I think there is a huge difference between a modern corset and those torturous Victorian contraptions that displaced organs and affected ones ability to breathe. Though even today there are tightlace fetishists who get their waists down to 13". I agree that our collective self image would probably be better off without corsets and anything else that grotesquely exaggerated an houglass shape.

As long as we are going into the past, no lotus shoes and crinolines either please. I'm tempted to ban heels over 3" but I know I would be skinned alive.

Rubber flip flops. I am so sick of everyone wearing them everywhere constantly. And they are bad for your feet!

I agree on the t shirts. I know they are practical for working around the house, and they can be a nice layering piece, but on their own I've only seen 2 people on the planet who they are flattering on.

I would add to the list
sweatshirts,
banded sweat pants (I know they are from the past, but what a horror they were!)
holiday sweaters and socks

and for men..
cargo shorts... argh!
and the lime green shorts that my husband came home from a trip with a few years ago...

gotta hop in the shower but I'm sure I'll think of more...

Very interesting responses! Lots of chuckling on my end too.

Jean, you don't wear basic T's. Amanda, thanks for pointing that out.

Laura, I *almost* said rubber flip flops but loathe basic boxy T’s EVEN more. If you hear about a basic T-shirt bonfire, I'm the one that started it.

What else?

Please don't take away my Uggs. I visit my mother in winter and she does not believe in heating. I don't wear them outside of the house, I promise! Just to get the mail, possibly, in a weak moment.
What would I ban? Crocs. If peeps want to be comfortable, they can wear some clog not made out of plastic. If I can't ban Crocs, then I ban the decorative plastic thingys people stick in the aeration holes. At least I think that's what the holes are for.

I agree with you on un-inventing those boxy short-sleeved tees that flatter no one. I groan when having to wear one for some volunteer fuction, especially when all were ordered in XXL. The banded sweat pants from the past are a close second. ghastly things!

This will make all the Brits and Aussies on the forum laugh, but I would un-invent fanny packs. I have no idea what you call them over there, but they are the bags you buckle around your waist. Most commonly seen worn with ugly khaki capris and boxy t-shirts.

Joy- whenever I am handed a dreaded t-shirt to wear for a function, I promptly cut off the sleeves and cut a v-neck into it. It's still not fab, but it's a whole lot better. Last year we had to wear t-shirts for a week long Vacation Bible School. I showed up on day one with my newly styled t-shirt, and by the end of the week 50% of the other workers had altered theirs as well. Even just cutting the band off of the neck and the sleeves a little shorter looked kindof cute on some of the gals.

OT, but speaking of altering tees- we recently saw a young lady who had taken a boxy tee and cut up the side seams, cut off the neck ribbing and the sleeves. It must have been way too big for her, because she cut fringe into the sides and made it smaller by tying them together. It looked really cute! The tee was a bright yellow, and she had it layered over a white tank.

Kristen, I believe they are called bum bags. I saw two of them today and was horrified. Both wearers (one man and one woman) had pronounced bellies and wore their fanny packs/bum bags below the belly, around the hips. The bag part was sagging a bit due to the weight of whatever was inside, so it ended up appearing cover their crotches!

Louise was (possibly still is) determined to make bum bags make a stylish comeback!

It's a modern day cod piece!

Kim and Khris, thank you for the ideas. I'll have to carry a pair of sharp scissors in my "cod piece" when we help with Shakespeare in the Park this month. It will be too hot and humid for sleeves anyway.
I just thought of another...I'd like to un-invent deliberately distressed jeans with holes in them. Someday those who spent $$$ on these are going to wonder what they were thinking.

What a funny thread!

Now, I wouldn't want to un-invent all pajama pants, but maybe just those that some people feel are so adorable that they must be worn in public.

DH tried to hold a door open for a woman yesterday at a service station who then actually slowed down to enter the building and then sneered at him as she passed through. And she was wearing pajama pants at 1:00 in the afternoon. Sheesh.

Oh, I thought of another - butt writing! Whoever thought this was a good idea should be shot! (ahem - Juicy Couture - ahem who seriously wants "juicy" written on their butt?)

