Fashion is one of the most prominent industries on the planet. Unfortunately, it also is one of the biggest polluters. Environment aside, though, fashion has evolved like no other sector—from the ancient days in Europe when both women and men wore “hideous” garments and called it fashion to the present day when clothing seems to have fewer seams or fabric.

Along the way, designers—especially prominent design houses—have come up with questionable items that have sold for thousands of dollars. Of course, if you can afford it, then you definitely see something that most of us don’t. Below is a list of questionable items produced by fashion designers that still leaves us with visible question marks above our heads.

10 Alexander McQueen’s Hoof Shoe

This shoe came out during the Plato Atlantis Spring/Summer collection in 2010 and is also referred to as the “armadillo boot.” It was said to give the illusion of a ballerina on her tiptoes. The shoe is 30 centimeters (12 in) in height and originally wasn’t meant to be commercially produced. However, loyal fans were eager to buy this shoe.

Why?

No lie, Alexander McQueen’s design style is bizarre and that is what makes it high fashion as well as art. This shoe looks like art, and we would have no objection to ogling it outside an alarmed glass box in a museum. The original shoe is said to be made of wood, but the ones commercially produced were made of python leather.

Despite the shoe’s menacing design, it didn’t stop the women who decided to be daring and pursue the taste of a 30-centimeter (12 in) shoe. Just the look of it makes you imagine a billion ways to fall and land on your face. For example, Daphne Guinness, a fashion icon known for wearing the most daring pieces, fell into a sea of her fans by the cobblestones at a churchyard.

Surprisingly, Lady Gaga snatched three pairs of these shoes and was seen on her Instagram daring to wear them. They originally had a guide price of $10,000, but Lady Gaga bid up to $295,000 to win the auction for all three pairs.^[1]

What women really do for a pair of shoes!

9 Moschino’s Plastic Dry Cleaning Dress

Jeremy Scott debuted this dress in the Moschino Fall/Winter 2017 runway collection. It is a slip-on, sleeveless dress made of polyester with writing at the top and bottom. We don’t know what kind of look the brand’s creative director was trying for or who accepted this dress to go on the runway the way it did.

Stella Maxwell, the runway model rocking this look, was put into a black dress and had the bag—oh sorry, dress—slipped on top of it. To seal this customer-friendly dry cleaner’s look, they put a hanger in her hair.^[2]

Many critics described this new fashion statement as a dry cleaning bag—you know, the one that you put over your clothes after they’ve been dry-cleaned.

The most interesting part is that it sold for $735. Who bought it is still a mystery.

8 Thom Browne’s Dog Bag

Now we have all seen our fair share of interesting accessories—from plate clutches to hangers in the hair. Thom Browne decided to come up with a dog bag, and it does look like an adorable little pooch. It is made from luxurious leather and has a little collar on it. And guess the surprising thing? It is still being sold for over $30,000.^[3]

The famous dog bag was inspired by the designer’s dachshund, Hector, one of the best-known pets on Instagram. You can even see the shape of a dog imprinted on some of Browne’s designs, which shows how much he loves his pet pooch.

7 Margiela’s Distressed Sneakers

Remember when we mentioned that current fashion has fewer seams and fabric?

Well, Maison Margiela has joined the league with heavily distressed sneakers.^[4] So, if this is a trend, don’t you dare throw out the shabby sneakers you have worn for many years. The white-and-yellow high-tops are being sold for $1,425, which probably isn’t bad for a designer shoe. But it is a terrible price for a shoe that looks like it has been chewed up and worn by your ancestors.

Some notable fashion heads referred to this sneaker as “avant-garde.”

6 Hermes Leather Horse

Western has been a popular trend in 2018, but we want to know if it was inspired by this. Hermes came out with this fringed brown horse statue that costs more than a Porsche. Ekta Joshi of Luxury Launches mentioned that “luxury” often means “absurdity,” and we agree.^[5]

Hermes is a notable brand with one of the most expensive bags anyone can own. They all look the same, just with different materials and sizes. (Their micro purse is to die for.) Over the years, Hermes has made a name for itself as one of the top bag brands in the world.

So, why would they create something as absurd as the Marley the Pony statue, which is priced at $133,000?

The purpose of this piece of art is unclear. But from an outsider’s point of view, Marley is art in all its absurd glory.

5 Clutch With Human Hair

Ines Figaredo is known for her unique bag designs. However, we are sure that she put everyone in a horrific panic when she came out with this clutch made of human hair. Again, this hangs question marks above the head.

