Silly Bandz

An odd but catchy trend that has recently become very popular is silly bandz. Silly bandz are silicone rubber bands made into shapes including animals, objects, and letters that are usually worn as bracelets. They were created in 2002, by a Japenese design team who wanted to create a more enviromentally friendly rubber band for offices. Silly bandz were first sold in Alabama and they slowly moved up the east coast. In April, it was reported that over 8,000 stores were selling them. Silly Bandz come in dozens of shapes, colors, and themes. They function like a regular bracelet, and when taken off they go back to their original shape. They are often worn many at a time and are traded like other collectibles. They can also be used for their original intent, as a regular rubber band. I am guilty of owning and wearing silly bandz, I think that they are cute.

Ugg Boots

One very popular style that has been around in the 2000's is Ugg boots. Ugg boots are sheepskin boots, made of twin-faced sheepskin with fleece on the inside and with a tanned outer surface. Heights range from around the ankle to above the knee and are available in a range of different colors and styles. Uggs are believed to be made in Australia or New Zeland around the 1920's, but in the 1960's and 1970's they were worn by surfers and competitive swimmers to keep their feet warm when out of the water. Then in the early 2000's they became a hit in the U.S. Ugg boots are a popular style among women and small children.

The Crop Top

The crop top was a style that was around from the 1980's into the early 1990's. The crop top is a t-shirt or blouse with the lower part cut off, exposing the wearer's abdomen. The halfshist is a variation of the crop top that is cut off under the bust. Originally shirts were cut at the midriff, mainly football jerseys, to make it cooler. It allowed the athlete to be cooler and have less material. Men began wearing them outside of athletics in semi-public places such as school, or to the mall. Slowly they began to be banned in schools and the trend dies out by the early 1990's. But then in the mid 1990's the stlye came back. However it returned mainly as a trend for women, worn much shorter than on men. They became extremely cropped tops, exposing the underneath of the breast. The style continued into the 2000's and then died out for good.

The Fanny Pack

One unfortunate trend of the 1990's was the fanny pack. The fanny pack is a small fabric pouch secured with a zipper worn at the waist, by a strap around the hips or waist. It has become known as the "fanny pack" because it is known to be worn around the back, right above the fanny. Despite the name most people do not wear them in the back because it is easier to be pickpocketed and harder to access. Fanny packs are used mostly by travelers, and gained their popularity in the 1990's. The advangtage of the fanny pack is that it is hands-free making it a useful item for travelers, a great choice over a purse. However today, fanny packs are considered out of fashion in many countries and are mocked. They are known as a key sign of an out-of-country tourist. This is one fashion trend that I am glad went out of style and has mostly stayed out of style.

The Mini-skirt

Another popular style od the 1980's was the mini-skirt. The mini-skirt is a skirt with a hemline well above the knees, usually no longer than 10 cm or 4 in above the butt. The mini-skirt can be made of jean material or stretch material, and they can come in all different colors and styles. Mary Quant owned a clothing shop in London and began experimenting with with shorter skirts but it wasn't until 1965 that she successfully created the mini-skirt. However in the 1970's the style died down and the midi- and maxi-skirts came into style. Then again in the 1980's shorter skirts began to return. Slowly women began incorporated the mini-skirt into their business attire. The mini-skirt was and still is a popular fashion trend.

Leggings

Are leggings more like tights or pants? Well whatever they are leggings were a very popular style in the 1980's. Leggings are a type of fitted clothing covering the legs. Typically leggings are made from lycra, spandex, nylon, cotton, or polyester blend. Leggings were originally made as two peices, one for each leg. Leggings are worn fully exposed as pants, or more traditionally worn with a large t-shirt, skirt, shorts, or a long dress. They are usually ankle-length but some have stirrups and encase the feet. Leggings are also worn when working out by both mean and women. Leggings became a part of fashion in the 1960's but it wasn't until the 1980's that it became a fashion trend. In the 1980's they became popular with the gym-style street wear trend. They were and still are a comfortable and affordable fashion trend that can be worn with almost everything. Even though many of the styles of the 1980's were not something that should have ever been worn, the leggings are one that I am glad has come back. It is a very versatile style that can be worn with everything, anytime.

Leg Warmers

A popular trend that was a huge hit during the 1980's was leg warmers. Leg warmers tend to vary in length but not in width. Typically they start below the knee, however dancers prefer them to cover part of the thigh. Traditionally leg warmers were knitted from pure wool, but they are typically made from cotton, synthetic fibers, or both. Originally legwarmers were created to keep dancers legs warm after stretching, but in the 1980's they became a popular fashion trend among teenage girls. They were worn with tights, jeans, or leggings, or aerobic wear. They can be worn with almost any shoe. KD dance, a New York based high end dance wear company, was one of the first to introduce arm and leg warmers as a fashion trend in the 80's. They tendeded to be made of bright colors and loud patterns. KD dance has reported selling over 50 million pairs of leggings since 1980. Around 1989 leggings began to die out, but in 2004 they made a small comeback. Personally I own a pair of leg warmers and think that they are very comfortable. I probably would not wear a pair that were around in the 80's because they were too bright and too loud for me. But the newer ones are being made in more neutral colors that do not stand out too much. After wearing them for a coupole years I think that they are a trend that probably shouldn't make another comeback.

The Platform Shoe

Along with the bell bottoms another popular style during the 1970's were platform shoes. The platform shoes originated in China, they were made to keep women's feet out of the mud. In the fourteenth century it was called the "chopine", an overshoe, introduced in Europe to be worn over slippers to protect them from dirt. Slowly the platform shoe became less protective and more fashionable. It slowly came to look like the modern platform shoe constructed with a cork- or wood-stacked sole covered by velvet. The shoes were so high that women needed assitance walking in them, making them impractical. In the 1930's they returned with a more feminine look, being made with cork instead of wood also making them more practical. However between the 30's and 60's the style never really took off. Then in the 1970's platform shoes were the trend in style. People wore them almost everywhere, the grocery store, work, the disco. They were many different colors and designs. The platform shoe died out in the 80's when the rock era started. However just like bell bottoms platform shoes are back in style, with a different twist. They are very popular amongst the younger crowd. I personally can say that I own a few pairs of platform shoes, but they look nothing like the old style. Platform shoes have become really popular with cute styles, plus they're really comfortable.

During the late 1960's and much of the 1970's a very popular trend were bell bottoms. Bell bottoms are trousers that become wider from the knee down. Bell bottoms were usually worn with a tee shirt and a pair of sandals. The pants have become associated with disco music. To my surprise bell bottoms were invented many years earlier in 1817 for sailors to wear. Because of the flare they were easier to roll up while they were on the deck. The flare also made it easier for them to be taken off in case of emergency. The legs could also be tied together and used as a life preserver. Bell bottoms went from a practical and useful item of clothing to a remaining fashion style. In my opinion the bell bottoms that were worn in the 1970's were too flared out, but I am guilty of wearing bell bottoms when I was in middle school. But the bell bottoms I wore were not nearly as drastic as those worn in the 1970's.