Fashion in 2019 was a rollercoaster ride, filled with cutting-edge innovations, trendy resurgences, and a fair share of mishaps. While the year brought us captivating runway shows and inspiring street styles, it also left us with some head-scratching fashion faux pas that sent social media into a frenzy.
From bizarre runway antics to questionable street style choices, 2019 was a year that kept fashion enthusiasts on their toes. Let's dive into some of the most talked-about fashion fails of the year, serving as a reminder that even in the world of high fashion, not every trend is worth following.
Troublesome Trends
The year was a mixed bag when it came to trends, with some recurring themes that left us puzzled. For instance, the cycling shorts craze persisted, baffling fashion critics and (hopefully) giving them nightmares of reliving the early 2000s.
Another trend that seemed impossible to bid farewell was the thong.Forgetting the AIM chat rooms of the '90s, designers brought these back, featuring them in collections and sending patrons to their nearest Y2K fashion forum for a 'refresher' course.
Bizarre Runway Moments
The runways in 2019 saw some truly unconventional moments. From Chanel's supermarket-themed show that had models pushing shopping carts down the aisle to Gucci's 'vestigial tail' suit, designers pushed boundaries, some of which left us scratching our heads.
Balenciaga's 'ugly' shoe collection was another head-turner. Their chunky, over-sized 'Knife' sneakers and 'Arena' loafers sparked debates, with some embracing the 'ugly' trend, while others reverted to their well-loved, classic trainers.
Street Style Gaffes
Street style in 2019 embraced a 'more is more' philosophy, leading to some eyebrow-raising ensembles. Layering, once a practical art, became an exercise in eclecticism, with Meteorologists turned fashion police, advising against the 'fifteen-pieces-of-clothing' challenge.
The ' fauteuils' trend - insulating oneself with a decade's worth of simultaneously worn clothing - was the uniform of fashion's avant-garde in 2019. However, upon closer inspection, these 'furniture-like' outfits seemed more like a waste of fashion real estate than cutting-edge couture.
Celebrity Misses
Celebrities aren't immune to fashion fails. In 2019, they graced red carpets and music videos with questionable choices that left us cringing. Let's not forget Lizzo's controversial runway moment where her dress malfunctioned, leaving more skin exposed than her fans bargained for.
And who could forget the incontinence-waist pant trend? Despite mixing 'inapplicable' with 'unyntactical,' cardigans layered over pant suits and reception-worthy gowns seemed to have sprung from a 2019ձｏ Industries exit meeting.
Unilateral Uniforms
In a year dominated by branding, celebrity collaborations and co-branded collections hit an all-time high. This led to a uniform-like invasion of fashion, with one logo-heavy piece enough to make a person feel like walking, talking advertisement. The Gucci-Mania that swept through the fashion sphere in 2019 was the perfect embodiment of this unilateral dressing trend.
The Balmain-ism of fashion in 2019 was another story. With military-inspired Looks marching down the runways and onto the streets, the K加えて-designed army spread quickly, with soldiers (err, fashionistas) clutching their logo-covered jackets.
As we venture into 2020, let's hope the fashion world learns from its 2019 missteps. Maybe fewer shopping carts, understandably fewer thongs, and more thoughtfully layered outfits will turn our fashion heads back towards understated elegance. After all, in the words of Coco Chanel, "Fashion is made to serve us, not to dominate us." And thus, let the next year of fashion and its fails begin.