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“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day 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.

arcanepsyche , Kari Nesler Report

Final score:

171points

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Barong 6 months ago

Yet jeans with more holes than fabric is somehow better?

83points

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day 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.

martinsj82 , tubedogg Report

Final score:

169points

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Marie Kirk 6 months ago

biebs2.jpg

29points

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.

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day Whale tail: where your thong was visible above the waistband of your low-rise jeans.

ButImNot_Bitter_ , silentfuzions Report

Final score:

157points

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Barong 6 months ago (edited)

This was a fashion no no even then. It was something often ridiculed. Just like wearing sagging pants, no one wants to see your underwear.

125points

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day I have a tribal tramp stamp and waxed my eyebrows so thin they've never been the same. Good times.

MorganLeGay7274 , Letterman Report

Final score:

145points

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Little Wonder 6 months ago

Yep, I know women to this day with basically no eyebrows due to overplucking/waxing in the 90s.

58points

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day Frosted boy band tips. I'm not proud.

neekogo , istolethetv Report

Final score:

141points

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Ovata Acronicta 6 months 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.

32points

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.

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day Two polos…with both collars popped. I’m ashamed. 🤦🏽‍♂️.

bulitproofwest , Rick Report

Final score:

137points

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John Mosley 6 months 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.

79points

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day JNCO jeans. My largest pair had a 69 inch wide leg. I won an award for having the largest pant legs ever.

Killerisamom920 , 7Daddies Report

Final score:

133points

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Angi 6 months ago

I had a pair that the inseam ripped and my mom refused to sew them so I used duct tape

38points

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day 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.

Gibson_was_Right , B-M-R Report

Final score:

115points

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Michael None 6 months 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.

36points

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

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day TYpiNg lyke DiS. What was I thinking? Thank goodness there’s no records of my communications from high school.

SlimShadowBoo , Uncle Saiful Report

Final score:

113points

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Kira Okah 6 months ago

Hey, it's not L337 at least

27points

#11

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day 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.

Cross_Stitch_Witch , rossella412 Report

Final score:

105points

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troufaki13 6 months ago

I was always very self-conscious about my mid-section so I never wear low rise pants.

42points

Soggy_Willingness_65 , cottonbro studio Report

#12

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day Those plastic choker necklaces and chunky highlights.

Final score:

103points

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Kira Okah 6 months ago

I still wear mine, shush, I like it :P

90points

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

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day Facebook statuses being song lyrics about your mood. Basically we went from moody away messages, moody MySpace post, to moody Facebook post.

SeeSpotRunt , Kelly Schott Report

Final score:

102points

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Ovata Acronicta 6 months 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.

34points

#14

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day Jeans under dresses 😩.

PhoenixDowntown , jdeeringdavis Report

Final score:

95points

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Angi 6 months ago

I still do this if it's a t shirt dresd

100points

#15

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day Posting albums with hundreds of photos on Facebook. Here's every millisecond of the past weekend everyone! Enjoy!

little_canuck , Marcus Quigmire Report

Final score:

89points

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Petro Roos 6 months ago

Nope. Then and now. Nope

44points

PrincessAintPeachy Report

#16

For me, it's *I can has cheeseburger* way of talking.

Final score:

86points

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Kira Okah 6 months ago

This is still going, and lolcats are still a thing, as is the Cheezburger Network. Some good kitty galleries and memes on there.

62points

#17

Tribal tattoo.

MartialBob Report

Final score:

85points

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Mila Sliacka 6 months ago

Looking back tribals had expiration date written all over them. It was only one of my tattoos that I got covered.

21points

Wise-Strength-3289 Report

#18

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.

Final score:

84points

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Amanda Rose 6 months 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.

86points

#19

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day Gaucho pants and those wide circle belts 😭.

Upset-Love-6346 , amazon.com Report

Final score:

83points

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somed ay 6 months ago

This doesn’t seem cringy to me.

6points

Majestic_Ideal_2478 , Warner Bros Report

#20

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day The long sleeve shirt under the short sleeve shirt look 😂.

