WEIRDEST Fashion Trends

Fashion is an ever changing industry. And a lot of the times, the things that come out of it are bizarre and even ridiculous. But humans put it on their bodies all the same. Here’s some of the weirdest fashion trends ever.

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In places like the UK, this is better known as a bum bag, for clear reasons that only some people might understand. The fanny pack is kind of like back pack except it wraps around your waist and so you have a smaller chance of leaving it behind somewhere. You don’t have to lug it around on your shoulder or back, and that practicality was why it got so popular in the first place back in the 80s and 90s. But that was before they got stigmatized as looking lame. Recently, as of 2012, they’ve had a resurgence in popularity. And now you can find stylish fanny packs sold to hipsters for not so cheap prices at places like Urban Outfitters.

5. Foot Binding

To do a bit of a 180 from the last item, which was rather practical and not very stylish, we come to foot binding--which was considered stylish but not at all practical in any way. Foot binding consisted of tightly pressing the feet in order to reshape the foot into the form of how these plasters look. Doing so made the feet appear smaller and it made them possible to fit into these tiny shoes, something that wealthier women were subject to. This was a practice that was popular in cultures like that in China, where it was said to have originated from upper-class dancers during the era of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms during the 10th century. It was something that was popular amongst those higher in the social order and feet that were bound were referred to as “lotus feet.”

4. Platform Shoes

And then on a different side of the spectrum are platform shoes. Instead of making your feet appear as small as possible, why not make them look as tall as possible? These gold blocks were worn by super model Heidi Klum when she dressed up as a very ostentatious Cleopatra for an event on Halloween in 2012. This was a trend that was seen throughout the last couple decades in fashion, most notably in the 70s and 90s. But the origins of the platform shoe seem to go back much further than that, saying to be derived from the Zoccoli in Venice from the 15th century. And they weren’t just stylish but also substantial. The platform shoes back then were used to avoid getting your feet wet when the streets got flooded.

3. Shoulder Pads

No, not the kind you wear in sports. Depending on how old you are, you either remember this from you grandmother’s clothes, your mother’s, or yours. Over the top shoulder pads were a popular fashion trend to be put into the blazers of women’s suits. And it’s not something that was exclusive to one era. We remember them most overstated in the 80s, but it’s been a trend that started back in the 30s after Joan Crawford wore Elsa Schiaparelli’s designs in the film Letty Lynton. And then in the 40s and 50s, this look was incorporated into a few designs of dresses. Even now, there’s still accentuated shoulder pads in fashion, with the point being it helps the appearance of someone with narrow shoulders.

2. Bullet Bra

Also known as the Torpedo bra, for clear reasons, the bullet bra was a popular fashion staple for women to wear under their clothes during the 1940s. A popular figure from that era, Sweater Girl, was known for wearing bullet bra under more form fitting clothes to make a really appealing and bustier silhouette. It’s strange to imagine women wearing these on the daily in modern times, but it’s still a style that hasn’t gone completely out of fashion since many things vintage are still considered stylish.

Crocs

And you know what’s not considered stylish? Crocs. No matter how comfy they may be, there is no convincing most people that crocs were or are in anyway a chic fashion statement, though it surely is a statement. Especially crocs with socks. The company Crocs Inc was founded in 2002. They obtained the rights to use that weird rubbery material the shoes are made of, Croslite, which are a foam resin. Sure there’s some bootleg versions abound, but none of those phonies make these any more pretty to look at. In the year 2006, Crocs saw a huge surge in sales and they were more popular than ever.