens (12-17) on usually a Friday night once or twice a month. There’s were enough of them you could go to one just about every Friday night. The issue was that since the majority of the demographic didn’t have IDs yet, they just didn’t ID anyone, so there were plenty of teenagers, but also a lot of early 20s folks who happened to look a bit younger, and other then the person letting people in there was literally no adult supervision, looking back it was super unsafe.
J Adams 1 year ago
Started out by going to restaurants in the uk that magically transformed into nightclubs at 10pm they somehow managed to avoid getting closed down for many years as it is/was legal to serve alcohol to ‘kids’ with a meal, that was at 15 years old and by 16 we were going to the proper nightclubs, we might have been barred entry to one or two on any night but just went to the next one. Coming home at 2 in the morning was pretty normal for a 16 year old (where I grew up at least) in 1999 now my kids ar e lucky if I let them stay out past 10
#56
MrAndrewJackson reply
Torn designer jeans in high school. I guess people still like those, but I think they're kind of ridiculous now. Also, guess and express tshirts with all the patterns and shiny prints on them + gel in my hair. Another fad I got caught up in later was the barbell piercing.
ElfVibratorGlitter 1 year ago
I'd say almost half of my high school had a barbell through their eyebrow.
#57
tonsofun08 reply
I did the ice bucket challenge. I was broke at the time, so I didn't actually donate though. I just did it because everyone else was doing it.
JammaCoast2Coast 1 year ago
The ice bucket challenge wasn't just a millennial trend though - it was for anyone, any age group and it funded a whole bunch of money for ALS
#58
Academic_Eagle_4001 reply
Brightly colored skinny jeans. I’m sure I looked like a clown.
#59
blrmkr10 reply
Warheads. I don't know anyone who actually liked the taste of them.
Amanda Rose 1 year ago
One of my nephews recently learned the hard way that extremely sour candy can cause essentially chemical burns. He ate a bunch of, I think, Sour Patch Kids all in one go and burned his tongue so severely that my sister had to take him to the hospital for treatment.
#60
Bloodthirsty_Kirby reply
Did anyone else’s school go through a phase where they snorted the sugar from pixie sticks? 🤦🏻♀️.
Groundcontroltomajortom 1 year ago
These were banned at my school because of the litter, they were just everywhere. And literally just flavoured sherbert/sugar! Kid cocainé 🤣
#61
fartjar420 reply
Getting a Charlotte Hornets starter jacket in fourth grade because I really liked the colors and a couple of 6th grade girls I thought were really cool also had them we were all from Cleveland.
#63
San_Cannabis reply
I wore a bandana under my flat-brim ball cap for a bit...... I'm white and from northern Canada.
#64
Js_On_My_Yeet reply
In my high school there was a foxtail keychain fad going around. I ended up clipping 3 different colored tails to my belt loops. People liked mine because they were colors that nobody had. My girlfriend at the time was the one who made and sold them.
#65
ptownb reply
Yo yos.
#66
Jimger_1983 reply
Got a tattoo of an Asian symbol. Luckily it means what I thought I was getting so I’ve been told by two unrelated Asians and in a spot where it’s easily hidden.
MrsFettesVette 1 year ago
I also have one, and I know it's actually what it's supposed to be, but I still feel like it's pretty cringey. It's on my inner ankle so it doesn't show all the time, at least. I'd like to do a coverup, but it's so opaque and blown out after all these years that idek if a good looking cover is possible
#67
youneekusername1 reply
Toe shoes............. I still walk around barefoot a lot in places where it's unexpected, but looking back I feel like the shoes got me even more weird glares than just properly having my dogs out in weird places.
#68
Broflake-Melter reply
I was a console fanboy for a few years. I still love Nintendo, and I think a lot of my fandom was warranted because the gamecube has some of the sickest games of all time and they were criminally underrated at the time. However, it was like identity politics for me, and I took it too far. I was unironically going to get a nintendo tattoo when I turned 18. I'm glad I snapped out of it. S**t, I totally need a nintendo tattoo though.
#69
Princess_Magdelina reply
My sister and I physically fought over safety pins. To pin our pants. One morning, I couldn't find ANY. Then she comes out of her room with all the pins in the house on her pants from ankles to knees. Ffs. You only needed two per leg, max. I almost pushed her down the stairs.
#70
drock4vu reply
Drawing X’s on the top of hands with a sharpie to show off my straight edge affiliation. Jesus Christ it hurts just to type it.
Alex Ruddies 1 year ago
I remember those days. Most of the straight edge kids were alright, but there were a few insufferable ones who got a wee too preachy.
#71
Elphie33 reply
The Game.
#72
External_Clerk_7227 reply
My hip hop phase😅everything i wore from high school to college. Yes the xxl t-shirts op mentioned is part of it. Too much “rap city” and “106 & park” in my formative years lol.