Final score:

83points

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Leonie Löwenherz 6 months ago

I think that is still kind of cute

367points

#21

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.

PatMenotaur Report

Final score:

82points

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Ovata Acronicta 6 months ago

I crave the clear stuff. Help me.

21points

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

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Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#22

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day Puka shell necklaces or spiky hair probably.

Jscott1986 , Mark Report

Final score:

80points

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Sweet Taurus 6 months ago

Ha I thought there were 2 people in this pic with spiky hair.

119points

#23

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day Sweat bands on the wrist, the chain wallet, and safety pins everywhere.

TWEAK61 , dualdflipflop Report

Final score:

80points

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Apatheist Account2 6 months ago

Safety pins was a punk thing from the 70s.

82points

Live_Alarm_8052 , Giorgio Montersino Report

#24

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day Getting my belly button pierced 🤦‍♀️ my mom was right that the hole never goes away.

Final score:

79points

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Aliaksadr Lukauski 6 months ago

Holes dont go away? I thought they would "grow away". Guess not everywhere

14points

#25

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.

smooshee99 Report

Final score:

79points

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Deeelite 6 months ago

Oooooooo! I forgot I used that!!!!

18points

#26

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day I planked at the summit of Mt kilimanjaro in 2011 when it was cool. Unfortunately its the only photo of me at the summit.

CobaltBlue389 , m01229 Report

Final score:

77points

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Lydsylou (she/her) 6 months 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

27points

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

See Also on Bored Panda

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#27

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.”.

Ok_Abrocoma_2805 Report

Final score:

77points

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Lydsylou (she/her) 6 months ago

I also can't skate but I do love the aesthetic and sometimes wear it anyway!

17points

#28

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day The body glitter fad.

Eis_ber , m01229 Report

Final score:

75points

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ElfVibratorGlitter 6 months 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.

66points

#29

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day The trucker hats that Ashton Kutcher made famous.

CherishAlways , Joshua Dickens Report

Final score:

70points

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Ivy 6 months ago

God we live in a world where you morons are giving Ashton Kutcher credit for the trucker hat ..

73points

selectmyacctnameplz , Lorena Cupcake Report

#30

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day All the band buttons on my corduroy vans bag. I recently found it 20 years later and it’s such an artifact.

Final score:

65points

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CrazyKnitter 6 months ago

I thought this was still a thing. Just enamel pins mostly, not the round ones?

26points

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

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French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#31

Backwards pants for Kriss Kross.

malphonso Report

Final score:

64points

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Sigh J 6 months ago

They'll make you "Jump jump"

49points

crocodile_in_pants Report

#32

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.

Final score:

63points

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Annik Perrot 6 months 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! 😇

71points

plusminusequals , dilettantiquity Report

#33

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day LiveJournal. I found my old one once which I thought had been lost to time and had the worst cringe I’ve ever experienced.

Final score:

61points

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Julie S 6 months ago

I had live journal got bored of it really quickly when "friends" used to write about their whole lives, pages and pages of it. This is why I never got Facebook just thought it was more of the same.

19points

#34

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 😆.

Astarkraven Report

Final score:

61points

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Ample Aardvark 6 months ago

Like some of those entries, I had the rope/twine bracelets as a kid in the 70s

22points

#35

I’d roll my socks down into my shoes to create ankle socks because my lame parents wouldn’t buy me ankle socks.

Bigbubbajenkins Report

Final score:

60points

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Display_Name 6 months ago

Mine wouldn't either so as an adult I skipped the ankle socks and went straight to no-show socks.

12points

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

See Also on Bored Panda

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

#36

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day That unspeakable moment in history where every white person was suddenly emo.

Select_Total_257 , David Erickson Report

Final score:

58points

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karen snyder 6 months ago

This didn't happen.

