5 Style Trends of the Decade – The Great and The Ghastly
At the start of the decade I was 14, just starting to get a few curves despite mums constant assurance I had no ass to speak of.
It was easy to see that girls were supposed to use their bodies to provoke and that I’d need to start dressing more feminine. After my wigga stage in the late nineties I bought a pair of tight baby blue corduroy pants with my own money. I began to experiment with op shopping and pushing the boundaries, trying to find a personal style when the concept was still quite foreign. I tried to see how far I could push it without embarrassing myself. I didn’t like wearing revealing clothes, but I did like to grab attention.
It’s strange trying to coming up with my favourite and least favourite styles of the decade because it’s like coming up with the favourite and least favourite styles of my life. There was nothing before this. I’ve done all of my experimenting this decade, I’ve gone from wigga, to mish mash op shop girl, to young adult trying to fit in with all of the other young adults that actually look a bit skanky so I actually feel really uncomfortable, to trying to look like a respectable employed person, to dabbling in the goth, to deciding I didn’t give a shit and if I want to wear sneakers and a t shirt with a skirt suit then fuck you if you tell me I can’t.
So without further a do. These are the trends I’ve loved and loved to hate from 2000 – 2009.
The Great
Leggings In general I’m not very confident about my skin tone or texture so when leggings hit the shops around late 2007/early 2008 I was quick to take them up as a staple. Previously I’d worn woollen stockings as pantihose only last an hour around me before I put a hole in them. Unfortunately I’m sensitive to wool so wearing woollen stockings was never very comfortable.
Leggings are now available in many colours and sizes, and makers even cater for people taller than 5’3″ on occasion! Makes dresses bearable all year round and scandalously short skirts seem demure.
Body Mods This decade has seen body modification not just pushing the boundaries, but also becoming acceptable, and even mainstream. You’ll find tattooed, pierced, and stretched employees in most workplaces these days.
Having access to communities of people, via the internet, who appreciate body mods has flared my interest and made me an addict.
Blazers Easy to chuck on with whatever you’re wearing blazers always make you look a little more polished.
Wide Leg Pants As an owner of thighs that are one size larger than the rest of her proportions I rely on wide legged pants to balance me out. These pants look as though they fall straight from my hips and don’t place any extra emphasis on exactly how I curve.
Mixing Styles Many think pairing sneakers – street shoes that is, not runners – with business suits is tacky and lazy. Not me though. It’s my favourite look of the decade. I like to be comfortable and just polished enough so a t shirt, blazer, dress skirt or pants, and sneakers is the best.
Extras for experts – Androgyny, socks as an accessory to an outfit, chucks, nerd chic.
The Ghastly
Boho – This style rarely looks good outside of an ethereal looking editorial with horses.
Leggings as pants – Despite my big love for leggings as an accompaniment to a skirt or dress, a pyjama bottom, or a comfy alternative to trackpants, like trackpants I don’t think they should be worn out of the house as pants unless you’re doing sports. The material leggings are made from is usually thin and unforgiving. But most of all, it just looks like you forgot the last step when you got dressed in the morning.
Daisy dukes – At least if you’re wearing leggings I don’t have to see your ass. I’m sure you have a very nice ass, but I don’t really care for having it almost naked in front of me as I’m walking down the street.
Boob tubes – If you’re wearing one you end up spending half the night pulling it up to make sure you’re not exposing yourself. You can wear a bra with them. And worst of all they squish your boobs down at the top. What is the point? Just wear a singlet.
Crocs – I saved the worst for last because WTF?! I can almost understand your reasons for wearing them if you’re a nurse, or if you’re doing a spot of gardening. But really why are they so ugly? Crocs makers have proven they can make shoes that are comfortable without looking like the original hideous chunk of plastic so why do they even make the ugly ones?
Extras for experts – Ugg boots as shoes, fake tan that is too many shades darker than your natural colour, huge sunglasses on girls with tiny features, Paris Hilton.
What did you dig on this decade?
17 Responses to “5 Style Trends of the Decade – The Great and The Ghastly”
I saw yellow crocs inside september ish of Vogue Pelle yesterday, on a mens feature. Being in a prestigious mag doesn’t make it ok. Anywhoooo, I quite like/d glunge and goth inspired collections.
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so so acurate!! love this list, esp the ghastly heheh
i also loved:
- black skinny jeans
- leotards and body suits
- spanx!