The bag is just a normal clutch with human hair flowing down the front. Do you know what the scariest part is? Eyes are glued or sewn onto the bag behind the hair.^[6]

A blogger wrote that this bag reminded her of The Ring, a horror film with a character that has long black hair covering her face. If you haven’t watched The Ring but have seen The Grudge, then this Ring female character is similar in appearance to the Grudge female ghost in the house—sort of.

If you want more of a scare, the clutch retails for $1,928. No need for a costume next Halloween, Ines has got you covered.

4 Saint Laurent Hair Ankle Boots

Yves Saint Laurent took it several inches further with their goat hair ankle boots. As weird as they may look, they may have a few functions like keeping your feet warm in the winter.

No need to stock up on stockings, eh?

Well, this pair of shoes that makes one look like a descendant of Bigfoot retails at $1,995. The actual shape is a bit unseen. But from the little peeks in between the hairs, you can tell that it has a somewhat pointed toe and is black with silver studs at the ankle.^[7]

3 LEGO Headpiece

It doesn’t look as bad as it sounds. We think it is quite playful. It would probably be one of those items that are cheap and just for laughs. It would also be a good souvenir, but Luisaviaroma sells it at $5,230.

Jaw-dropping, yes. It makes you wonder if this LEGO beanie piece is actually made of a costly material we can’t see. In any case, why would anyone use expensive materials to create something that serves no purpose at all? We are stunned.^[8]

2 Ostrich Headpiece

This headpiece was carefully crafted from ostrich feathers and has a brooch at the center to hold them into place. If you’re having a bad hair day, this piece will fix you right up and give you a different kind of look at a price of almost $2,000.^[9]

Again, we ask, “Why?” All we can envision is the designer using a woman’s bad hair day as her piece of art and as a moneymaker. This headpiece comes in orange, yellow, and black.

1 Balenciaga IKEA Bag

In 2017, Balenciaga came out with this ultraexpensive bag. As people who can’t afford to buy a bag from Balenciaga unless we saved up really hard for the entire year, you would say that we are haters and jealous. However, the only difference between the notable, cute bags that Balenciaga has sold and this one made people on the Internet laugh really hard.

Yes, we’re talking about the IKEA-looking Balenciaga bag.^[10] It looks almost exactly like the IKEA Frakta tote bag which goes for just $0.99. Meanwhile, Balenciaga sold theirs for more than $2,000. The only visible difference is that IKEA branded its version with its iconic yellow logo on the straps.

In the design industry, fashion-inclusive “inspiration” can be drawn from anywhere as seen when a high fashion design house decided to almost reincarnate the IKEA bag with leather and a higher price.

I am a university student doing design. However, I have worked as a writer, volunteered as an editor and proofreader of anonymous articles, and interned as a blog writer.

One might think that sporting an Hermes Birkin, Louboutin pumps, and a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses is super-classy. But these iconic fashion riches pale in comparison to the world’s best. If you had all the money in the world, would you consider buying the most-expensive hat, handbag, or underwear ever made? While you’ve been busy struggling to afford toilet paper, here are the delights that the bankers, CEOs, celebrities, and politicians have been enjoying.

10 Most Expensive And Delectable Desserts

10Men’s Dress Socks: Falke Vicuna Gentleman Socks, $1,000/pair

Cheap socks are for the birds. They have annoying seams. They stretch out and wear out. Worst of all, they fall down inside your shoes. Investing in quality socks is one way to ensure that your feet always remain encased in comfort.

To that end, Falke makes expensive socks. The luxury knitwear brand uses “only the best yarns” to create its luxury line of men’s legwear, a collection of “premium quality and the best craftsmanship.”

The company’s priciest socks, selling for about $1,000 a pair, are made of vicuna, one of the most expensive fabrics in the world. Vicuna is a fine, delicate wool that comes from the ultra-fine hair (and none of the coarse hairs) of the Peruvian vicuna.

Falke’s website describes the fabric like this: “The ‘fibre of the gods’ is obtained from the Purvian vicuna. Its fine, dense wool was valued as the rarest and most expensive in the world and was reserved for the highest nobility and the church, even in the time of the Incas.”

One vicuna (picture a really soft llama) produces about one pound of wool. Vicuna is too delicate to be dyed, so the very special socks are available in only one color: llama brown.

