Fashion is constantly changing and reflects the unique socio-political realities of an era. However, some fashion trends throughout history can definitely be called “weird,” and we’re here to talk about them. Interestingly, some of them probably fit into a more modern understanding of fashion, even if they were completely out of place in their time.
10. Disposable paper dresses
Paper dresses were a huge – if short-lived – fashion trend 1960s , and it was exactly what it sounded like. Made only from paper, these dresses were popularized by brands such as Scott Paper Company And Kleenex , as they were trying to cash in on the "sustainability" trend of the time. Sure, these dresses were sold with over-the-top advertising and clever marketing campaigns, but they did nothing to address the inherent problem of making clothes out of paper.
While they were inexpensive and disposable, making them appealing to young women looking for trendy and affordable fashion options, they were also extremely impractical. Aside from being prone to tearing at the most inopportune moments, these dresses were hardly meant to be worn in everyday life. The trend died out soon enough, although paper dresses continued to be worn at parties and other social events throughout the 1960s.
9. Macaroni
Macaroni were a subculture that emerged in the urban areas of England in the late 18th century, primarily among young upper-class men. The style was deliberately over-the-top, with bright colours, frilly shirts and elaborate hairstyles, making it perhaps one of the first few ironic hipster subcultures in human history. Macaroni challenged the established generally accepted class boundaries, gender , race, and even nationality, though mostly in jest rather than as a serious statement about the socio-political conditions of the time.
It was also a much-mocked subculture, with Macaroni often being the butt of jokes from representatives Media and caricaturists. The subculture's popularity declined in the late 18th century as more conservative and traditional clothing styles came back into fashion. However, their influence was still felt in some undercurrents of modern fashion, particularly in the use of bold patterns and androgynous styles.
8. Krakow
Krakow, also called bullets , got their name from the city of Krakow in Poland, where they became popular and spread to other parts of Europe sometime in the 14th century. They were essentially shoes with overly long and decidedly uncomfortable pointed toes, which in some models extended more than a foot. Krakows were popular with wealthy people , since it was (correctly) assumed that only those who had money could afford to lengthen their shoes to such an extent.
However by the end 15th century the fashion for comically long toes began to wane, probably due to their obvious impracticality and discomfort. Krakows soon went out of fashion throughout Europe, although they still enjoy occasional revivals in some alternative fashion subcultures. According to a relatively recent archaeological research , the Krakowians may have even permanently disfigured the feet of at least 200 Europeans of the time, which must have further accelerated their decline.
7. Mercury hats
Felt hats were all the rage in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. Made primarily from hare and rabbit fur, they were a significant improvement over previous hat designs, as they were much more durable and retained their shape for much longer periods of time. Unfortunately, this was only possible thanks to a completely new improvement in the workshop that was used to glue the fur together – powdered mercury.
As might be expected, long-term exposure to mercury vapor had a serious impact on the health of hat makers across Europe, leading to what is now known as Mad Hatter's Disease. Symptoms included tremor , memory loss, mood swings, psychosis, cardiovascular problems, and even early death in some cases. While the trend didn't have much of an impact on the hat wearers, it was a huge occupational hazard for the hat makers. However, demand for hats remained high, especially in Britain, where they only went out of fashion in 1960s years .
6. Black teeth
For some reason, black teeth became a popular fashion trend in Tudor England, with 1485 to 1603 . This was largely due to the overconsumption of sugar-based foods, thanks to the recent increase in supply from America. Black and rotten teeth were common and prized as a status symbol among the British royal family, especially Queen Elizabeth I , who was known for her sweet tooth.
The trend was so popular that, according to some sources, British surgeons would even use the blackened teeth of corpses as implants. Since sugar was still an expensive and scarce resource, people from the lower classes found ways to blacken their teeth instead. teeth with your own hands , because they saw it as a sign of wealth and class.
Black teeth were popular among men and women for several decades, although the trend began to decline during the waning years of the Tudor dynasty, when people realized that rotting, smelly teeth were probably not as fashionable as they thought.
5. Bombing
Bombing was a Renaissance trend that became popular somewhere in end of 16 century, especially in England, with Queen Elizabeth I again being one of its pioneers. It was characterized by the excessive use of padding inside ordinary clothing to make the wearer appear larger - or, if possible, more "pompous" - than he actually was. The padding, usually made from materials such as wool or horsehair, was used to create a large and imposing figure, especially around the chest and shoulders, which was inexplicably considered a sign of wealth and high status.
Bombing remained popular in Europe, especially in Spain and England, throughout the late 16th and 17th centuries. However, this trend came to an end in the 18th century, when popular fashion at the time shifted to a more comfortable and less exaggerated look.
4. Alexandra Limp
Alexandra of Denmark married British Prince Edward VII in In 1863 and soon became a fashion icon in London and other urban areas of the country. Everything she did somehow became popular with the British masses, including a sort of necklace, which she wore to hide the scar on her neck. However, the most ridiculous of them all was Alexandra's limp.
Due to a condition that left Alexandra with serious problems in 1867, Alexandra developed a distinctly sluggish and slow walking style, which could really happen to anyone. It also became a big deal in British fashion, as people all over England and its colonies began to think it was fashionable to walk the same way. Surprisingly, this was just one of many silly walking trends taking place in England at the time, including the equally silly but less popular Greek stoop .
3. Jewelry with insects
Jewelry in the shape of insects such as beetles and ants is common even today, but what about making it with real insects? While this idea doesn’t seem very fashionable or hygienic today, it became an unexpected fashion hit in the Victorian era thanks to their famous obsession with natural history and specimens of distant exotic living creatures.
Jewelry and accessories made from insects were everywhere in England at the time, especially among the upper classes who could afford the more fashionable bugs. These included live insects held together with pins or strings, but still free enough to roam around on various items of Victorian clothing. eras This trend was further fueled by the “discovery” of new species in America, peak which came to for the 1870s and 1880s.
2. Blio
Sometime in the 12th century rich people all over Europe decided that their hands were too free for a man with a lot of money, as it could be mistaken for work or other peasant activities. To really drive the point home, they began wearing very long sleeves, which eventually evolved into what we now know as the bliau.
These outfits featured overly long sleeves – sometimes even reaching to the floor – and a narrow waist, although the design varied depending on where you were. In Germany, for example, people favored bliauds, which were a little looser at the waist and were held together with a belt, paired with long, floor-length sleeves that flared out very close to the wrists. In Poland, on the other hand, the sleeves began to flare out at the elbows, and the waist looked looser and more relaxed. The trend lasted for about five decades , although one can see its far-reaching influence on European fashion for many centuries to come.
1. Arsenic
The Victorian era was famous for its bizarre and unconventional fashion trends, which can also be attributed to high-level industrial hazards. One of these trends was arsenic , which was used in almost everything from dresses to cosmetics to wallpaper. It was especially plentiful during this time period because improvements in the Industrial Revolution allowed it to be produced much more quickly.
Perhaps the most dangerous of all the arsenic substitutes popular at the time was green scheele — a pigment made from copper arsenite that could perfectly imitate the vibrant green color found in nature. It was everywhere, from eye makeup to dresses and even children's toys, giving the entire period a distinct green hue. As you might imagine, long-term use of the substance often resulted in lifelong debilitating conditions and sometimes death.
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