11 Bizarre Fashion Fads That Will Make You Cringe

Mizuka Ishiwatari Published 06/15/2015

History's most ridiculous fashion phenomena that were actually popular in the past.

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1.
Lipstick For Men - unsuccessful campaign by many fashion designers didn't last long. Attempts at trying to make it a thing, making male models sport lipstick on the runway between 2009-2011 resulted in little to no desire from males to actually wear lipstick in public. At least not sober.
2.
Crinolines - in the 19th century, these were briefly the fashionable thing to wear. It didn't last long, and managed to cause a ton of freak accidents - catching up on fire or turning a lady into a human kite included.
3.
Cone Bras - a trend started in the 1940's by actress Jane Russell's custom made cone bra for the movie The Outlaw, became fairly popular. Obviously not comfortable or practical, the cone bra didn't remain fashionable for very long.
4.
Hobble Skirts - these didn’t reign for long (1910-1914) and went out of practical use during World War I, when restricted ankles didn't help you when you had to act quick.
5.
Lead Makeup - this fad started around 6000 years ago, with Egyptian women, who would color and define their faces with mesdemet and malachite, made from lead and copper minerals. It continued until the 19th century, because apparently it took this long to link hair loss, nerve damage and paralysis with the use of lead-based makeup.
6.
Tightlacing - even though this is a thing of the past, 19th century to be more precise, the corset training is often practiced by some more desperate ladies, trying to achieve the hourglass figure at the cost of breathing problems, problems with digestion, and permanent deformity.
7.
Ohaguro - the art of teeth laquering with dark-brown solution of ferric acetate, to make them resemble pitch black onyx in color. The fad lasted for about 50 years (from 1860's to 1910's).
8.
Chopines - a trademark of 16th century aristocracy didn't become a fad for very long. Either because they looked ridiculous or because they were ridiculously uncomfortable. Probably both.
9.
Stiff High Collars - also known as “The Father Killers” were very fashionable among the 19th century men. They would cut off circulation to the brain. No further explanation is necessary.
10.
Foot binding - the ridiculous Chinese fad of turning normal feet into "Lotus feet," horribly disfigured small feet. This lasted for around 10 centuries, until in 20th Century, China's first feminist, Brigitte Kwan advocated for the end of foot-binding.
11.
Armadillo Shoes - made famous because of Lady Gaga's video to "Bad Romance," this ridiculous-looking shoe stopped being fashionable not long after it became popular, namely in 2010.

1.
Lipstick For Men - unsuccessful campaign by many fashion designers didn't last long. Attempts at trying to make it a thing, making male models sport lipstick on the runway between 2009-2011 resulted in little to no desire from males to actually wear lipstick in public. At least not sober.
2.
Crinolines - in the 19th century, these were briefly the fashionable thing to wear. It didn't last long, and managed to cause a ton of freak accidents - catching up on fire or turning a lady into a human kite included.
3.
Cone Bras - a trend started in the 1940's by actress Jane Russell's custom made cone bra for the movie The Outlaw, became fairly popular. Obviously not comfortable or practical, the cone bra didn't remain fashionable for very long.
4.
Hobble Skirts - these didn’t reign for long (1910-1914) and went out of practical use during World War I, when restricted ankles didn't help you when you had to act quick.
5.
Lead Makeup - this fad started around 6000 years ago, with Egyptian women, who would color and define their faces with mesdemet and malachite, made from lead and copper minerals. It continued until the 19th century, because apparently it took this long to link hair loss, nerve damage and paralysis with the use of lead-based makeup.
6.
Tightlacing - even though this is a thing of the past, 19th century to be more precise, the corset training is often practiced by some more desperate ladies, trying to achieve the hourglass figure at the cost of breathing problems, problems with digestion, and permanent deformity.
7.
Ohaguro - the art of teeth laquering with dark-brown solution of ferric acetate, to make them resemble pitch black onyx in color. The fad lasted for about 50 years (from 1860's to 1910's).
8.
Chopines - a trademark of 16th century aristocracy didn't become a fad for very long. Either because they looked ridiculous or because they were ridiculously uncomfortable. Probably both.
9.
Stiff High Collars - also known as “The Father Killers” were very fashionable among the 19th century men. They would cut off circulation to the brain. No further explanation is necessary.
10.
Foot binding - the ridiculous Chinese fad of turning normal feet into "Lotus feet," horribly disfigured small feet. This lasted for around 10 centuries, until in 20th Century, China's first feminist, Brigitte Kwan advocated for the end of foot-binding.
11.
Armadillo Shoes - made famous because of Lady Gaga's video to "Bad Romance," this ridiculous-looking shoe stopped being fashionable not long after it became popular, namely in 2010.

Lipstick For Men - unsuccessful campaign by many fashion designers

didn't last long. Attempts at trying to make it a thing, making male

models sport lipstick on the runway between 2009-2011 resulted in

little to no desire from males to actually wear lipstick in public. At

least not sober.

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Lipstick For Men - unsuccessful campaign by many fashion designers didn't last long. Attempts at trying to make it a thing, making male models sport lipstick on the runway between 2009-2011 resulted in little to no desire from males to actually wear lipstick in public. At least not sober.

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NEXT GALLERY 22 "Well No Sh*t" Momments

11 Bizarre Fashion Fads That Will Make You Cringe

1.
Lipstick For Men - unsuccessful campaign by many fashion designers didn't last long. Attempts at trying to make it a thing, making male models sport lipstick on the runway between 2009-2011 resulted in little to no desire from males to actually wear lipstick in public. At least not sober.