Because the fabric is so luxurious, it’s unreasonable to think that the Falke Knit Socks could be mass produced. Each pair is custom made–tailored to the wearer’s foot–and shipped in an elegant wooden box. Oh, and vicuna is said to boast unique warming properties. So your fancy feet will never get cold!^[1]

9Sunglasses: Chopard De Rigo Vision Sunglasses, $408,400

Sporting pricey Ray-Bans is a good way to protect your eyes with style. But if you really want to make a statement with eyewear, then you need something more deluxe. Chopard makes sunglasses and accessories from real gold that has been “ethically sourced.” When the design house partnered with De Rigo, another high-end eyewear brand, they created the ultimate sunglasses experience.

The Chopard De Rigo Vision Sunglasses are made with 60 grams of 24-carat gold and 51 individual four-carat River diamonds. In all, each golden pair features more than 200 carats of diamonds.

“The exclusive eyewear appeals to an explicit group of fashionistas,” according to a brand representative. The sunglasses premiered in Dubai where, thankfully, it’s usually sunny.^[2]

8Men’s Suits: Stuart Hughes Diamond Edition, $723,000

A suit worth nearly a million dollars? Yep. Luxury goods designer Stuart Hughes and tailor Richard Jewels teamed up to create the Diamond Edition suit. They made only three of these extravagant ensembles — no small wonder since each took more than 600 hours to stitch.

Like many high-end suits, the Diamond Edition is constructed of wool, cashmere, and silk. Unlike any other suit, however, it boasts more than 480 half-carat, single-cut diamonds. The gems are etched onto the exterior lining of the jacket with unexpected “bedazzled” results.

Good news: The suit is still in stock at the Stuart Hughes website. And each purchase comes with a bonus all-expense-paid trip to a luxury destination.^[3]

7Hat: Chapeau D’Amour, $2.7 million

The most expensive hat ever created is the $2.7 million Chapeau d’Amour, the “hat of love,” which was created by Louis Mariette in 2004. Made of woven platinum and encrusted with spectacular diamonds and amethyst, the hat was inspired by the designers love of ivy and bluebells.

Harrods approached Mariette to create something unique for the store’s new luxury millinery and wedding department. One of the main sponsors was the American Express Platinum card. The designer approached the project with absolute glee.

The Platinum Guild had already developed the rare platinum fabric that would serve as the base of the hat. Next came the ornamental Lady Amherst pheasant feathers. Mariette sat on the beach of a tiny island in the Indian Ocean as he hand embroidered the feathers onto the mesh-like fabric, which he said was “a total joy to work with.” The diamond supplier created special clasps that could hold the stones but still be removed for insurance and security purposes.

The Chapeau d’Amour traveled the world and now resides in the Cliveden House, which is surrounded by the forest of bluebells that provided Mariette’s inspiration. It is not for sale.^[4]

6Handbag: Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse, $3.8 million

Renowned jeweler Robert Mouawad from the House of Mouawad first offered the 1001 Nights Diamond Purse at a price of $3.8 million in 2010. One year later, the Guinness Book of World Records declared the elegant purse the most valuable in the world. The heart-shaped masterpiece is handcrafted from 18-karat gold and boasts 4,517 diamonds (105 yellow, 56 pink, and 4,356 colorless) weighing in at 381.92 carats. Ten highly skilled artisans worked for more than 8,800 man hours to create this dazzling bag.

The design is said to have been inspired by the Middle Eastern romantic fantasy, One Thousand and One Nights. The rare bejeweled purse has been shown at auctions in Hong Kong, Geneva, and London but remains up for grabs. Experts predict a new value of more than $5 million.^[5]

10 Creepy Items That Are Really Expensive

5Underwear: Victoria’s Secret Red Hot Fantasy Bra and Panties, $15 million

Victoria’s Secret has been creating multi-million-dollar bras for decades. In the 2001 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Heidi Klum sported the $12.5 million Heavenly Star Bra, which heaved with 1,200 Sri Lankan pink sapphires and a 90-carat diamond. Four years later, Gisele Bundchen wore the equally expensive Sexy Splendour Fantasy Bra, which featured 2,900 pave diamonds, 22 rubies, and a 101-carat diamond set in 18-karat white gold.

