From polka dots, gingham, and houndstooth, fashion has become a language of its own, becoming the fabric of rebellion and of self-identity. Despite how expressive and beautiful such a language can be, trends can be brutal when deciding the fate of a product. It initiates an effect where everyone tries to pursue the latest trends, rather than what “was so 2014” or isn’t in season. Such a picky verdict on fashion is even expressed in cinema through “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Gossip Girl.” Specifically, when you clean out your closet, you usually make a pile of what to keep and what not to keep. When you associate yourself with a new group of friends, you usually feel inspired by their fashion choices. The idea of upcycling has seemed atrocious throughout the history of fashion.

Yes, we have our fundamentals like jeans, jewelry, footwear, and the classic little black dress, meaning that it really is just style and prints that are the problem. Fashion is a paradox in the sense that it never becomes outdated, but its relevance is dependent on how society chooses to express themselves. But in that given moment of time, despite how unfortunate it sounds, it’s all depending on the label that comes with it. For instance, if one were to wear a scarf it could be seen as tacky, but if the scarf was from Louis Vuitton, then it’s chic. Nonetheless, here are five fashion trends that might have done wonders in their respective era, but now are below the line of qualifying for future resurrection.

Mood rings

Mood rings may have looked appealing at the age of nine, when we believed that a ring could be a trustworthy thermometer, but nowadays, I barely see anyone wear them, let alone brag about the fact that they got one. I recall at the age of nine, when Claire’s would be in high demand for them, or influencers indulged in them for the Bohemian aesthetic. In terms of quality, they provide a sense of false hope for their consumers and can easily be damaged without proper care, due to their abridged life span rendering them useless, with the only color evident on the ring being black. Now, the only mood these rings will read is sadness as they are negligently perched on vanities.

Burnt Velvet

I can just smell the “thrift whiff,” as critics call it, from the burnt-out velvet shawls and dresses, as they perch on hangers from antique shops. To be honest, this fabric deserves to be fully recognized in furniture, such as couches or blankets, rather than being worn for recreation. Not even that, the fabric is extremely delicate and hard to maintain, requiring a more dry cleaning approach compared to regular fabrics. Moreover, wearing it gives off a “costumey” appearance due to its difficulty in styling with casual pieces such as denim, making it look out of place.

Real Fur

You would have to be insanely confident to carelessly wear real fur in public nowadays. I say this because such a design would rally society against animal cruelty to preserve nature’s beauty rather than using it for profitable means. Specifically in the 1980s and 1990s, a shift in public opinion was prominently conveyed through boycotting industries pursuing the design and perceived it as scandalous. Today, bans have been enforced upon the design so it will continue to collect dust in their respective closets, not worthy of another day of sun. Unless you want to obtain the philosophy of Cruella de Vil, then by all means save yourself from public shame and indulge in synthetic alternatives or ditch the whole style altogether.

Gladiator Sandals

Similar to what the Bohemian aesthetic mood rings encompass, the gladiator sandals did wonders for styling staple pieces for Coachella throughout 2012 and 2015, with the intent to pursue the Tumblr girl stigma. However, nowadays they look like a hassle to even put on and painful to walk in. Perhaps, if they were paired with a white maxi or sun dress, then the look may be saved, but these days it will be an archive and nothing more. The only person that I can see pull these off would be Wonder Woman, but that’s only because of her gladiator resemblance.

Checkered Vans

In all honesty, I have not seen anyone wear these in a while since elementary school. These did numbers in 2020 when people lived for the “indie” and childlike aesthetic, but now society has indulged in performative styles, like Doc Martens, and adhering to Converse and adidas. Even a pair of those would cost you a hefty $60. Yes, they are easy to put on and sustain, but due to their eye-catching print, it makes the footwear hard to complete a more minimalistic outfit, which is preferred today.

–

When all is said and done, fashion is fashion and trends will remain merciless of the quality and quantity of the pieces. Let’s face it, we all have our own preference here and there as he gets our arm reps in, flipping hanger by hanger, having that mini crisis, having “nothing” to wear, or simply feeling underdressed and overdressed. And although there are exceptions, these five pieces of mine as well start digging their graves and remain in the archives of fashion, until someone with a vision brings them back to life.