2.
Crinolines - in the 19th century, these were briefly the fashionable thing to wear. It didn't last long, and managed to cause a ton of freak accidents - catching up on fire or turning a lady into a human kite included.

3.
Cone Bras - a trend started in the 1940's by actress Jane Russell's custom made cone bra for the movie The Outlaw, became fairly popular. Obviously not comfortable or practical, the cone bra didn't remain fashionable for very long.

4.
Hobble Skirts - these didn’t reign for long (1910-1914) and went out of practical use during World War I, when restricted ankles didn't help you when you had to act quick.

6.
Tightlacing - even though this is a thing of the past, 19th century to be more precise, the corset training is often practiced by some more desperate ladies, trying to achieve the hourglass figure at the cost of breathing problems, problems with digestion, and permanent deformity.

7.
Ohaguro - the art of teeth laquering with dark-brown solution of ferric acetate, to make them resemble pitch black onyx in color. The fad lasted for about 50 years (from 1860's to 1910's).

8.
Chopines - a trademark of 16th century aristocracy didn't become a fad for very long. Either because they looked ridiculous or because they were ridiculously uncomfortable. Probably both.

9.
Stiff High Collars - also known as “The Father Killers” were very fashionable among the 19th century men. They would cut off circulation to the brain. No further explanation is necessary.

10.
Foot binding - the ridiculous Chinese fad of turning normal feet into "Lotus feet," horribly disfigured small feet. This lasted for around 10 centuries, until in 20th Century, China's first feminist, Brigitte Kwan advocated for the end of foot-binding.

11.
Armadillo Shoes - made famous because of Lady Gaga's video to "Bad Romance," this ridiculous-looking shoe stopped being fashionable not long after it became popular, namely in 2010.

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10.

11.

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eBaum's Picks

1. Lipstick For Men - unsuccessful campaign by many fashion designers didn't last long. Attempts at trying to make it a thing, making male models sport lipstick on the runway between 2009-2011 resulted in little to no desire from males to actually wear lipstick in public. At least not sober.

2. Crinolines - in the 19th century, these were briefly the fashionable thing to wear. It didn't last long, and managed to cause a ton of freak accidents - catching up on fire or turning a lady into a human kite included.

3. Cone Bras - a trend started in the 1940's by actress Jane Russell's custom made cone bra for the movie The Outlaw, became fairly popular. Obviously not comfortable or practical, the cone bra didn't remain fashionable for very long.

4. Hobble Skirts - these didn’t reign for long (1910-1914) and went out of practical use during World War I, when restricted ankles didn't help you when you had to act quick.

6. Tightlacing - even though this is a thing of the past, 19th century to be more precise, the corset training is often practiced by some more desperate ladies, trying to achieve the hourglass figure at the cost of breathing problems, problems with digestion, and permanent deformity.

7. Ohaguro - the art of teeth laquering with dark-brown solution of ferric acetate, to make them resemble pitch black onyx in color. The fad lasted for about 50 years (from 1860's to 1910's).

8. Chopines - a trademark of 16th century aristocracy didn't become a fad for very long. Either because they looked ridiculous or because they were ridiculously uncomfortable. Probably both.

9. Stiff High Collars - also known as “The Father Killers” were very fashionable among the 19th century men. They would cut off circulation to the brain. No further explanation is necessary.

10. Foot binding - the ridiculous Chinese fad of turning normal feet into "Lotus feet," horribly disfigured small feet. This lasted for around 10 centuries, until in 20th Century, China's first feminist, Brigitte Kwan advocated for the end of foot-binding.

11. Armadillo Shoes - made famous because of Lady Gaga's video to "Bad Romance," this ridiculous-looking shoe stopped being fashionable not long after it became popular, namely in 2010.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

Share This Image

0 Comments

eBaum's Picks

1.
Lipstick For Men - unsuccessful campaign by many fashion designers didn't last long. Attempts at trying to make it a thing, making male models sport lipstick on the runway between 2009-2011 resulted in little to no desire from males to actually wear lipstick in public. At least not sober.

2.
Crinolines - in the 19th century, these were briefly the fashionable thing to wear. It didn't last long, and managed to cause a ton of freak accidents - catching up on fire or turning a lady into a human kite included.

3.
Cone Bras - a trend started in the 1940's by actress Jane Russell's custom made cone bra for the movie The Outlaw, became fairly popular. Obviously not comfortable or practical, the cone bra didn't remain fashionable for very long.

4.
Hobble Skirts - these didn’t reign for long (1910-1914) and went out of practical use during World War I, when restricted ankles didn't help you when you had to act quick.

6.
Tightlacing - even though this is a thing of the past, 19th century to be more precise, the corset training is often practiced by some more desperate ladies, trying to achieve the hourglass figure at the cost of breathing problems, problems with digestion, and permanent deformity.

7.
Ohaguro - the art of teeth laquering with dark-brown solution of ferric acetate, to make them resemble pitch black onyx in color. The fad lasted for about 50 years (from 1860's to 1910's).

8.
Chopines - a trademark of 16th century aristocracy didn't become a fad for very long. Either because they looked ridiculous or because they were ridiculously uncomfortable. Probably both.

9.
Stiff High Collars - also known as “The Father Killers” were very fashionable among the 19th century men. They would cut off circulation to the brain. No further explanation is necessary.

10.
Foot binding - the ridiculous Chinese fad of turning normal feet into "Lotus feet," horribly disfigured small feet. This lasted for around 10 centuries, until in 20th Century, China's first feminist, Brigitte Kwan advocated for the end of foot-binding.

11.
Armadillo Shoes - made famous because of Lady Gaga's video to "Bad Romance," this ridiculous-looking shoe stopped being fashionable not long after it became popular, namely in 2010.