The ’80s and ’90s were such a strange time for fashion. Most of us were kids during these decades, so we didn’t even have a say in what we wore. Typically it was up to our moms to dress us and let’s just say that they made some… interesting choices.
Did you have to wear any of these trends?
Flared pants
Bell bottoms fell by the wayside as boyfriend-cut jeans and flared pants came into fashion.
This trend carried into the early 2000s, when the fit became tighter and the waistline lower. Let’s never speak of that trend again.
Spaghetti strap tank tops
If your mom let you get away with wearing these, that is. Spaghetti strap tank tops were a huge thing in the ’90s and early 2000s.
The hardest part? Finding a way to wear them without having your bra show.
A pattern-problem jean jacket
Was it a jacket from your mom if it wasn’t quilted with fabric from multiple sources? The patchwork patterns created a type of ’90s camouflage that I still haven’t recovered from.
Ponytails anywhere other than the back of your head
Bonus points if those ponytails were topped off with huge scrunchies.
These ponytails were painful as hell. They required a LOT of hairspray to get those sides smooth, backcombing for the bangs, and a dedication so resolute that you would tough out pony-induced headaches.
Mom jeans
These are so back in style that it’s not even funny. Those high waisted pants made it hard to breathe or sit, dug into your tummy, and made your butt look flat af.
Thank goodness these jeans came back with modern stretch fabric.
Plaid all over
Were you even on trend if you didn’t own an entire plaid outfit?
Cher from Clueless may have popularized the all-over yellow plaid look, but that pattern was already making its mark all over ’90s fashion before she came onto the scene.
Platform sandals
It wasn’t summer if your mom wasn’t dragging you to Payless (RIP) to get you a new pair of sandals.
If you picked out platform ones with a stretchy fabric top, you were the height of cool.
High-cut spandex.
Whether it was during gymnastics, workouts, or swimming, that high-cut trim followed you everywhere.
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Of course, since that cut shows off your legs and hips, Insta baddies have totally brought that look back.
A really chunky belt
Was it chunky? Was it plastic? Did it have a giant buckle? Then you had it goin’ on.
This teal masterpiece is the absolute height of bad ’80s fashion. And for that reason alone, it is strangely beautiful.
Leggings under shorts
Were you even wearing shorts if you didn’t have leggings on underneath them?
Bonus points if your shorts were jean shorts, double bonus points if they had frayed edges or were covered in iron-on patches.
Really long coats
Mulder and Scully had ’90s grunge fashion figured out. Long, borderline oversized jackets perfectly complimented any outfit.
Can you believe there was a time in women’s fashion when a piece of clothing was oversized… and had pockets? Shock. Awe. Scully was a fashion icon.
Neon windbreakers.
You couldn’t throw a rock without hitting someone wearing neon in the ’80s and ’90s.
If yours was handed down by a sibling that outgrew it, that’s even better.
Huge bows
Your hair had them. Your prom dress had them. Your gloves even had them. Madonna had them.
If you could put a bow on it, you wore it. JoJo Siwa is quaking.
Leg warmers
I stand by this fashion trend. It was cool and practical — what wasn’t there to love?
Leg warmers never quite came back, but it’s high time that they did. They’re cute!
Tie-dye
Tie-dye came back for a very good reason: it’s easy to do yourself, and it’s super fun.
The tie-dye trend paired nicely with the neon trend. It was a match made in heaven.
