What looks do you consider dated or "out"? - YouLookFab Forum

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What looks do you consider dated or "out"?

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Sparked by Angie's post here:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....t-the-norm
I tried pulling out some of my 90's skirts and styling them with my modern pieces but apparently they still look dated:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....hion-grain
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....90s-skirts

So apparently bias cut above the knee printed skirts scream 90's and are super dated. I am curious to find out what else is considered dated or "out". This is slightly different from Angie's post where she asked what things you currently wear that aren't currently in fashion. This is more about what do you consider a fashion no-no because it looks dated.

My theory (although maybe MaryK is right about me clinging to the past) is that midi skirts are back in after they were popular in the 50's but then considered frumpy up until now, and now they're totally in fashion again. The 70's have had their big revival for the past few years, and now the 80's are just coming back in fashion (notice the neon and bright colors and tapered trousers all in this spring). So maybe the 90's are next in line and will come back in style in a few years. I think I'll save my favorite skirts till they're the height of fashion again! LOL!

What looks do you consider dated or "out" and why? Do you think they will ever come back in style?

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Dressing

34 replies

Latest reply was from

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I consider the gigantic shoulder pads dated - remember those suits (either skirts or trousers) where the jacket were double breasted with huge shoulder pads? (I'm ashamed to admit I had a skirt suit in bright red like that).

Mo

(website)

Veteran

High waisted womens Levi's 501's, like I wore in high school in the early 80's. Totally out of date. Feathered hair - same. Totally dated. Some things just scream a certain time period. Belly baring tight tee shirts, totally turn of the millenium. Dated.
Some people wear these things, either ironically or cluelessly. Maybe after enough people ironically don the styles, they start to trickle back in. Or fashion tires of a silhouette and brings back an oldie in a new iteration. Either way, the original item is likely to still look dated if the trend comes back around years later.

ironkurtin

Veteran

GP - I think it's about fit and fabric and not the item itself. But then I'm getting a lot of stuck-in-the-90s feedback, and I don't MIND being stuck there because I LIKE it. So...

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

Hmm.... I am not the best person for this question as I have a very untrained eye.

Things I'd consider dated:

Huge shoulder pads
Mom jeans a la what Mo said
Tapered, pleated slacks look dated to me
Ditsy floral prints
Shorts with tights or leggings (minus the leggings,I'd still love shorts, big boots, t and a flannel shirt though. SO 90's but I love it)
Pointy shoes

rae

(website)

Veteran

Hugely baggy jeans...

Giganto shoulder pads and bulky pleating on jackets...

Satiny, bootcut, embroidered cargo pants...

Velour tracksuits...

High waisted/pleated/tapered (mom) jeans...

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christieanne

Veteran

I think everything sort of still stays around and just has slight tweaks.
You do see bias cuts now but in the longer midi length.
Pointy shoes have never been out but the extreme version of the nineties is replaced by a more feminine point which is pretty classic. Thank goodness because I love pointy toes.
I have to disagree with Mo on the 501's - they can still look good and not every body is built for low rise jeans. Frumpy mom jeans are different somehow in a pocket design, tapered leg cut than a classic straight leg 501. I don't like the buttons so much though.

I have not seen acid wash coming back (good in my book) nor the extreme shoulder pads (I did those too Shannon) but designers will always play with shoulder design I guess.

I liked neon the second time around but not the first. Wedge shoes are back with a vengeance and don't seem to be on the decline.

Anonymous

Mom jeans
Tapered pants
Pleated pants
Huge shoulder pads
Any shoe that has an exaggerated toe (very square or very pointed)
Feathered hair (I see this very, very dated hairstyle on more women than I'd like to)
Scrunchies for ponytails
Tracksuits
Neon/fluorescent colors (have always hated them!)

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

You can wear vintage stuff but you have to wear it in a whole new and modern way.

I have a golden oldie dress from 2002 that I still wear all the time. Back then I wore it with a tiny white shoulder bag and black strappy flat sandals. Now I wear it with dotty and black platform cage sandals.

One vintage piece per outfit and everything else has to be thoroughly modern.

