This article was originally published on Kueez
1. Frosted Tips
Most boys growing up in the mid to late '90s wanted to emulate all the popular boyband members like Justin Timberlake with their frosted tips. However, if they admitted they liked boy bands, that was a different story.
All these boys needed was some bleach and a highlighting cap to get this odd-looking hairstyle. Most of the time, it turned out looking like ramen noodles, but it was "cool" back then. This one will forever haunt Justin Timberlake and most '90s teens.
2. Belly Chains
Nothing screams the early 2000s quite like a throwback picture of Christina Aguilera. With her tiny top, super low-rise jeans, and a belly chain, she looks like she can conquer the world. These stomach accessories were for those who weren't allowed to get their belly buttons pierced.
Although Aguilera rocked this look back in the day, no one really needs to be wearing jewelry on their stomachs. It looked like a misplaced belt for the pants that were way too low.
3. Hammer Pants
"Stop, Hammer Time!" This trend might be the worst on the list, and it doesn't help that even MC Hammer couldn't rock these. He started the trend in the video for his one-hit-wonder, "U Can't Touch This," and these pants were nicknamed after him.
These drop-crotch pants were typically made of non-rip nylon, and they were the worst thing to happen to fashion. Although they were durable for break dancing, they had no other use. If anyone thinks they can bring these back into style, they are wrong.
4. Scarves Used As Boob Holders
Christina Aguilera was the queen of risque fashion in the early 2000s. Another one of her iconic trends was the boob scarf. It literally looked like she took a scarf and used it to hold her boobs up, but called it a shirt. She would pair these with her low rise skirts that just barely covered her private parts.
Unless you had her confidence and her body, not many people dared to try this bold trend. We are glad it did not last for long because it is impractical and can only be worn to the VMA's in 2001. Let's leave this trend in the past for obvious reasons.
5. High-Heeled Timberland Boots
Timberland boots are a classic staple for construction sites and hikers, but at one point, they tried to move into mainstream fashion. The regular boots are usually paired with casual wear, but the company decided to add a stiletto heel to these casual boots.
While J.Lo looks incredible in any outfit, not even she can make these boots work. These shoes cost around $1,000 because designer Monolo Blahnik partnered with Timberland to create these monstrosities. Many people made knockoffs that were even uglier than the originals.
6. Transparent Colored Sunglasses And Arm Warmers
The clear colored glasses trend began in the '70s and made its way back into fashion in the '90s and early 2000s. This is proof of how trends find their way back into the spotlight over time. Paris Hilton was a huge fan of these classes along with her arm warmers.
Why wear a jacket or a long-sleeved shirt when you can throw on a pair of arm warmers. These two trends were horrible, and we are over-the-moon that they went out of style. While Paris Hilton may look good in just about anything, these are two things she hopefully threw away a long time ago.
7. Camo Everything
We have so many questions about this particular ensemble. From the bright pink neon camo dress to the arm warmers and bucket hat, this outfit is a look into fashion's past. From the looks of it, we don't want to go back to that time.
Once again, Paris Hilton brought on a trend that only worked for her body. While people may have tried to recreate this look, it was not worth it. We are glad bodycon camo dresses are a thing of the past, but we wouldn't mind bringing back the bright pink glossy lips.
8. Plastic Bracelets And Heavy Eyeliner
At one point, these plastic bracelets were all the rage among teens, but people later realized each color has a dark meaning. The colors represented different sex acts, which was why many parents were against this trend.
Avril Lavigne topped off this inappropriate bracelet trend with some heavy black eyeliner and neon-colored hair. It was popular with the people who were into punk trends and eventually faded out for the best.
9. Crocs
If you are a fan of The Office, you will remember when Michael said, "No God! Please, NOOOOO!" In that scene, he was probably thinking about the Crocs trend. The rubber clog-like shoes with holes in the top are the thing of actual nightmares.
Crocs were popular in the mid-2000s and made a strange come back around 2018, but it was ironically. People would wear these, and they gave people the most awkward tan lines. These should have never have been a trend in the first place, but we are glad they are gone.
10. Ed Hardy Shirts
From the stars of Jersey Shore to every teen across America, everyone was wearing Ed Hardy. These tattoo inspired shirts with added rhinestones were a dark time in 2000s fashion history. No matter how hard we try, we can't seem to forget this fashion nightmare.
