Outdated Style Trends Older Women Still Wear
Fashion trends come and go every year. While some styles are timeless, other trends continue to stick even after they're over. Just because these styles were popular for a while doesn't mean that they still look good.
You may be surprised which trends some people are still sporting, from Crocs to baggy hoodies to unnecessarily bringing in flannel. Are you still wearing these outdated styles? Learn the harsh truth about which fashion trends are officially "out."
Mismatching Patterns Too Much
On occasion, mismatching patterns can look good. Light grey on dark grey? Classic. But loud patterns--such as leopard print, plaid, polka-dots, or neon colors--shouldn't be mismatched. At worst, it's hard to look at, and at best, it's boring.
It's no secret that combining patterns doesn't usually work (unless you're in a music video). But combining bright shades of the same color can also make you look older. When in doubt, always pair loud colors or patterns with a neutral.
Sheer Tops
Why some stores still sell see-through tops is a mystery. Although sheer tops may seem fun in theory, they're actually a hassle. You have to pick a shirt or tank top to wear under it, which raises the stress level of putting on a shirt.
Why wear a top if it doesn't cover anything? Fashion aside, clothes are meant to shelter us from the weather. The same goes for white shirts that end up being see-through. They just don't look good.
Capris
Despite their popularity, Capri pants don't look flattering on anyone. Their design is inherently flawed; they're not pants, but they're not shorts, which makes them always look like a mistake. Since they cut off above the ankle, they make peoples' legs look shorter.
Because they're a fashion Frankenstein, it's no secret that Capris are notoriously hard to style. To pull them off, people often resort to a baggy shirt, which makes them look older. Just don't.
Crocs. Enough Said
Despite being invented in 2002, Crocs' best year in sales ended up being in 2018. Our question is: why? Crocs are marketed as functional, comfortable shoes, but they've also become a meme because of how ugly they are.
Plus, the largest Croc trend happened in the early 2000s, and many people still think about this era when they see the shoe. During their popularity, kids would get their feet stuck in an elevator, meaning that they're dangerous, too!
Applying Too Much Contour
There's a fine line between highlighting your facial features and covering them with too much contour. When contouring is over-done, people can notice it instantly. Although Kim Kardashian and YouTubers may have popularized contouring, it does not look appropriate (or even fashionable) on everyday people.
In short, the "too much makeup" appearance is outdated. It may make you look older or as if you're struggling to find makeup that matches your skin tone. If you want to contour, do so lightly.
Poofy Teased Hair
Did people tease their hair in the '70s and '80s? You bet they did! Back then, big hair became a symbol of alternative punk culture. But nowadays, the hairstyle only reminds people of the '80s. At best, teasing your hair may result in a '90s do--which is still old!
Teasing and backcombing can also damage your hair because it can rip up your cuticle cells. It's a recipe for ripping out your hair. Stick to soft, naturally-styled hair.
"Old Lady" Handbags
The style of a purse can age a person. Although vintage handbags can complement a look, "old lady" bags often appear stiff and boring. If your handbag is relatively small, rectangular, and a single color like beige or black, it's probably an "old lady" purse.
Modern handbags look more loose and fun. They may have some creative patchwork or fun accent colors to make them look more youthful. Meanwhile, a boxy, dull purse may make you seem 20 years older.
Foundation That's Too Thick
Although thick foundation can cover any blemish and spot, it's also noticeably overdone. The caky, full-covered foundation dates back to the '90s when pale skin paired with mauve lipstick. It looks overdone--literally.
Nowadays, natural is always better. Thin foundations match your natural skin tone better and draw less attention. If you can see freckles or moles through your foundation, you're in the clear. But unless you're going on the red carpet or TV, skip the thick foundation.
Smoky Eye That's Only Black
Back in the days of Avril Lavigne, punk rockers wore a smoky eye that was only black with all-around black eyeliner. Even Avril has moved on from the all-black smoky eye! The look has "early 2000s edgy teenager" plastered all over it.
Nowadays, people pair their smokey eyes with another color. It could be a bright color on top of the smokey eye or a lighter, sparkly shade in the middle. Either way, it looks much more elegant than all black.
Juicy Couture Anything
Remember when celebrities wore Juicy Couture tracksuits on the daily? Yeah, we do too. The nearly universal fashion trend has disappeared since the early 2000s, and today, they only sell on a discount. Even when one New York fashion director tried to bring them back on the runway, people weren't having it.
The velvety sweatpants and sweatshirts just scream "outdated." The sparkly stripes and bedazzled words on the butt just don't look great in the 2020s. Although they're comfy (arguably), they're a fashion "no."
Metallic Clothing
The "futuristic" fashion of the 1960s resulted in skin-tight silver clothes. Believe it or not, metallic clothes reappeared on the 2013 runway, and it didn't look much better. Even if it's not skin-tight, it still looks "bleh."
The material of metallic clothing just seems so...synthetic. It never curves or wrinkles in the right way, and the reflective surface only distracts from peoples' natural body shape. You can't subtly style this clothing, either; it has to dominate the entire look.
Incredibly Bulky Necklaces
When heading to a fancy restaurant, a statement necklace can round out the look. But bulky, clunky jewelry doesn't look great outside of royalty or a nice dinner party. It just looks unsophisticated and old.
You can't go wrong with a smaller, subtler necklace. The jewelry compliments the look, but it doesn't overtake it. In the same vein, don't layer too many necklaces, either. That's a '70s style that shouldn't come back in any era.
Glitter, Glitter Everywhere
Glitter on your clothes, your eyes, your face--sounds fun, right? It may have been fun when you were younger, but on adults, the glitter tends to be overkill. Going glitter may seem like you're trying too hard.