ETA: Here's my golden oldie dress: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....es-evolved

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Sorry, I think these just look bad, even on hot models. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related

Jonesy

Veteran

Uniformly faded light blue jeans that are high-waisted and loose through the thighs, with a t-shirt or knit tucked into them, worn with white sneakers and a wide belt (see Exhibit A, below).

Shirts for women that are too snug and short, especially knits. Mock turtlenecks (sorry!). Big shoulder pads on tops or jackets. Bangs that are hairsprayed so that they stand straight up. Matching polyester pant suits that you would see for a dime a dozen at your local Goodwill.

These are just some things off the top of my head!

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catgirl

Veteran

Everything goes in and out of style so it's hard to say, but new incarnations tend to be different enough that the vintage version is not the same. For example, genuine 80s items still mostly look dated to me, even if the 80s are back. Of course, I did just wear that 80s colorblocked blazer I thrifted, but I tried to modernize it, and it didn't have the main hallmarks of the decade (giant shoulder pads and IT shape, flimsy rayon fabric, etc.).

Or there's those 90s Liz Claiborne gabardine work pants with the tiny waists and huge hips and uber-long rise and tapered legs. I CAN"T believe I EVER wore those, or even fit into them.

There's also a degree of subjectivitiy. PB blouses in any style will always be Melanie Griffith "Working Girl" office wear to me, no matter how current they are today. Or those striped j.crew rugby shirts from the 80s... eek!

Marie-Claude

(website)

Member

This is my first comment and I am not particularly on trend so bear this in mind.

I absolutely love your 90s skirts, would totally wear those and I could easily see the cute moms of my Seattle or Quebec City neighborhoods wearing them.

For me, a printed skirt in more or less a classic and to my eye even that cut is fine. I feel that more dramatic items from an era (bare bellies, velour suits, and giant shoulder pads) are very hard to wear without feeling costumy, unless one is a cool confident teen with a great ironical style.

I wear a lot of 90s stuff (boot cut pants, doc martens) but I feel good and confident in them so I feel it's ok for me. In general i think the question is more about how you feel about yourself in them as in: can you carry it off with confidence or not?

Just my 2 newbie cent

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

tapestry vests
those shapeless 90's floral dresses (Stacy and Clinton call it the "I give up dress")
bedazzled jeans, or bedazzled anything, really
too short trousers

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I wish I knew. I obviously share your ignorance about bias cut skirts being dated. I had no idea!

catgirl

Veteran

Oh, I also think those stretchy print juniors style fitted tops that Mo and I both purged a few of...

Marie

Good question.

Obviously dated is very subjective. I guess I know it when I see it. I work with a very attractive older woman (body, hairstyle) but has not purchased a new piece of clothing since the 80's. EVERYTHING she wears looks "dated" long plaid jackets with shoulder pads, pleated, baggy pants w/cuffs, horrid high-waisted mom jeans, etc.

I have 2 fashionista daughters (mid 20's) who haven't worn "tube tops" since age 5

devon7

(website)

Here's what I would add (based upon recent closets I've seen):

- Sleeveless turtlenecks or mock turtlenecks
- Crew-neck sleeveless ribbed tops
- Twinsets (I usually advice people to split them up and wear the pieces separately)
- The capri pants that are cut to mid-calf and with wider or cuffed legs (I don't really like capris at all, but those types are the worst!)
- Square-toe shoes
- Long, boxy blazers with big shoulder pads
- Leather bomber jackets for women (the 80s/90s style that are more cut for men)
- The "I give up" dresses (long and shapeless with tie waist)
- Baggy jeans shorts (especially with cuffs)

The list could go on and on, but that's what came to mind right now.

Echo

Veteran

A person need to keep in mind that something can be considered "dated" one day and then totally fresh and "new" the next, depending on whether a big-name designer has put them on the runway. People are sheep and will fall for ANYTHING again - even Hammer pants. Anyone remember when HUGE leg jeans became popular? Along with enormous bell-bottoms? Yes, they can make absolutely anything come back again, including everything listed in this thread.