All the coolest celebrities were rocking Ed Hardy apparel, and a young Chrissy Teigan walked in many of his fashion shows. Even Kim Kardashian was caught wearing some of these shirts. We hope this style never ever returns.
11. Overly Straightened And Oddly Colored Scene Hair
In the 2000s, the biggest trend among scene kids was destroying their hair for fashion. These girls would straighten their hair to the point where it was fried and then it was also bleached and dyed neon colors. Add in some teasing and you had the most fashionable scene hairstyle.
This hairstyle was widely popular for MySpace pictures, and it went along with the popular punk music. They paired this look with a band t-shirt, studded belt, and skinny jeans for the most "stylish" outfit.
12. Juicy Couture Velour Sweatsuits
If you weren't wearing a Juicy Couture sweatsuit with the brand name across the butt in rhinestones, you weren't cool in middle school. These velour matching sets came in every color you could imagine, and the best way to wear them was with a cami and ugg boots for the winter, and flip-flops for the summer.
From Paris Hilton to Lindsey Lohan and Britney Spears, all of these stars rocked the popular tracksuits. Everyone wanted to embody the style of these celebrities, but they quickly turned into the housewife uniform. Luckily they went out of fashion in the late 2000s, and we pray they don't come back.
13. Fashion Corsets
Corsets became a staple in fashion during the 1800s, and then people decided to bring these torture devices back into style during the 2000s. They cut off your circulation, move your organs around, and are generally uncomfortable.
Kelly Clarkson once rocked this look, but we think she would agree that she would never be caught dead in this look today. How was she able to breathe, sing, and dance around the stage with such a restrictive outfit. Let's leave the corsets in the 19th century.
14. Trucker Hats And Neon Fake Glasses
"Hi, is this the fashion police? We want to report a crime!" Trucker hats were a scary time in 2000s fashion. Here you can see one of the many time Snooki wore one of these awful headpieces. The mesh back and flexible front paired well with nothing because it was not a cute look.
Brands like Ed Hardy and Von Dutch were known for their signature trucker hats. Recently, Youtube star, Emma Chamberlain, tried to bring back this trend, and we would like to report her to the fashion police. Let's bury this trend six-feet under and forget about it.
15. Low-Rise Pinstripe Cropped Pants
We are not sure who thought this trend would be cute, but it was a trend in the mid-2000s. Cropped pinstripe pants did not look good on anyone, and we don't know how these became so popular. Just because Fergie wore a pair of pants once, does not mean everyone had to wear them.
There must have been something hypnotizing about the pinstripes because that is the only logical explanation as to why these were trendy. Luckily everyone came to their senses and realized how horrible these were.
16. Visible Underwear
We have so many questions for Gwen Stefani because she seems like the only person who embraced this odd trend. Usually, people are embarrassed that their underwear is showing, but she decided to make it a trend.
Maybe it was about female empowerment, or she did it accidentally and called it fashion. We don't know, but we don't want this to every become stylish again. If you buy cute underwear, someone should see it, but we don't know if we would consider this fashion.
17. Ultra, Ultra, Ultra Low-Rise Jeans
We have one question: Why? We can't imagine trying to sit in these low-rise jeans without your butt crack hanging out. Today everyone is into high-rise pants which are much more comfortable, and they allow you to wear underwear. Keira Knightly is wearing an extreme version of these pants, and we commend her.
Knightly took a fashion risk that we were never brave enough to try, but she probably looks back on this with regret. She had the abs and body to complement these pants, but it just seems too uncomfortable. Whoever is in charge of fashion trends, please don't recycle this trend.
18. JNCO/Baggy Jeans
We don't know how to say this nicely, but KNCO jeans were the absolute worst thing to happen to the '90s. These overly baggy jeans were popular among ravers and festival go-ers, but they would often come home covered in mud and germs from the port-o-potties.
These jeans were featured in Vogue, and David Beckham once wore them. We don't know what people were smoking in the '90s, but these were just horrid. We can imagine how mortified parents were when they saw their kids wearing JNCO jeans.
19. Sheer Dresses Over Pants
Keira Knightly, you have some explaining to do for these questionable trends. She couldn't decide between a dress or pants, so she wore both. Whoever styled this outfit should be fined for their crimes against fashion. Although it was trendy back then, we look back on this time with regret.
Many people tried to emulate this look, but it turned out to be a fashion disaster. Why can't we wear one article of clothing at a time? The 2000s seemed to be the time for layering as many items of clothing as possible.
