11 Universally Feared Fashion Trends That Are Back

Style is, of course, cyclical, but many of this year's most talked-about trends are things we thought would forever remain in fashion's Room 101. Items that have the power to make almost anyone shudder—kitten heels, rose-coloured glasses, skirts over dresses and stirrup leggings—have returned. Thankfully, however, they've been reimagined and reworked into pieces we could maybe actually kind of see ourselves wearing? By the end of this gallery, you might even be tempted to pair kitten heels with stirrup trousers. Scroll through the gallery below to see 11 of the worst fashion trends of all time.

Then: Versace in the '80s

Style Notes: Pastel colours (think sickly lemon, baby pink and mint green) are often considered written off as "hard to wear" and typically associated with the '80s. But they're making a big comeback for S/S 18, as everything from shoes to blazers has been given the pastel treatment.

Now: Jeanette Madsen wearing pastels at Stockholm Fashion Week

Then: Versace in the '80s

Style Notes: Versace's one of the most exciting brands for this season, and it's bringing back plenty of neglected '80s fashion trends, including chain belts and OTT gold jewellery. 

Now: Anna Rosa Vitiello in a gold chain belt

Then: Keira Knightley in a colourful puka shell necklace

Style Notes: Anyone who watched The O.C. will know that shell necklaces were a '00s essential. The surfer necklace appeared in classic teen movies like Bring It On and the Olsen twins' straight-to-VHS films. And Miuccia Prada is bringing them back.

Now: Prada's A/W 18 men's show

Then: Sarah Jessica Parker in jorts in 2014

Style Notes: Jorts (aka denim pedal pushers) are an unforgiving cut, but Gigi Hadid and Kim Kardashian West are determined to bring this controversial item back. Something tells us it might take a while for this to catch on…

Now: Gigi Hadid in jorts in New York in April 2017

Then: Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake in matching denim-on-denim at the 2001 VMAs

Style Notes: You might assume that the denim bustier dress's reign of terror ended with Britney Spears in 2001, but it also appeared on the runway during Paris Fashion Week last year. Dior has brought this tricky look back, and Bella Hadid (a fan of all things '00s) is clearly into the trend.

Now: Bella Hadid in Dior's denim bustier in London in April 2017

Then: Katie Holmes wearing stirrup leggings in 2008

Style Notes: While you might think stirrup leggings and tights should have stayed in the '80s, they've become a street style staple thanks to Balenciaga, Fendi and other runway leaders. The trick to wearing the look now is looping your stirrups over your shoes and opting for super-thick leggings or trousers (rather than the semi-opaque tights Katie Holmes chose in 2008).

Now: Tamu McPherson in stirrup leggings to fashion week in January 2017

Related: Winter 2018 Fashion Trends: The Only Looks You Need to Know

Then: Britney Spears in a Juicy Couture tracksuit in 2003

Style Notes: Tracksuits were the unofficial uniform for the socialite set in the mid-noughties, with celebs like Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie practically living in their Juicy Couture velours. Not only is Juicy Couture back in fashion's good books, but trackies are once again the key look for the Hollywood set, as Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid even wear theirs to fashion parties with heels.

Now: Gigi Hadid in an Olivia von Halle cashmere tracksuit in 2016

Then: Carmen Electra in pink sunglasses in 2001

Rose-tinted glasses were huge in the early '00s, worn by the likes of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, and commonly seen on the red carpet. But instead of rectangular, small or frameless lenses, the styles Gigi Hadid and Selena Gomez are wearing now are far less overwhelming. If you're tempted to try the trend, we've put together an edit of the best around.

Now: Selena Gomez in rose-coloured sunglasses in 2016

Related: These 5 It Boots Will Be Sold Out Before the Year Ends (Mark Our Words)

Then: Charlize Theron in strappy kitten heels at the premiere of Monster in 2004

Style Notes: Vogue's declaration last year that kitten heels were back, sparked quite the outcry (seriously) on social media, with one of our own readers even claiming she'd rather have a toenail infection than wear a pair. Thanks to Dior, The Row and many more reputable names, kitten heels are back (particularly in slingback form), and they're fashion editors' pick for shoe style of the year.

Now: Natasha Goldenberg in kitten heels at fashion week in 2017

Then: Britney Spears in a skirt-over-jeans look in 2002

Style Notes: Skirts over jeans might give you flashbacks to the wrap-skirt-trouser hybrids many of us owned from Tammy Girl in the '90s, but at London Fashion Week, every other person was wearing a dress over jeans. 

Now: Lisa Aiken in a Balenciaga dress over jeans at London Fashion Week in February 2017

Then: Melanie C, aka Sporty Spice, performing with the Spice Girls in 1996

Style Notes: Those practical "ugly" trainers that reigned in the '90s (think Sporty Spice) are making an unlikely comeback. Gigi Hadid has been wearing clompy Reeboks—the type of trainers we wore to P.E. classes—on repeat outside of the gym.

Now: Gigi Hadid in her clompy Reebok Classics in April 2017

Opening Image: Rex Features

This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.