#73
decapods reply
My mom really got into McDonald’s mini TY Beanie Babies. I helped with her collection. I don’t really remember any fads I was really into. I didn’t have money, I was depressed, and I didn’t fit into the popular groups.
#75
LiquidSnape reply
Earring in one ear, can’t believe i talked my mom into it 7th grade.
Rick Seiden 1 year ago
I got my left ear pierced at 16, then again at 18 (so I have two holes in my left ear). I just turned 55. Still wear two earrings.
#76
looosyfur reply
Cut-off jeans otherwise known as "jorts".
iseefractals 1 year ago
Again, nearly 41, still have so many oversized jorts, cargo shorts, cargo jorts...my one regret is losing my "Billy big shorts" oversized Khaki cargo shorts with pockets large enough you could fit TWO cartons of cigarettes in each pocket without them being visible and still have room to spare.
#78
Glittering_Run_4470 reply
Ed Hardy hat 😭. Biggest peer pressure buy of my life.
#79
LethalBacon reply
Rolling up one pant leg for BMX biking. Mostly done while actively biking, but one might keep it rolled up longer than necessary as a middle/high schooler that wanted to look cool. Not sure if it's something that was very widespread, but definitely was a thing in my school district. I've always been mostly anti-fad. Not entirely sure why, but this has been consistent for much of my life. Was always a bit of a contrarian, but I don't think I've ever really been a d**k about it. My wife always talks s**t (jokingly) about it when I do it nowadays, like when I was losing my mind during the Stanley cup phase recently. Fads always felt weird and circle jerky to me, even as a kid. Makes me think of those chimps that started putting grass in their ears. Couldn't really afford to buy new s**t often until I was probably mid 20s, so that likely played a big part. Definitely missed out on some things I'd have otherwise enjoyed, but I don't mind. I like my interests/style/etc to be slightly niche.
#81
HereF0rTheSnacks reply
Italian charm bracelets. https://preview.redd.it/bdsev4nqlgyc1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4574e07583430c35b4bffbd36157ba8e9945224c.
#83
Dust_Parts reply
I was really into bad indie rock in the early 2000s. If Pitchfork Media said it was amazing then I pretended it was as well. In hindsight, most of that stuff is completely unlistenable. I also had frosted tips in the late 90s.
#84
Intelligent-Band-572 reply
That milk challenge where you chugged till you puked.
#85
xzvc91 reply
Men’s skinny jeans 2006-2017. Now if I see any guy that is 30+ wearing them I question their life choices.
iseefractals 1 year ago
I've always called them nut huggers, and they have always been terrible.
What do you think ?
ynyrhydref56 1 year ago
I feel personally victimised by this listicle. I maintain that many of these are still so cool! ;)
🩶🩷Marvin HoG🩷🩶 1 year ago
My JNCO's were awesome, I will never think otherwise!
Load More Replies...
FABULOUS1 1 year ago
I miss when people wore, and did what made them happy without feeling judge. Oh my bad never in history has this happened. I say if you like it I love it. If its not my style its not going to hurt me one bit.
Christopher Rayle 1 year ago
That totally happened in history. It was me. I wore whatever I felt like wearing whenever. Still do. I've always dressed for me instead of others.
Load More Replies... Little Wonder 1 year ago
I was too fat for most of the fashion trends, which sucked at the time but does mean I don't have too many cringy teen photos, apart from that one dress I was SURE I was adorable in and I looked like walnuts in a net bag.
That One 1 year ago
Unless the trend itself is to be skinny, body shape shouldn't be much of an issue. Most of those trends can be adjusted to look good on any body. People just have a nasty habit of discouraging others. Which honestly sucks.
Load More Replies... ynyrhydref56 1 year ago
I feel personally victimised by this listicle. I maintain that many of these are still so cool! ;)
🩶🩷Marvin HoG🩷🩶 1 year ago
My JNCO's were awesome, I will never think otherwise!
Load More Replies... FABULOUS1 1 year ago
I miss when people wore, and did what made them happy without feeling judge. Oh my bad never in history has this happened. I say if you like it I love it. If its not my style its not going to hurt me one bit.
Christopher Rayle 1 year ago
That totally happened in history. It was me. I wore whatever I felt like wearing whenever. Still do. I've always dressed for me instead of others.
Load More Replies... Little Wonder 1 year ago
I was too fat for most of the fashion trends, which sucked at the time but does mean I don't have too many cringy teen photos, apart from that one dress I was SURE I was adorable in and I looked like walnuts in a net bag.
That One 1 year ago
Unless the trend itself is to be skinny, body shape shouldn't be much of an issue. Most of those trends can be adjusted to look good on any body. People just have a nasty habit of discouraging others. Which honestly sucks.
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