Kristen we call them bum bags here or I prefer hip bags. Maya well remembered you made me smile, I saw a gorgeous one a few weeks ago white or black leather with triangular studs on and a chain belt. My friend made me walk away from it though mind you it was £25 not sure even I can justify that for a high fashion? item x

Great thread and I think Maya hit the nail on the head that most things do have a place but it is when people don't realise the appropriate use that the crime is committed. (case in point....leggings as pants!!!)
Just a note...banded sweat pants may be making a comeback. Yikes! Much to my intense horror (and futile attempts to dissuade them) my teenage daughters ordered some online this week. As if the styling wasn't bad enough, the girls have chosen them in flouro pink and orange! Should I be directing them here for some light reading and education?

I'm not going to ban any specific item of clothing, since I agree with Maya's point that attitudes are what make individual items reprehensible...But I will come down against certain types of fabric. Kindly dispense with those tissue-thin jersey knits, cheap super-shiny sateen, old-school pleather (the type that reminds you of a camping tent), and that rough, crinkly material that some tops are made of.
And I have a special place on my hate list for moehair.

haha- fanny packs.. they help you spot a tourist a mile away

And Joy.. I use fray check to keep seams from undoing when I restyle my t-shirts.

Fanny packs are pretty bad, but I am going to have to go with cropped pants in Petite size ranges...And please don't say jumpsuits. I know they're controversial, but I just ordered a black silk strapless one online today. Hehe...I'm such a rebel. (-:

Scarlet:

Don't worry, I won't take away your Uggs if you need them to keep your feet warm at your mom's house. I mostly want to take them away from the people on my commuter bus who wear them with their scrubs (a few even wear them with business casual outfits) to work.

And I'm with you on those "decorative" thingies people stick on their Crocs - they make a bad thing even worse!

OK I'm starting to feel a little paranoid here. I do rely on tshirts a lot (not as much as I used to, but still a lot). I also own 2 pairs of crocs (only worn at work and when cleaning the verandah now) and birkies (worn much less than I used to thanks to ylf). Am I a walking fashion nightmare????

Louise, I don't think there is a big market for high fashion bum bags. My guess is it will go on sale! Keep an eye out.

Tam, your tee shirts are better fitted and better quality than those boxy cheap, short cotton things. As Maya points out so well, it's really an individual's attitude when wearing such things. Here I see way too many tees that are worn out in public (even to church, events and restaurants) that are badly stretched out of shape, stained, and in need of a wash.
I confess that I have a few strictly for layering under a jacket, somewhat fitted, and long enough for pants. They get replaced at least once a year with a couple kept only for washing the dog and yard work.

My dear, Tam. You know I appreciate your Birkenstocks. Very Euro and they totally work for your style. I have never seen you wear a basic boxy T or Crocs so I know they aren't part of your daily looks. You also know I think that you are super stylish, so don't you for a second think that you aren't!

We use to call fanny packs "moonbags". I can see them working in a hip and fun way. In fact, I'd totally wear a Chanel one :0)

Elizabeth,
Thank you for letting me have my Uggs I am so relieved, my toes are tingling with warmth at the thought.

Bum bag -
I call it a fanny pack and I am American. Is this a generational thing? Come to think of it, since when is "bum" American? I thought that was British. Moonbag? that must be the upper-scale version with no reference to the heinie

Angie,
If you could take away those T-shirts, you would vanquish 3/4 of my husband's wardrobe and I would be SO happy! I am fighting the good fight against those T-shirts, but more so on the 10 year plan of subtlety. Like water wearing down a stone...

Birkenstocks -
I am wearing some right now! And they are pink! They are my summer house shoes.

How to spot an american tourist:

Fanny pack
White socks with sandals (he's German if he's wearing black socks w/sandals)
baseball cap- men
sun visor- women
shorts
sports team team paraphanilia

Crocs. Maxi-dresses for anything but eveningwear. Anything with heels higher than 4 inches.

I'll have to say anything with a shelf bra and flip flops with no structure so you have to drag your feet as you walk.

Tam: I hear you on the Birkenstocks. I love them. I'm also a big fan of "fanny packs" done right and sport a flat Gucci one for so many years now. I can't imagine giving them up. With most of these things, it's what you make of them and when you wear them.

However, I can't imagine myself wearing shelf bras and rubber flip flops even to the beach.

I have an irrational hatred of Terry de Hallivand style wedges so it would have to be those (sorry 70's lovers), imagine all of the fractures which could be prevented as well as the horrible 90's Spice Girls inspired come back.
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=.....Categories

Its got to be crocs. Sorry I just cannot understand why so many wear them. Comfort is no excuse, there are plenty of comfy shoes, there is no need to wear something so dreadfully ugly!