That's why I think it is so important to be able to assess yourself and your style when you look in the mirror. The skirts mentioned in the OP can absolutely work and not be immediately tagged as dated, IMO, especially since GP is on the younger side and is well-put-together. As long as items look intentional, I think a person can get away with a lot more than fashion dictates. And yes, even if something isn't in fashion right now, if you wait it will be. Mid-length skirts never really went away, especially for women of a certain age; the primary difference was that the current trend was short so it was difficult to find them in stores. But they were all the rage in the 50's, and also in the early to mid-80's, and pencil skirts have tended that direction forever. Tapered and cropped pants are viewed as very on-trend right now, but they were also a trend in the 50's and can sometimes recall Peg Bundy if a wearer is not careful. The point is that as soon as items flood store shelves, people buy them when they would have scoffed at the idea before they saw them featured at Neiman-Marcus. One day and one person's (designer's) opinion can make a dated item on trend, and my point is that YOU can mke that day today and make that one person be you instead of waiting for someone else to okay it.

If we live as a slave to trends then we cannot even comfortably wear our engagement/wedding jewelry, because there are obvious trends in that arena, too. But sometimes like IK said, people LIKE what they are wearing - even items that might recall another decade. As long as you wear it with intent and feel good in it, you can likely get away with quite a lot of things that would otherwise be pegged as "dated".

Anonymous

I am not sure if I can make a list. I honestly don't know if something looks dated until I see it. Take Angie's blog post today, for example. She is wearing square toed shoes with her beautiful ensemble. I bet those squared toe shoes would make someone's dated list. Do they look dated on her? No way!

Your post in the skirt and dress asked for opinions and you know how opinionated we can get. I was not too crazy about them, probably because I was never crazy about them to start with. The 90s happen to be my least favorite era fashion wise, in all honesty.

Besides whatever opinions we might have, the important thing is how YOU feel on them. If you like them, wear them in confidence. Hey, I bet if I was posting outfits as often as you do, I'd be getting plenty of opinions, pro and against what I wear. Will that stop me from wearing what I love? Probably not

Traci

Veteran

I think that if you love something as much as you clearly love these skirts then you should keep them whether they are in or out. I do think it's important to look at why you're clinging to them and make sure that it's because the aesthetic appeals to you and not because they remind you of a certain time. Look to Angie's recent blog post about being okay with being off trend. I think that's where personal style lives, just on the other side of fashion and trend, in the stuff you love regardless of the trends. It's nice when the trends swing around and we get to be fashionable again, but in the mean time, wear it if you love it.

I think my love for a chunky shoe keeps me grounded in the 90's. To my eye a heavy shoe will always look best on me because it balances the rest of my figure. I enjoy it when it's on trend, but I still wear them when they're not trending because they feel like me.

Anonymous

Funny you should mention this GP, as I was just thinking about it the other day. Certain items are classics, and they come in and out of favor. The twinset is an example of one that has had its moment in the sun. I think a knee length, bias cut skirt is pretty classic (I have a solid one on today) but prints can sometimes date an item.

In other words, if the stores were jammed with similar prints in the 90's and everyone was wearing them, then anyone who was around then could look at you wearing your 90's print skirt today and guess your age (or at least your skirt's age), and that's what "dated" really means. Kind of like if you walked into an older house and all of the fixtures were brass, you would be able to guess what general time period the house was built in.

If your skirts are really nice (fine fabric and workmanship) you could always just lay them aside for a few years because they *will* seem new again, at some point. Or you could defend them staunchly and enjoy wearing them now if you like! As long as you're having fun!

Aida

Veteran

I'm with Zap, I have a hard time assessing "dated" until I see it. There is more than just the item that goes into it though, the person's style, demeanor, hair/makeup, what they've paired it with etc. all affect it. And keep in mind when things "come back around" they are usually a little different, so if those bias skirts come back they will likely not be quite the same

DonnaF

Veteran

Earlier this week I wore an outfit that in retrospect was probably horribly dated which is why it didn't feel right. Until these past nine months or so, I spent nearly two decades not following fashion trends/styles and pretty out of stores except to shop for my daughter. This means I am nearly clueless as to what is dated.

I wore black dress slacks, a white polished cotton blouse with ruffles around neck, front, bottom, and cuffs (my first and last venture into ruffles), and a deep, reddish purple crepe suit jacket that I thrifted. Gotta be careful with that thrifting. The color combo felt dated, especially using that jacket with its longer cut. I bought the blouse at Ross to try ruffles, but the combo with the jacket really made it feel like something from the '80s. It flattered my body but not my mind. I needed to look conservative, but time warp is not the answer!

