LOOK, WE ALL know that every generation has their cross to bear.
And if you’re in your mid-twenties or over, then you’ll know that our cross was the absolute sh*tshow of early noughties fashion.
With many of us having splashed our hard-earned cash on the likes of boleros and gypsy belts, we can’t help but feel a little cheated when we look back now.
But if we’re really honest, it’s the celebrities we feel sorry for. We mean, those people had professional stylists on hand, for crying out loud.
Here are just a few life lessons we took away from that dark, dark time in fashion.
1. Ra-ra skirts should have been left to Michelle in Skins.
Especially if you were planning on teaming them with a pair of Uggs.
2. Matching your shoes to your belt isn’t stylish.
And including your plastic hairband in that combo definitely doesn’t help.
3. Tinted sunglasses should never have been a thing.
And lads in tinted sunglasses should have been even less of a thing.
4. Belts are generally created to keep your pants up.
Not to drape artfully over your already questionable skirt or stonewashed denims.
5. Combats should be left to those in the military.
And combats with 300 random straps down each leg should have come with a health warning.
6. Trucker caps should be left to those in trucks.
No matter what Paris or Britney tried to tell us.
7. Denim jackets shouldn’t be worn if a hoodie, hat, scarf and gloves are also required.
Why did we refuse to invest in an actual coat?
8. No tracksuits, whether velour or O’Neills, should ever be considered ‘going out’ attire.
Nor should they be teamed with halter neck tops and hoop earrings.
9. Wearing a dress over your jeans is just creating washing.
And that’s why many of us opted to purchase an item known as a ‘trouserskirt’. * Screams internally*.
10. These things should never have seen the light of day.
We had a pair in every colour of the rainbow.
11. Butterfly or chainmail tops should have been left to the stars.
And not smuggled into local GAA discos in a ratty plastic bag.
12. Following trends at this difficult time was a fool’s game.
It was literally the blind leading the blind.
