Trends We Swore We’d Never Try (But Totally Did)

FASHION

Victoria Guillou

10/17/2024

© Colonne / Pinterest

There’s a universal truth every fashion lover eventually has to face: at some point, we all end up trying a trend we swore we’d never touch with a ten-foot pole. The styles that make you cringe when they first hit the runway or your Instagram feed. The ones you side-eye and say, "I would never wear that." Fast forward six months, and suddenly you’re rocking said trend like it was your idea in the first place. Yeah, we've all been there.

The trends we swore off—only to end up obsessed with.

The truth is, fashion has a funny way of making us eat our words. The trends we laugh at today are the ones we’ll be wearing tomorrow—and loving every minute of it. Because sometimes, the thing we swore we’d never wear is exactly what we need to break out of our style rut and have a little fun. So, here’s to the trends we judged too quickly but eventually embraced. And who knows? Maybe the next fashion "disaster" will be your future favorite.

Low-Waisted Comeback

At first, we thought it was a joke. When the runway started showing those barely-there waistlines again, we all scoffed. "Nope. Not happening. I have dignity and belly rolls." But then, the cool girls started wearing them—like Bella Hadid, rocking her low-rise jeans with crop tops and more confidence than anyone has any right to. And just like that, the tide began to turn.

The Tiny Sunglasses

There’s a certain logic to sunglasses—they’re supposed to protect your eyes, right? So when the tiny sunglasses trend came along, most of us thought, What’s the point? These slivers of eyewear barely covered your pupils, let alone provided any shade. But then Bella Hadid rocked a pair, and suddenly, they became an Instagram staple. Sure, they don’t exactly block the sun, but who cares when they make you look like a futuristic style icon?

Football Shorts

Remember when they were strictly for, you know, playing football? We swore they’d never make it off the field and into our wardrobes. But then, fashion did what it does best: it surprised us. Suddenly, we’re pairing football shorts with oversized blazers, crop tops, and sneakers, pretending we didn’t just finish a workout. Comfy, practical, and somehow... cool? We gave in. And now, those sporty little numbers are an everyday summer essential. Who knew athletic chic could look this good?

Neon Colors

Let’s be honest—there was a time when we associated neon colors with 80s workout videos and raves, not chic everyday wear. “No one wears highlighter yellow in real life,” we thought. Then fashion decided to turn up the brightness, and before long, we were rocking neon greens, pinks, and oranges like it was no big deal. Turns out, a pop of neon is exactly what our wardrobes needed to add a little extra flair. Who knew?

Ballerina flats

Once the shoe we all rolled our eyes at. They were too dainty, too girly, too... well, flat. We told ourselves we needed heels for power and sneakers for comfort. But then, they made a comeback. Suddenly, every It-girl was gliding around in them, looking effortlessly chic. And just like that, we were back in the ballet game, swapping our stilettos for those sweet little flats. Turns out, they’re not only cute but practical—and maybe a little nostalgic for our inner ballerina dreams. Now? We’re twirling in them like it’s 2006 all over again.

Tie-Dye Everything

There was a time when tie-dye was strictly for summer camps and music festivals. The idea of incorporating tie-dye into a chic wardrobe felt... impossible. “I’m not wearing a rainbow mess,” we said. But then lockdown hit, and suddenly we were all tie-dyeing sweatsuits like it was the only thing keeping us sane. Now, tie-dye has made its way into our everyday wardrobe, and we can’t seem to get enough of the colorful chaos.

Animal Print (But Make It Leopard)

Animal print has always been a tricky trend. It’s bold, wild, and, let’s face it, a little risky. So naturally, many of us thought, Not for me. But then leopard print slinked its way back into our closets, and suddenly, it was everywhere—on coats, shoes, dresses. Now, it’s become a neutral in our wardrobe. Leopard print is no longer scary—it’s fierce. We’re wearing it like it’s a basic, and honestly, we feel a little more powerful every time we do.

Crocs (Yes, Really)

We all laughed when Crocs came back into the spotlight. “Crocs? As fashion?!” But then, something magical happened. The fashion world embraced them, and suddenly, we were all side-eyeing them a little less. Maybe it was the collaborations with big-name designers, or maybe we finally just caved to the undeniable comfort. Either way, we’ve found ourselves in the unthinkable position of actually considering a pair of Crocs... and some of us already have them.