Kari

Veteran

Okay, these are some of the items that look very dated to my eye. My bias is that I grew up in the 90's and for the most part was too young to really participate in 80's trends the first time around:
Sagging pants with boxers hanging out
Overalls on adults
Cut-off shorts
Scrunchies
Very exaggerated, structured shoulders/puffy sleeves
Acid wash denim
VERY "distressed" denim
Jeans with a ton of "bling" on the back pockets
Polyester maxi skirts with slits up the side
Very dark, purple or brown lipstick
Eyebrows plucked or waxed into oblivion (I saw SO many friends wreck their lovely eyebrows when I was in middle and high school by over-tweezing!)
Thick ribbed crew neck or turtleneck knit tops or sweaters
Belly shirts
Pumps or boots with a SUPER exaggerated pointy toe
Thick, puffy "Alice in wonderland" style headbands
Lipstick with dark/highly visible/contrasting lip liner
Knit/cotton tops with a very thin lacy/ruffled edge (kind of like this)
VERY chunky platform shoes
Pleated khaki chinos
Baseball caps worn backwards
Velour/knit tracksuits
Jeans with a gathered elastic waistband
Jeans with an ultra low rise - especially with a thong "whale tail" peeking out the back (ugh)

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

My list is very opinionated. Of course.

-Pointy-toe shoes with the tip squared off (very important distinction with today's high-end pointy-toe shoes). Very early 00s.
-Agree with Rae on the Da Nang cargo pants with embroidery (very 2003-2006).
- Blingy back pockets (very 2005-2007).
- Ed Hardy type tees and bags with tattoo-type graphics and lots of embellishments (very mid 00s).
- Those prints with visible folds in them. Not sure what this is called? Also very mid 00s or recent past years. One World I think makes a ton of them.
- Baby doll/empire tops (very 2007-2008).
- Very fitted as opposed to looser tees look a little dated.
- Any tee or top that is fitted AND cropped with belly showing. A same length top that is boxy is on trend with really young people, however.
-Skinny cargoes were all the rage (from J Brand) over the past two years but to me they look dated now.
- Ruffles are starting to look dated to me.
-Cascade cardis and jackets are starting to look dated to me.
- Looking forward to cropped skinny jeans being really dated SOON! Cannot wear this look.

In general, things from the early to mid 00s look more dated than clothes from the 90s or 80s, unless we're talking big hair and Mom jeans. Vintage 70s clothing is decidedly cool! Even though we stepped away from the 70s compared to last year and last summer.

Things that can look cool to me but which others thought might be dated in this thread:
-pointy toe shoes
- square toed shoes
- bias cut skirts (I think they're more early 00 than 90s, or perhaps they had a resurgence in the early 00s). I think they're kind of classic.
- overalls (the Man Repeller wears them)
- cut offs
- very distressed denim. Has had a resurgence, starting in Paris and Milan this spring.

catgirl

Veteran

Ooh, Denise, I'm wearing those exact j. brand cargos today! Tell me if you think they look dated - I can take it.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I still see a lot of both the blingy pockets and the Ed Hardy sublimation/tattoo prints here in town. I actually mentioned this to Denise when she visited. I wonder if it's the casino influence or just a regional kind of thing? Admittedly, it is usually over 35 or 40's wearing these things in their 'casual cool' looks, not the youngest, hippest set. I never did the Ed Hardy thing but have 2 pair of Miss Me embellished jeans.

And on another note, I am watching old SNL on VH1 right now and Selma Hayek was in a red velour track suit! Checked the guide - 2003. So there's a way to catch the dated trends at their height of popularity, watching old tv programs

catgirl

Veteran

OMG, I watch Seinfeld reruns all the time. Elaine's equestrienne looks still look okay to me, but her floral dresses and giant hair are something else!

Aziraphale

Veteran

This is a tough one, because it all depends on who's wearing it. For example, my husband made me watch the last three installments of American Idol, and every time I saw Steven Tyler I goggled at his crazy 1970s suits -- with bell bottoms! -- but, then, he's Steve Tyler. A man who can wear women's blouses with panache can pretty much wear anything. If I wore that, it would look dated....but I'm not a rock star.

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