20. Peasant Skirts And Useless Belts
Peasant skirts were all the rage in the early 2000s. These long flowy skirts were made of cotton and came in many different patterns. Although they seemed like a great idea to keep cool in the summer, people styled them in bizarre ways, which made them unfashionable.
People would wear them with a long shirt topped with a useless belt. Seriously, what was the point of the belt, we are still wondering. Peasant skirts are still around today, but they have been modernized, and people learned how to style them properly.
21. Oversized Leather Sport Coats
Everyone can thank The Matrix for this horrifying trend. Many male actors and singers were fans of the long leather trenchcoat, which was always oversized. The coats also came in a sport coat style that was just as confusing.
It often looked like men were wearing their father's clothing because these jackets were so ill-fitting. We are glad people learned how to find clothing that fits them, and left this trend in the '90s.
22. Pedal Pushers And Peep-Toe Heels
Pedal pushers were a type of pant that stopped right below the knee. The original trend began in the '50s and '60s, and then came back into style in the early 2000s. Stars like Kim Kardashian and Lauren Conrad would pair these with peep toe shoes, which made this look awful.
In 2018, Khloe Kardashian tried to bring this look back when she created a distressed pair of pedal pushers for her denim brand, Good American. Luckily, no one was a fan of the style, and the trend died again.
23. Real Fur
Do you like wearing sweet little woodland creatures? We are going to guess that you answered no, and it is the reason real fur went out of style. Animal activists pushed for this trend to die for obvious reasons. Innocent animals are being killed for fashion, and it needs to stop.
Many celebrities stopped wearing fur, but some people still buy it. This is a trend that needed to end to help save adorable animals. They don't deserve to be tortured and killed just to make an ugly coat.
24. Skirts Over Jeans And Multiple Shirts
As we said before, layering multiple articles of clothing was a massive trend for Disney stars in the mid-2000s. Here you can see Ashley Tisdale wearing jeans under a ruffle skirt and a tank top under a t-shirt. She must have been sweating up a storm with all those layers on.
She paired her outfit with various bangles, ballet flats, and this bizarre keyboard clutch. We have so many questions for Ashley Tisdale's stylist. Why would anyone let her walk a red carpet dressed like this? Sadly, there was a time when Tisdale regularly made the "worst dressed" list.
25. Tiny Tops And Super Low Ruffled Skirts
Paris Hilton was known for setting many trends throughout the 2000s, and one of them was the mini shirts with asymmetrical ruffled skirts. The key to making this look cute was to wear the skirt right above your pelvis, leaving little to the imagination.
She loved showing off her body, and we can see why, but this is just a fashion faux pas. We give her credit for being a trendsetter, but it wasn't always the most fashionable. We are glad this look has yet to make a comeback.
26. Ultra Short Pleated Skirts
Although pleated skirts have made a comeback in recent years, this particular style was horrible. These micro skirts barely covered anything, and they left almost nothing to the imagination. We are glad people have learned to cover up a bit more.
While we are all for embracing our bodies and wearing things that make us comfortable, these skirts were absurd. Nicole Richie is seen here walking onto a talk show with her butt almost hanging out.
27. Uggs And Jean Shorts
Ugg boots have always been a questionable accessory for fashionistas, and then people started pairing them with mini skirts and shorts. This combination was popular with Britney Spears and middle school girls.
It was a confusing time because people wanted their legs to stay cool while their feet were sweating inside the furry boots. It is hard to believe that this trend died only a few years ago.
28. Sequined Bags, Fur Sashes, And Ribbon Boots
Ashley, Ashley, Ashley, we are so sorry to tear your outfits apart, but can you blame us. We aren't sure if this was a real trend or just Tisdale's style, but we have to include it on the list. From the random fur sash and sequin bag to the camo skirt with a ribbon that matched her boots, it is all so blinding.
People often joke about the 2000s Disney star styles, and this look goes down in fashion history as one of the worst. We hope none of these trends ever come back, and we are so happy Tisdale's style has evolved.
29. Skinny Scarves
Why have a functional scarf that can keep your neck warm when you could have worn this skinny scarf that served no purpose? Celebrities from Lindsey Lohan to Hilary Duff rocked this look, but it went out of style because it was an unnecessary accessory.
While many accessories don't have a purpose, this one was just useless. We can imagine that the person who made arm warmers also came up with the skinny scarf. It is just a wild guess, but we are glad both of those items are gone for good.