Here's how you know if you're overdoing the glitter: if an entire article of clothing, from your shirt to your pants, is glittery, you've crossed the line. If glitter sprinkles most of your eyes or face, that's out of fashion.
Tie-Dye Anything
In 2019, tie-dye returned to the runway to a mixed response. No matter how hard people try to push tie-dye, they can't separate it from an association with hippies. Tie-dye shirts are also a cheap option for broke high schoolers and college students.
In the '60s and '70s, tie-dye was viewed as counter-cultural. Today, it's basic. It's everywhere, and it rarely looks good. It seems more like a quick DIY project than a though-out style choice.
Turtlenecks
Turtlenecks have fluctuated in and out of fashion, from the '50s to the '80s to even the 2010s. But do they ever stop looking stuffy and uptight? Nope, they're always too much. Scarves and collared shirts can protect your skin against the cold and look better.
Low turtlenecks, which stand up to the middle of the neck, can look nice in certain contexts. But turtlenecks that touch the chin are too much. They look suffocating.
Ugg Boots
Remember when everyone wore Ugg boots? Nowadays, hardly anyone sees another person in Uggs. The shoe has gone in and out of style since the 1980s. If you ask us, the boots should remain out of style. They never looked good in the first place.
Like Crocs, Uggs were designed for comfort, not appearance. But Uggs fail even at that. The flat sole provides no support, and with no circulation, Uggs are a recipe for feet sweat. Just no.
Trucker Hats
Please--anything but trucker hats. We'd rather see a thousand butterfly clips than these caps that have never looked good. These hats, with a mesh back and an obnoxious design on the front, are a fashion nightmare.
If trucker hats look like a company giveaway item, that's because they were a standard promotional giveaway in the early 2000s. They appear cheap, campy, and bulky because they are cheap, campy, and bulky. Never bring these hats back.
Frumpy Babydoll Dresses
Babydoll dresses can best be described as "grandma clothing": unshaped, poofy dresses that often feature lace accents. They came from the 1910s and were redesigned in the 1960s. Either way, they're still too old for the 2020s.
Babydoll dresses with wide shoulders, puffy sleeves, and overdone lace just say "old." However, modern versions of the babydoll dress, which flow delicately off the shoulder, can be fashion-forward. Modern babydolls are coming back as spring and summer dresses.
Micro-Purses
On the runway, mini-handbags may look stylish. But who would honestly find them useful in real life? Unless all you need to go out are a couple of paper clips, a micro-purse is likely unnecessary.
Because they're so useless, micro-bags give off the "try hard" vibe. Most people don't use small purses or clutches unless they're out on the town in the '60s and '70s. Just carry a normal-sized bag like the rest of us.
Tiny Sunglasses
Like micro-purses, tiny sunglasses are cringeworthy at best. These slim, minuscule sunglasses barely cover a guinea pig's eyes, much less a human's. Although they came into style in 2018, they didn't stay there.
Sunglasses are meant to protect your eyes from UV rays, and tiny glasses are not only uncomfortable to wear but also uncomfortable to look at. If you want to look like a cartoon villain, go for it. But there are plenty of other stylish and useful sunglasses to choose from.
Silicone Wristbands
In the early 2000s, silicone wristbands skyrocketed in popularity. The main culprit, Livestrong bracelets, seemed to appear everywhere. They sold well because people could wear them forever, but that doesn't mean they stay in style forever.
Today, schools, companies, and nonprofits still give out these wristbands for charitable causes because they're cheap to make. But that doesn't mean silicone bracelets are fashionable. They look outdated, overused, and more like a kid's accessory than an adult's.
Pointlessly Short Bangs
Have you ever seen someone try to cut off their bangs? Well, that style became popular in the 1950s. Short bangs could look adorable on younger people, but they can also make others appear older. In both cases, they're awkward.
With short bangs, the abrupt line doesn't flatter any face in the world. Long bangs are acceptable since you have to grow them out to get rid of them. Cutting your bangs short doesn't make them disappear. It makes them worse.
Tweed
Tweed is a rough wool fabric that's usually used in dresses. It became popular in the 1920s, but that doesn't make it appropriate for the 2020s. Because it's so vintage, it can make people seem older than they are.
Along with looking old, tweed appears stiff, ragged, and uncomfortable. Although some models and celebrities have tried to bring it back, they look like they're wearing hay. You can wear so many other vintage fabrics that don't seem like they'll scratch you.
Denim Everything
Today, denim jeans are still stylish, and even denim jackets are making a comeback. But denim-on-denim? That's a late '80s trend that should never return. Denim dresses and suit jackets have no place in...well, ever.
Denim simply looks cheap and trashy. Although a lot of people own at least one denim item of clothing, few people wear a bunch of denim at once. People can try, like how Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake tried in 2001, but it never works.
Bedazzled Anything
Bedazzled clothes made their way around the '90s and 2000s, usually on the backside of jeans. Most have faded into obscurity...fortunately. Bedazzled shirts, hats, pants--anything, really--look tacky. Plain and simple.
"Embellished" clothing, as they're often called, may look cute on kids who want a bit more sparkle. But on adults, it could make you appear older. Everyone knows you're not a kid anymore, so why are people still wearing bedazzled clothes? Without a doubt, they're definitely "out!"
The Mullet
Although the mullet has been around since before the 1970s, that doesn't make it look good. In a single word, mullets are "awful." And yet, some people brought the haircut back in 2019, with the addition of "steps"--sharp cuts that look like stairs leading to the bangs.
Mullets look so bad that they've become an internet meme. So can they die already? They're awkward and frame the face horribly. There's no positive word that can describe a mullet.
