GREATEST STYLE HITS

Which Of These Was The Most Bizarre Fashion Trend?

Credit: Nik Korba

We know that keeping pace with the speed of fashion's evolution can be challenging. However, in the wide range of trends that emerged across the decades, some stood out, leaving a mark and defining an era.

Quoting Heraclitus' wisdom, we can think of fashion as the water of a river: it's ever-changing. And while there will always be comebacks, trends never return quite the same, but with a twist that transforms each of them into something unique.

From the popular miniskirts to the different styles of jeans, let's venture on a journey through fashion history, recalling 10 iconic trends that undoubtedly found a place in our closets. We bet you've worn some of these at one point!

Credit: Tessa Simpson

Although they emerged among military pilots and aviators in the first decade of the 20th century, it wasn't until the defiant 1950s that leather jackets elevated to fashion icon status.

Worn primarily as a statement of style and rebellion, especially among young men, leather jackets became the ultimate symbol of cool. And that was, in part, thanks to iconic bad boys of the silver screen, such as Marlon Brando in "The Wild One" (1953), and music legends like the one and only Elvis Presley.

To this day, our closets still shelter this kind of jacket that resists the passage of time and defies the whims of fleeting fashions.

Credit: National Archives and Records Administration

Originally appearing in ancient times as a type of military headgear, pillbox hats made a modern comeback in the 1930s. They gained widespread popularity among European royals, becoming a symbol of elegance and style.

But it wasn't until the early 1960s that pillbox hats captured worldwide attention. This was thanks to the admired First Lady Jackie Kennedy and her impeccable fashion sense.

Jackie made these hats her staple. And, you know, her influence cut deep, since every woman wanted to imitate her, leading to a widespread fashion frenzy across America.

Credit: Anton Mislawsky

The miniskirt has undoubtedly revolutionized the fashion world. Emerging in the early 1960s, this garment quickly became an icon of style, particularly reaching its peak in the UK by the mid-decade. While some manifestations of above-the-knee skirts had appeared throughout history, it was the visionary work of British fashion designer Mary Quant that catapulted the mini into the mainstream.

Since its popularization over 60 years ago, the miniskirt has proven its indisputable power, constantly reinventing itself with each resurgence.

Credit: Annie Spratt

While bell bottoms or flared pants may be familiar to most of us, the story behind the conception of these garments dives deep into the world of sailors, an origin that few know about.

At the very beginning of the 19th century, sailors boasted distinctive pants that flared from the knee, ending in the iconic bell-bottom shape we know today.

However, it wasn't until the late 1960s and early 1970s, with the rise of the hippie and counterculture movements, that bell bottoms experienced a major revival. This time around, they reached a wider audience, adapting to a variety of styles and becoming an unmistakable symbol of the era, transcending all ages and genders!

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Spandex jumped into the spotlight during the fitness frenzy of the late 1970s and early 1980s. From tights and shorts to bodysuits, spandex abounded not only in gyms but also on the streets and nightclubs.

As with other famous trends, superstars helped drive the spandex boom. Icons like Jane Fonda and Blondie’s vocalist Debbie Harry, are a clear example. But the one that most contributed to its popularity and definitely solidified her reign as the queen of spandex was the unforgettable Olivia Newton-John in the music video for "Physical" and the classic movie "Grease" (1978).

Credit: Dancewear Central

Who could forget Jennifer Beals' final audition scene in Flashdance? It is etched in our memories, right? But it wasn't just her awesome dance moves that captivated an entire generation; her outfit made quite the impression too.

The leggings and that voluminous hairstyle were undeniably gorgeous, but it was those famous leg warmers that truly stole the show.

They were originally crafted to protect dancers' legs and ankles against potential injuries. But thanks to movies like "Fame" (1980) and "Flashdance" (1983), coupled with the influence of Jane Fonda's workout videos, leg warmers became an omnipresent fashion statement. Young people everywhere adopted them; what a feeling!

Credit: Divazus Fabric Store

Plaid has always been around, from its emergence in Scotland many years ago to the present day. However, it experienced a couple of notorious peaks during the tumultuous 20th century worth pointing out.

In the late 1970s, Daisy from "The Dukes of Hazzard" famously tied a plaid shirt above her waist, sparking a fashion trend that fascinated an entire generation.

Then, during the wild 1990s, plaid was back in the spotlight. Far from its monarchy-related origins, the plaid flannel shirt became a symbol of the grunge movement, worn by members and fans of bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana.

But the real boom came with the movie "Clueless" (1995), which catapulted the plaid suit to worldwide fame.

Credit: Mark J Sebastian

Nowadays, many women have declared tight low-rise jeans fully extinct, but by the late 1990s and early 2000s, this type of pants dominated the fashion scene everywhere.

Also known as low-cut jeans, they epitomized the era. While men sported wide and loose low-rise pants, often revealing glimpses of their underwear, women opted for tighter-fitting styles that hugged their lower hips, often paired with crop tops that exposed their belly buttons.

Madonna, the Spice Girls, and Britney Spears (who still prefers them) were among its greatest exponents. Just take a look at red carpet shows of that era; you'll spot this type of jeans everywhere!

Credit: Erriko Boccia

Also originating hundreds of years ago, platform shoes have had their share of ups and downs throughout history.

However, platforms are mostly associated with one of their most famous moments: the 1970s. Worn by both women and men, platform sandals and boots were the epitome of cool, and the higher the platform, the better.