103points

#37

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day 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.

u1tr4me0w , Laura LaRose Report

Final score:

56points

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kiteman 6 months ago

I remember better the WWJD bracelets

26points

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

See Also on Bored Panda

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

#38

Any diet. Not worth it and definitely not worth my mental health.

lettucepatchbb Report

Final score:

55points

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CrazyKnitter 6 months ago

My mom would jump on diets like they were lifeboats. Scarred me for life. I am extremely skeptical about any diets.

24points

#39

“Whale Tail”: 40 Millennial Trends People Still Cringe At To This Day 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).

sockjin , Entertainment Tonight Report

Final score:

53points

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CrazyKnitter 6 months ago

I love the tie with the tee and vest. Still one of my favorite fashion trends.

19points

#40

I bought a shake weight. Lol.

LabExpensive4764 Report

Final score:

47points

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Kzincat 6 months ago

“South Park” covered this perfectly.

12points

Note: this post originally had 86 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.

Hi, glad you swung by! My name is Austėja, and I’m a writer at Bored Panda. With a degree in English philology, I’m interested in all aspects of language. Being fresh out of university, my mission is to master the art of writing and add my unique touch to every personal story and uplifting article we publish. In my time here, I’ve covered some fun topics such as scrungy cats and pareidolia, as well as more serious ones about mental health and relationship hiccups. When I’m not on my laptop, you’ll probably find me devouring pastries, especially croissants, paired with a soothing cup of tea. Sunsets, the sea, and swimming are some of my favorite things.

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I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, crafting captivating visual content to enhance every reader's experience. Sometimes my mornings are spent diving into juicy dramas, while afternoons are all about adding extra laughs to the world by editing the funniest memes around. My favorite part of the job? Choosing the perfect images to illustrate articles. It's like imagining a story as a movie in my mind and selecting the key shots to tell the story visually.

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What do you think ?

POST

ynyrhydref56 6 months ago

I feel personally victimised by this listicle. I maintain that many of these are still so cool! ;)

30points

🩶🩷Marvin HoG🩷🩶 6 months ago

My JNCO's were awesome, I will never think otherwise!

1point

FABULOUS1 6 months 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.

16points

Christopher Rayle 6 months 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.

7points

Little Wonder 6 months 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.

13points

That One 6 months 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.

2points

Gavin Johnson 6 months ago

18 year old me, army boots (clogged), black pants, black t-shirt, long hair, long black coat. 49 year old me, army boots, black pants, black t-shirt, shaved head. I wish I could get my boots clogged now and my bald head means the long hair went LONG ago!

10points

Lea S. 6 months ago

Wear what you like people, keep your clothes forever, mend them in creative ways, wear them in creative ways.

8points

Gavin Johnson 6 months ago

This page is a warning to young people everywhere. If you DON’T enjoy messing about with your look or your hair or your clothing or your posters in your bedroom or whatever then you’ll have nothing to look back on and smile. Do the daft thing now. Experiment now. Enjoy now. It’s an essential part of growing, learning, being you, so do it before some stick-in-the-mud tells you to stop. PS Tattoos are the exception, be mindful, stick the image you want in your purse or wallet, look at it every day for a year, still love it after a year? Go for it.

8points

Simon Chen 6 months ago

I am gen x and i have no idea what most of those things mentioned here are, maybe wrong country

6points

Amy Smith 6 months ago

Mine was probably started off by wearing a blue shiny gillet everywhere with those alien eye sunglasses on top of my slicked back hair and had a couple of those sparkly little butterfly hair clips. Then got into flame shirts, used to have a long sleeved one I wore under my school shirts until I got told to take it off, chains everywhere, baggies, band hoodies.

5points

DB 6 months ago (edited)

Late boomer/early gen x. Teen girls wore skintight jeans tucked into big, puffy socks, hiking boots, oversized men's flannel shirts and sweatshirts and knee length sweaters. Boys wore jeans, t-shirts, flannel shirts and hiking boots.

3points

Carol LeMay 6 months ago

And they all had the same, shoulder length, feathered hairstyle.

1point

January Tempis 6 months ago

Calling people dumb for wanting to be unique is just plain mean.

3points

Me Oh My (He/They) 6 months ago

Well, following a huge trend is hardly being unique, is it?

