Fashion trends are like bad pennies or that one relative at family gatherings; they just keep turning up. Whether you’re a Boomer feeling nostalgic or a Millennial suffering from second-hand vintage embarrassment, here’s a rundown of fashions that refuse to just stay in their decade.
1. Flares
Flared trousers flapped their way out of the 70s into the 21st century faster than you can say “disco revival.” Perfect for those who thought their ankles deserved more attention.
2. Crop Tops
The crop top: because every generation needs to find a new way to scandalize their parents with a bit of belly.
3. Platform Shoes
Once crafted for those too short to reach the top shelf, now they’re for anyone brave enough to risk their ankles for fashion.
4. Chokers
Chokers returned from the 90s to remind us all that discomfort in the name of style is a cycle, not a phase.
5. Denim Overalls
Overalls keep coming back, proving that adults can indeed dress like oversized toddlers and still be on-trend.
6. Velour Tracksuits
Nothing says “I give up” quite as stylishly as a velour tracksuit, a staple for the hungover, the overworked, and the “I’m just running to the shop” crowd.
7. Doc Martens
They’ve stumped from punk to mainstream, proving that a good boot goes with any era—and with any outfit, if you’re brave enough.
8. Bucket Hats
Like a bad holiday souvenir, bucket hats keep coming back. Ideal for fishermen and ravers alike—or fishing ravers.
9. Scrunchies
Scrunchies: because hair deserves a soft, fabric hug, and we all need somewhere to flick our wrist accessories in frustration.
10. Puffer Jackets
Every few years, we decide that looking like an insulated marshmallow is peak fashion.
11. Neon Anything
Neon is the fashion equivalent of a loud talker: impossible to ignore and typically a flashback no one asked for.
12. Cargo Pants
Cargo pants offer pockets where dreams and practicality go to die together, hand-in-hand.
13. Tie-Dye
Tie-dye resurfaces periodically to remind us that colour coordination is really just a suggestion.
14. Mullets
The mullet, business in the front, party in the back, and regret all over. It’s the hairstyle that keeps on giving—headaches.
15. Mini Skirts
Mini skirts shrink in fabric but grow in legend with every re-emergence. They’re less about the style, more about the legroom.
16. Wide Belts
Worn to cinch waists or just perplex onlookers, wide belts are the ultimate “does this go here?” accessory.
17. Penny Loafers
For when you want to say, “I’m practical, but I also like to party,” albeit quietly and with minimal foot movement.
18. Leg Warmers
Leg warmers crawl back into the fashion scene periodically, mostly when we decide that ankles deserve sweaters too.
19. Paisley Prints
Paisley makes its rounds every few decades to keep the dizzying spirit of the ’60s alive and throbbing.
20. Fanny Packs
Fanny packs: because every era needs an ironically cool way to carry around too much stuff you don’t need.
21. Turtlenecks
Turtlenecks pop up again and again to ensure that necks are never forgotten and chins always have something to hide behind.
Fashion Faux Pas or Fabulous?
So, did you rock these looks the first time around, or are you awaiting their inevitable return with dread? Either way, fashion waits for no one, and history is doomed to be stylishly repeated.
More Articles Like This…
Broken Britain: 12 Reasons Behind the UK’s Decline
Say the Unsayable: 10 Occasions When Farage Spoke His Mind About Britain
The post 21 ‘New’ Fashions Boomers Have Seen Before first appeared on Edge Media.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Maria Markevich.
For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.