14 fashion trends from the '90s that should never come back

Though bandanas have a history that can be traced back to South Asia and the Middle East, according to Highsnobiety, the '90s version of the accessory was meant to imitate the bandanas that were once worn by cowboys as dust masks.

People in the '90s, including celebrities like Beyoncé, commonly wore the cowboy-inspired style in the form of headbands, bathing suits, and even shirts. Today, however, the style can look outdated.

To achieve a similar look in 2019, many are now wearing cow-print fabrics and cowboy hats instead.

But regardless of how well the shoes matched an outfit, there was always an added risk of twisting your ankle while wearing them. Simply put, they weren't worth potential pain in the '90s, and still aren't today.

But while the belts were technically practical, they were also distracting. With so many shiny studs and jewels attached to them, belts in the '90s were a fashion statement all on their own.

Today, popular belt styles generally include a large buckle rather than rows of detail — like the famous Gucci Belt — which allows the accessory to support an outfit rather than fully takeover.

While chains are sure to prevent some people from losing their glasses, the accessory can be unnecessary for others.

There are also tons of new styles worth trying — both Kim Kardashian West and Rihanna have recently created lines of sunglasses — instead of continuing to wear this outdated trend.

In modern fashion, plastic cat-eye frames have almost entirely replaced metal sunglasses. And because these colorful frames often feature bright lenses, it just doesn't make sense to bring the metal style back.

At the time, the style looked cool and unexpected. Today, however, there are far more unique ways to stand out on the red carpet, like making multiple outfit changes and wearing four hats at once.

While the look is fine for the fall, the trend should not return in the spring and summer of 2019. The legwear almost always looks out of place in warmer months, especially when worn with tank tops and summer dresses.

After being made popular by the 1995 film "Clueless," plaid clothing sets have bounced in and out of style ever since — the look recently came back in 2018. 

But even if a plaid outfit isn't yellow, the style is consistently associated with the film's leading character, Cher Horowitz, and can come across looking more tacky than trendy. 

Read more: 16 trends you'll only remember if you grew up in the '90s

A brand called JNCO was especially popular, and sold jeans that were extremely wide at the legs. While some may have liked the style in the '90s, extremely wide pant legs were never flattering. Rather than coming back in style, the look should remain a short-lived fad.

The "no shirt" trend is already popular, and is typically achieved by wearing a chic blazer with nothing underneath. Vests don't look as glamorous, and appeared more fashionable in the '90s than they would today.

According to retailer Silk Laundry, models and actresses like Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, and Gwenyth Paltrow helped to make the satin slip dress popular. Throughout the '90s, the look was worn everywhere from weddings to after-parties, and was considered to be elegant.

But in today's fashion world of monochromatic neon looks and "naked" dresses, the style would simply look underdressed and understated.

Of course, wearing a touch of the print isn't so bad — after all, the pattern did make a small comeback in 2016 — but pinstripes can look overwhelming when used to create a full outfit.

In 2017, ASOS attempted to bring the '90s trend back with a $72 bedazzled pair of pants, which were covered by a denim skirt. Shoppers were baffled by the garments, proving that this trend belongs in the past.

The arm accessory would look too formal at almost any red carpet today. While some celebrities like Lady Gaga have shown that gloves can work at some red carpet events such as the Oscars, most modern celebrities are choosing to wear valuable diamonds and leg jewelry with their glamorous looks.

• Read more:
• Urban Outfitters is selling the Steve Madden sandals everyone wore in the '90s — with a modern twist
• 9 nostalgia-inducing '90s products you can still buy today — and 3 you can't
• Urban Decay is bringing '90s makeup back with a collection of glitter face gels and colorful eyeliners
• This vintage shop is full of 90s gems