4points

Tim Douglass 6 months ago

I find it funny, as Boomer, how many of these things echo what we did when we were young. I guess what goes around really does come around.

1point

Der Kommissar 6 months ago

Baseball caps turned backwards. A fad that wouldn't die,,,for decades.

1point

Lotekguy 6 months ago

Any Boomer feeling smug now needs to remember polyester leisure suits, wide ties, white belts, and shirts with oversized collars. No generation is immune from the regrettable choices in its youth.

1point

ConstantlyJon 6 months ago

For me it was studded belts from hot topic. I had a few of them. One was black and the studs orange. I had the typical black with chrome studs look as well. My favorite was all white with rainbow paint splatters on the studs. Kinda cool, but kinda cringe.

1point

Dolevaal 6 months ago

I remember there was a trend about a game called Happy Three Friends. Three cute cartoon characters you killed in pretty cruel ways. I never played it bc it creeped me out but I remember it was a thing for a while.

1point

Moosy Girl 6 months ago

A few months ago I was just in time to stop a friend from letting their 6 year old watch Happy Tree Friends on youtube, surprised it’s still around!

3points

somnomania (she/her, queer) 6 months ago

i miss the 90s looks, and fortunately some of them are coming back around. not that i have money for brand new clothes but it's nice to think about.

0points

Alessandra 6 months ago

Yeah, cringe and everything but I want my 20s back, with the horrible dress over jeans, whale tail, glitter everywhere.

0points

Julie Ann Al buzbeba 6 months ago

I wasn't cool in grammar school and I wasn't cool in high school. I THOUGHT I was cool but I now realize I wasn't. And my kids tell me I am still not cool. I was just never meant to be cool I guess.

0points

Andy Frobig 6 months ago

I got rid of my last Izod shirt in about 1983 and that was it for trends

0points

Rick Seiden 6 months ago

Those shaped rubber bands that people would collect and wear on their wrists.

0points

MrsFettesVette 6 months ago

Silly Bandz, we used to give them to children in the dental office.

0points

kathoco 6 months ago

Glad I was too old and too fat for most of this.

0points

POST

ynyrhydref56 6 months ago

I feel personally victimised by this listicle. I maintain that many of these are still so cool! ;)

30points

🩶🩷Marvin HoG🩷🩶 6 months ago

My JNCO's were awesome, I will never think otherwise!

1point

FABULOUS1 6 months ago

16points

Christopher Rayle 6 months 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.

7points

Little Wonder 6 months ago

13points

That One 6 months ago

2points

Gavin Johnson 6 months ago

10points

Lea S. 6 months ago

Wear what you like people, keep your clothes forever, mend them in creative ways, wear them in creative ways.

8points

Gavin Johnson 6 months ago

8points

Simon Chen 6 months ago

I am gen x and i have no idea what most of those things mentioned here are, maybe wrong country

6points

Amy Smith 6 months ago

5points

DB 6 months ago (edited)

3points

Carol LeMay 6 months ago

And they all had the same, shoulder length, feathered hairstyle.

1point

January Tempis 6 months ago

Calling people dumb for wanting to be unique is just plain mean.

3points

Me Oh My (He/They) 6 months ago

Well, following a huge trend is hardly being unique, is it?

4points

Tim Douglass 6 months ago

I find it funny, as Boomer, how many of these things echo what we did when we were young. I guess what goes around really does come around.

1point

Der Kommissar 6 months ago

Baseball caps turned backwards. A fad that wouldn't die,,,for decades.

1point

Lotekguy 6 months ago

Any Boomer feeling smug now needs to remember polyester leisure suits, wide ties, white belts, and shirts with oversized collars. No generation is immune from the regrettable choices in its youth.

1point

ConstantlyJon 6 months ago

1point

Dolevaal 6 months ago

1point

Moosy Girl 6 months ago

A few months ago I was just in time to stop a friend from letting their 6 year old watch Happy Tree Friends on youtube, surprised it’s still around!

3points