Maybe you remember one of their more recent revivals. Around 2010, young women began embracing platforms again, as they seemed more comfortable than high heels for a long night out. This time, the trend didn't quite reach men, who cleverly stuck with sneakers for all their looks.

Credit: Brooke Cagle

While already familiar to all 1970s and 1980s fashionistas, the oversize style has made a comeback in recent years, once again captivating young people.

These days, it seems like almost every garment is part of this trend. T-shirts, shirts, pants, jackets, blazers, and even dresses can all be worn a few sizes larger for that cool, relaxed look. The key lies in how you combine them.

According to fashion specialists, the current era is defined by a shift away from tight-fitting garments in favor of comfort, all while maintaining a strong sense of style.

WEIRD FOSSILS

10 Of The Weirdest Extinct Animals That Roamed The Earth

Credit: David Clode

Earth is a weird place. Many living creatures already seem out-of-this-world -or at least ill-conceived - but what about those that are extinct? Millions of species have roamed the planet, and although many are similar to what we are used to, many more are exceedingly strange.

Join us as we go deep into our evolutionary past and uncover some of the weirdest animals that ever lived!

Credit: André Ganzarolli Martins, CC BY-SA 4.0

The peaceful glyptodon was an enormous mammal (roughly the size of a small car) that was related to modern-day armadillos and sported a similar armored exterior. This giant herbivore lived during the Pliocene, around 3.2 million years ago. Although glyptodon and humans coexisted for a relatively short period of time, human hunters are said to have used the hardened shells as shelter.

Credit: Werner Kraus, CC BY-SA 4.0

Maybe weird is not the right word to describe this spine-chilling monster, but it would have certainly been a sight to behold. Megalodon, which means "big tooth" in ancient Greek, was the largest shark to ever swim in Earth’s oceans. Luckily, it went extinct around 3.6 million years ago, because it could reach 67 feet in length and its dagger-like teeth were 7 inches long!

Credit: PaleoEquii, CC BY-SA 4.0

If this nightmarish creature was conceived as some sort of alien monster in a low-budget sci-fi movie, we would still say it was ludicrous. But the aptly named Tully Monster was definitely real, and it was weirder than you think. Based on the fossil record, tullimonstrum was an aquatic creature with a (mostly) tubular shape, eyestalks, and a long proboscis with sharp teeth at its end. Even paleontologists find it exceedingly weird, so much so that its exact classification has been the subject of a long-held controversy among scientists.

Credit: Seth Wickham

Afraid of millipedes? Maybe skip this one, then. Arthropleura was a genus of massive millipedes that could reach lengths of almost 8 feet. These terrifying creatures of the lower Carboniferous were, however, very similar to modern arthropods, likely scurrying around forests and consuming decomposing organic matter. The reason so many bugs grew to immense sizes during this time was likely related to higher levels of oxygen present in Earth’s atmosphere, and the lack of large terrestrial predators.

Credit: Frank Lehmann, CC BY-SA 4.0

As their name suggests, terror birds were apex predators. In fact, the largest predators in South America during the Cenozoic. These giant flightless birds could grow to be 10 feet tall, only ate meat, and could easily crack skulls or shells with the terrible strength of their pointed beaks. Fortunately, terror birds are thought to have become extinct at least a million years before humans arrived on the continent, though some smaller subspecies may have survived until more recently.

Credit: Jan Kopřiva

As if Colombian rainforests weren’t dangerous enough, imagine an almost 50-foot-long snake stalking its prey amongst the dense foliage. Titanoboa were a larger (and way heavier) relative of modern anacondas, and the largest snakes to ever roam Earth. Although at first they were thought to be an apex predator, the shape of their skulls suggests that titanoboa likely preferred to prey on fish.

Credit: CSIRO, CC BY 3.0

A fish so rare that only one specimen of the species was captured for scientific study in 1802, on the shallow coastal waters of Tasmania, the smooth handfish is on the cuter side of this list - sort of - with four hand-like appendages that it used to walk on the seafloor. Australian researchers hilariously describe its whimsical appearance as "dipping a toad in some brightly colored paint, telling it a sad story, and forcing it to wear gloves two sizes too big." Since the smooth handfish was never seen again in two centuries, it is deemed long extinct, but several other species of handfish survive in southern Australia.

Credit: Han Zeng, CC0

If the name is not a clue as to the weirdness of this extinct species, behold its description: a mostly featureless worm-like creature with ten pairs of legs, a set of rigid spines on its back, and a blobby head. However, since its real appearance is difficult to reconstruct, some scientists have even weirder interpretations of hallucigenia, claiming that the legs were actually tentacle-like appendages that may have had independent mouths.

Credit: Dustin Humes

Did you know that dragonflies grow larger in enriched oxygen atmospheres? Well, during the oxygen-rich Carboniferous (300 million years ago), a giant relative of modern dragonflies soared the skies. Meganeura could have a staggering wingspan of over 2 feet, and they were adapted to prey on other insects in open habitats. Scientists think that, as oxygen levels plummeted in the following geological periods, these huge insects went extinct, as their larger body size was no longer an advantage.

Credit: Mike Arney

As recently as 300,000 years ago, true giants roamed southern Asia’s thick bamboo forests. Nearly 10 feet tall and potentially weighing as much as 600 pounds, this gorilla-like ape is thought to have been mainly herbivorous, surviving on barks and twigs. Although some people have speculated that surviving members of the Gigantopithecus genus could be behind the alleged sightings of Bigfoot, most scientists dismiss these theories, as the species has been extinct for thousands of years.