- oversized clutches
hated:
- vintage being ‘in’. prices sky-rocketed!
- the 80s revival and fluro
- silky cargo pants worn with heels. remember that circa 2002ish?
- ghetto bling
i KNOW there is more hmmm
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I loved:
- Boyfriend jeans (accentuate my waist and makes my hips look almost ok) worn with fitted tees
- Oversized bags (yeah, I’m a bag whore)
- Doc Martens with skirts
- Awesomely long and puffy scarves! ^^
Hated:
- Harem pants
- plastic bangles (wtf??? who can write or type properly with that on???)
- I don’t even know the name… it’s that kind of tee, that’s open in the front showing more than enough cleavage… and even the navel!!! outrageous..
- stripped sun glasses WHAT THE EFFF? that’s totally useless… and everyone seems to dig them (http://www.kampaaniatoode.ee/bw_client_files/kampaaniatoode/public/magick.php/img/Image/triibu%20prillid.JPG?resize%28400×266%29)
and that’s it^^
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Your list is pretty much spot on! Like you, it’s really hard for me to pick out the best/worst of the last 10 years, because I was 12 years old in 2000. Think what I would’ve picked is probably the same as your picks anyways!
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Oh my god, you’re so right – I was 14 in 2000, so all my fashion experimentation has been this decade. All my everything has basically been in this decade. Wow.
Top 5
1) Hip hop: The heyday of this was in the early 90s, but because I found it in the last decade, it makes the list. I love my chunky high top sneakers!
2) Dancewear: This was big in the 80s, but there was a definite resurgence after ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ took off. Leggings and bright patterns galore.
3) Acid brights: I am a colour addict.
4) Dinosaur Designs: I have spent so much money on their accessories. They are beautiful.
5) Beth Ditto for Evans: This only happened a few months ago and I only bought a pair of leggings, but this was a huge deal. This was the first time a plus size range was treated like a mainstream range. It was obvious, it had a star designer, and it had a ton of hype. It was a seriously exciting thing for us young fatties.
Bottom 5
1) Spanx: What? You want me to hide my spectacular lower half in a pair of expensive sausage casing? No thank you.
2) Fake tans: I get that it’s necessary with the whole skin cancer thing, but I have seen enough Oompa Loompas and streaky brown feet to last me a lifetime.
3) The Veronicas make-up: 13 year olds walking around with thick black kohl eyeliner. Pass.
4) Emo: Nuff said.
5) Mid-90s Spice Girls: Who can forget the crop top, baggy cargo pants and platform sketchers look? Unfortunately, I can’t.
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Spot on Ms Constantine! You know I agree with you whole-heartedly on Crocs being a fashion disaster. I’m pretty easy when it comes to style and fashion; people should wear what makes them feel comfortable and/or fantabulous.
I draw the line at skanky. Nothing makes me madder than skanky. These girls are not dressing for themselves – they are dressing for what they think a male might want.
If they are a decent male, they will be attracted when you are wearing a potato sack lady!
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Whaaaaat?! They should definitely know better! I love glunge too (I also like saying glunge).
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o gosh, I had forgotten all about cargo pants, let alone the silky version. Ugh.
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Harem pants! I can’t believe I left them off my list!
And those stupid shutter shades – damn you Kanye West.
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This is spot on!
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I don’t like that body mod has become so popular. But everything else I agree with:)
Hrmm I can hardly remember the decade. I never understood boho or whatever look mary-kate olsen has going on. Works for her though… hobochic?
x
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The popularity does make it a little less special and a little more bandwagony, but the fact I can still get a job in an office with stretched ears and tattoos makes it ok by me.
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[...] Cupcakes and Mace: 5 Style Trends of the Decade – The Great and the Ghastly A personal look at styles to love and love to hate [...]
FYI: I am jealous of your thighs being bigger than your calfs. That is something I’ve craved ever since I started flashing around my bread stick legs.
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Really Tash!? I had no idea that it was even possible to have thighs that are smaller than your calves. Everyone is different though and we need to learn to live with it and make the most of it! I’m finally realising that my big thighs aren’t going anywhere and I should make the most of them. Don’t be jealous of me!
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Lol. Should have clarified that they’re practically the same size and not the other way around. Thanks Ms!
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[...] Cupcakes and Mace: 5 Style Trends of the Decade – The Great and the Ghastly A personal look at styles to love and love to hate [...]
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