Say goodbye to these four fashion trends
April 15, 2022
As years come and go, so do fashion trends. Fashion reinvents itself in new decades, representing the highs and lows of the time period. People use clothes to express themselves and show their true personality. While several fashion trends will go down as iconic, others will not. Cancel these four fashion trends.
Number one: shoulder pads. In 1877, Princeton football player L.P Smock invented shoulder pads. In 1931 designers Marcel Rochas and Elsa Schiaperelli decided to incorporate protective football gear into the fashion industry. The look slowly crept into mainstream Hollywood fashion. As World War I overpowered society, gender roles began to switch. With men fighting at war, women took their places in the workplace. For women to make themselves appear more masculine, they wore shoulder pads underneath their jackets, borrowing aspects of the men’s military uniform.
The creation of shoulder pads stands for all the right reasons: power and equivalating men and women. Unfortunately, in everyday fashion, shoulder pads look awkward, clunky and unflattering. Clothes that make shoulders appear boxier must disappear immediately.
Number two: fanny packs. Australians appropriately call these bum bags. Destinations associated with tourism attract people that love to use fanny packs. While fanny packs serve as the perfect size to hold phones, passports and other essentials, they add nothing but a kangaroo pouch to an outfit, sitting like a blob right below one’s stomach.
Numerous fashion brands spend way too much of their time creating horrendous fanny packs. eBay sells fanny packs that look like a hairy stomach for just under $12. This epitomizes a waste of money. The Australian MelbaStone created a variant of the fanny pack in 1962: however, the bags did not shine in the fashion industry until the late 80s. While fanny packs serve an adequate purpose, the ugliness in them does not make them worth it.
“Wearing fanny packs is just goofy. They add nothing to outfits and just take up space. It’s not like that much stuff can fit in them anyway so it’s just better to put things in your jacket pocket or pants pocket. We should definitely get rid of fanny packs because they are so ugly,” sophomore Zachary Addison said.
Number three: fur coats. From the early 11th century fur served as a symbol of wealth in social classes. Fur equaled money. As time advanced, fur became cheaper and designers learned how to make fake fur. Fur coats make people look like wooly mammoths coming out of deep hibernation. They add absolutely nothing to an outfit but unappealing looks and stares from strangers.
“I don’t like fur coats. As a guy, I wouldn’t actually wear one but my cousins used to wear them. I just don’t like how they look and I could imagine they get super hot even in the cold. A normal jacket would look much better than a fur coat because they don’t make people look hairy,” junior Brandon Clendenon said.
Number four: bell bottoms. While several jeans leave an iconic history, such as lowrise and boyfriend jeans, bell bottoms live on the opposite side of the spectrum. For starters, they take attention from the waist to the knees, making them seem closer together. Bell bottoms also drag against the floor as someone walks. Flares became popular in the 19th century while United States sailors served in the navy. They wore bell bottoms because they did not use a uniform. Decades passed and slowly fashion designers used bell bottoms in their runway looks. While these pants obtain a political past, society must not bring them into the future.
As the world heads into a more diverse future, trying out new fashion must occur; society must remember that certain fashions just can not make a return. All four of these fashion trends reside in the group that should never return to the face of the earth.
Di • May 15, 2022 at 11:05 PM
Flare bottoms will always be part of my ward ribs. For one, not everyone has long skinny legs that look good in straight or skinny bottoms. And let’s face it we have an abundance of people with muffin top or no waist who look ridiculous in straight and skinny bottoms. You need balance. So epaulettes can go but flares are staying.
Linda McLester • May 13, 2022 at 10:20 PM
I LOVE Fanny Packs AND Flare/Bell bottoms and will NEVER not own them….You can rock a fanny pack like a cross body and in fact there are beautiful ones out there…..Why follow trends, be your own Fashion Icon💖💖💖💖💖
Debbie Harris • May 2, 2022 at 2:43 PM
I’ll wear a fanny pack jogging n to the gym for phone , keys I don’t care if anyone likes it . 😊
Barbara Kreck • Apr 28, 2022 at 3:06 AM
I do agree with the first 3, but I still love my bell-bottom jeans. With a great pair of boots or heels, they really look pretty good.
Diane • Apr 26, 2022 at 10:06 PM
I love flare pants. I was a teen in the 70s. Then Levi’s 501 and flare were in simultaneously. Glad to see a liberal fashion choice is back. What about fake hair, and fake braids? Is that in? Isn’t that toxic for the environment? Women should embrace and love what God gave them, and work with it. Not everyone can wear belly tops, skinny pants. Agree on no fur. Wild animals need to keep their skin. I don’t care for fanny packs, but others love them.
Rebecca Zavala • Apr 29, 2022 at 12:38 PM
Thanks for that! Levi’s 501 are great jeans! Thanks for reading The Chant!
Anna • Apr 26, 2022 at 7:48 PM
Wear what you want and enjoy life. It is too short to follow “trends”.
Rebecca Zavala • Apr 29, 2022 at 12:37 PM
Very, VERY true! Thanks for sharing and for reading The Chant!
Codie • Apr 26, 2022 at 10:14 AM
I agree with the shoulder pads needing to go but bell bottoms, No. They need to stay for ever. Maybe revamp the tops but the bottoms need to be in the future. They are so much more comfortable than these tight legged pants that are such a struggle just to get your foot into.
Sherry • Apr 16, 2022 at 12:48 PM
While I agree with you on fanny packs (ugh), furs (for ethical reasons), and shoulder pads, I cannot agree regarding flare or bell bottom jeans.
I was a teen in the 1970’s and they most definitely ARE an iconic look. Low rise and skinny jeans are not for everyone; they aren’t flattering on women who aren’t slim. (I choose Bootcut jeans over skinny jeans, as they are more universally flattering.) Bell bottoms or flares (that just flare out from the knee), also look good on more body types than low rise or skinny jeans.
Really, the key is to not follow trends at all, but to wear what you love AND to know what looks good on one’s body type and dress accordingly.
With the resurgence of boho chic, I’m loving the fact that bell bottoms and flares are making a comeback. Every time I wear mine, and I do mean every single time, I get compliments from men and from women alike. Men say they’re cool and women compliment and want to know where I got them so they can buy themselves a pair.
At 5’10”, mine don’t drag the ground. Shorter women may buy them in Petite or Short lengths so they don’t drag on the ground. I recommend Free People.
Adriane • Apr 18, 2022 at 12:28 AM
I agree 100%!!!!
Danielle • Apr 20, 2022 at 4:31 PM
I agree! I love bells and flares! I wore them in the 70s too! I also get complements everytime I wear them! I’m 5’8″ and mine don’t drag the ground.