30. Ties, Sweatbands, And Baggy Cargo Pants
In the 2000s, Avril Lavigne was known for her alternative style that included ties, tank tops, and baggy camo pants. It was a confusing trend that people didn't know how to react to. While some admired her for taking a risk, others criticized this hodgepodge of an outfit.
This trend of pairing random articles of clothing together was confusing, and it often left people looking like they hit the randomize button while making a Sim. Luckily fashion has since evolved.
31. Oversized Sunglasses
Have you ever been called "bug eyes" by your parents for wearing sunglasses that could cover your entire face? You can thank stars like Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton, and the Kardashian sisters for making this trend popular.
In the 2000s, celebrities would wear these to block their faces from paparazzi, but then everyone started wearing them, and it became a trend. People still opt for the over-sized look, but the glasses are more modern and fit today's trends better.
32. Short-Sleeves Layered Over Long-Sleeves
This layering look was a huge hit with many celebrities throughout the '90s and 2000s, and it is shocking. They would layer shirts even in the summer, and we don't know how they weren't dripping in sweat. Although Jennifer Anniston pulls off this weird trend, we still don't like it.
Layering can be helpful when the weather changes, or it is in-between seasons, but we wouldn't layer a t-shirt and long-sleeve these days. At least Rachel Green can laugh all the way to the bank for this fashion tragedy.
33. Visors
Why have the protect the top of your head from the sun when you can expose your scalp and only shade your face? Visors have been in style for quite some time, and they became trendy in the late '90s and early 2000s.
Boys wanted to look like Eminem, so they would wear their visors upside down or sideways, making this a genuinely useless piece of headwear. We can imagine all the '90s teens are cringing at the sight of this photo.
34. Random Fringe
If this image doesn't give you flashbacks to the rack at Limited Too, we don't know where you were shopping. The fringe was never consistent, but a line of it was placed along the waistline or on the sleeves.
This trend went out of style because it didn't make sense. It was odd, and people re-thought the use of fringe. Today fringe has come back into fashion, but it looks much better, and it is more consistent.
35. Teeny Tiny Sunglasses
Thank you, Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner, for bringing back tiny sunglasses. (We sarcastically mean this.) These sunglasses only looked good on a specific face shape, and they really don't protect your eyes from the sun.
Although we are envious that some people can totally rock this trend, we think it is equivalent to the skinny scarf; it is just a tiny version of the item that works.
36. Argyle Sweaters
Argyle should be reserved for socks only. However, in the 2000s, argyle sweaters were all the rage, especially after the release of Mean Girls. Gretchen Weiners was shown in argyle throughout the film, and people wanted to embody her style.
While Gretchen may have rocked these sweaters, this pattern is better left for inside your shoes. People ruined this trend when they started to layer graphic tees underneath, which completely ruined it.
37. Sweatbands
Now that '80s fashion is coming back into style, we have to be wary of the sweatband trend. Although they served a purpose, it was a fitness accessory that should not have been worn as streetwear. Can't you imagine people walking around with smelly bands across their heads?
Some people rocked this look, but we do not want to revisit this scary style. We can look back on it with a sense of nostalgia, but let's leave it in the past. Some things are not meant to be recycled.
38. Wedge Sneakers
Whoever designed wedge sneakers was probably thinking, "Why don't we replace the comfort and purpose of sneakers by adding a wedge?" This sneaker look was ended not too long ago, but we can't stop thinking about the horror.
Some people claim that these were comfortable, but we can't agree based on how weird they look. Can we all agree that people should stop adding heels to perfectly comfortable shoes?
39. Clear Plastic Boots
Although this photo was taken a year or two ago, we had to add it because we hope no one ever wears these shoes again. Thanks to Kanye West's brand Yeezy, we had to see people's shoes fog up from the sweat for an entire year.
We never understood why these became popular, but we can only guess that it is because of Kim Kardashian. Let's all say a silent prayer that these never become trendy again because it is not worth the visible perspiration.
40. Tank Top Turtlenecks
Do you want the warmth of a turtleneck with the breathability of a tank top? Then you would love the tank top turtleneck. These late-90s essentials were popular among teen stars like Mandy Moore and the Olsen twins. Pair it with a plaid skirt, and you have the most rad-looking outfit.
This style has modernized to a mock neck, which doesn't cover up your neck as much, but the idea is still odd when you think about it. While Mandy Moore may look adorable, we can leave this and many other trends in the past.