The 2010s saw us making some questionable decisions when it comes to beauty and fashion. From the super low-rise jean to the squiggle brow (on fleek!?), we’ve been through it all. Y/N was thriving on blue hair dye and beanies and the Tumblr girl was rocking the skinny black jeans and flannel combo. Thankfully, most of us have left those trends in the past where they belong.
With Halloween just around the corner, this is the perfect moment to remember fashion and beauty’s most frightening moments from the past decade. Some of those will give you goosebumps. Beware, jump scares ahead!
From the super low-rise jean to the squiggle brow, we’ve been through it all
Ombré
With balayage being ever so popular we can’t help but reminisce about its original predecessor, the ombré. From ombré blond hair to ombré nails, lips, and clothing, it was simply everywhere. While it may look cute as a manicure, millions of locks were sacrificed in the name of the ombré cult. Unblended blonde reigned free and purple shampoo was nowhere to be seen. Thankfully, now we can focus on regretting the overgrown wolf cuts instead.
Wedge Sneakers
The Frankenstein of fashion, the wedge sneaker is a frightening hybrid we’d love to forget. The shoe became popular around 2012 and took over the world in a blast. Popularized by designer Isabel Marant, the wedge sneakers supposedly combined elegance and comfort. Celebrities like Beyonce, Rihanna, and Gwen Stefani were quick to jump on the hype train.
In 2021, Marant relaunched the shoe in an attempt to satisfy the post-lockdown nostalgia for comfort but Balenciaga stole the limelight with its stiletto Crocs. The question is: Are the Balenciaga Crocs going to haunt us just as fervently ten years from now?
The Plastic Wired Choker
The plastic choker is still grasping for life to this day and we can only blame Tumblr. Not only ecologically unsustainable but also physically oppressive, I’d be happy to see this accessory go.
The Duck Face
We’ve all been victims of the duck face mania and felt the pain of scrolling through old photos that seemingly show us having a face spasm (ouch!). Whether the duck face pout was flirty or embarrassing, you can decide.
Galaxy Leggings
The staple of every pre-teen girl in the early 2010s, galaxy leggings literally threw our styling game out of this world. However, sometimes it is better to stay down to earth.
Fashion and beauty have come a long way since the early 2010s, becoming more refined and subtle (most of the time). But if you’re feeling nostalgic for the past decade, channel your Ghost of Fashion Past this Halloween and dig out those wedge sneakers. It is sure to be spooky!