But if you’re going to blow more than $10 million on a bra, wouldn’t it be nice to at least have a matching pair of undies? The Guinness World Record for the most expensive lingerie ever created goes to just such a set. Bundchen modeled the Red Hot Fantasy Bra and Panties on Victoria’s Secret’s 2000 runway. About 3,000 diamonds and 22 Thai rubies are encased in 28-karat white gold. The gemstones weigh about 1,300 carats (101 of which dangle from a single diamond). The price tag: $15 million.

Note: Technically, Victoria Secret’s Fantasy pieces are “underwear” and not intended to be worn poolside. If it’s pricey beachwear you’re after, consider Susan Rosen’s $27 million diamond bikini. The designer created the barely-there “swimsuit” for Molly Sims’ appearance in the 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. The bikini, which features 150 carats of diamonds set in platinum, is the ultimate in the “fine art of opulence.”^[6]

4Shoes: Passion Diamond Shoes, $17 million

Recently featured on our list of expensive everyday items, we couldn’t leave these shoes off a list of luxury fashion items. In October 2018, the world’s most expensive shoes were launched. The luxurious Passion Diamond Shoes feature hundreds of flawless diamonds, including two perfect 15-carat stones. The real-gold stilettos, created by UAE-based Jada Dubai, are on display in the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. The display size is 36 EU, but wealthy buyers can request any size made to order.

Note: One pair of Passion Diamond Shoes is equivalent to 23,448 pairs of Louboutin So Kate pumps, which run about $700 per pair.^[7]

3Watch: Chopard 201-Carat Watch, $26 million

Chopard, a luxury watch company in Switzerland, is known for precision timekeeping and jewelry. The company was founded in 1860 by Louis Ulysse Chopard, a 24-year old who aspired to develop precise pocket watches and chronometers. In the 1960s, Karl Scheufele III purchased Chopard.

The $26 million price of the 201-Carat Watch is an estimate. That’s because this one-of-a-kind watch is so expensive that there is no listing price. The beautiful timepiece features 874 high-grade diamonds in blue, white, and pink that weigh in at 163 carats. Three heart-shaped diamonds sit at the center of the watch: a 15.37-carat pink diamond, a 12.79-carat blue diamond, and an 11.36-carat white diamond.

To view the time, the wearer presses a special mechanism. The heart-shaped diamonds open like the petals of a flower to reveal the face of the watch, which boasts three pear-shaped yellow diamonds.^[8]

2Dress: Nightingale of Kuala Lumpur, $30 million

Faiyzali Abdulla is a well-known Malaysian fashion designer. Anything created by Abdulla is a big deal. And when that creation has a name like “Nightingale of Kuala Lumpur,” it’s a really big effing deal.

The $30 million dress, which was presented in 2009 at STYLO Fashion Grand Prix KL, is composed of the finest chiffon and silk taffeta. This extraordinary off-shoulder evening gown glitters with 751 diamonds (1,100 carats). The largest of the diamonds is a 70-carat Mouawad teardrop on the gown’s bustier.

The burgundy masterpiece, which features a 6-foot train, reportedly cost $23 million to create. Abdulla’s inspiration for the dress came from the 14th century Persian poem “The Rose and the Nightingale,” which was read aloud when the dress was presented.^[9]

1Jewelry: CTF Pink Star Diamond Ring, $71.2 million

Even small diamond rings are expensive. But the Pink Star is an “internally flawless pink 59.6-carat diamond.” The gemstone was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong in April 2017 for $71.2 million.

De Beers extracted the diamond from a mine in Africa in 1999. In its raw state, it was 132.5 carats. It took two years to cut and polish the diamond to perfection. At 2.69 cm by 2.06 cm (1.06 in. x 0.81 in.), it is the largest flawless fancy vivid pink diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

The buyer of the Pink Star was Chow Fai Fook Enterprises, a Hong Kong conglomerate that has a chain of jewelry stores.

Note: The Pink Star holds the world record for the most expensive jewel ever sold. But the blue diamond holds the record for the most valuable price per carat at $3.93 million. In 2016, the 14.62-carat Oppenheimer Blue diamond sold for $57.5 million at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva.^[10]

Top 10 Most Expensive Items Sold That Don’t Actually Exist

Some people just look cool. Whatever they do, others will want to emulate it in hopes that a little of that magical allure will stick to them. Soon, yet more people are copying them, and a fashion is born. Looking back into the past, we can see that fashions are not modern trends but ones which have shaped our world and in some cases, us. Here are ten tips from the ancient world that modern fashionistas may want to adopt . . . or not.

10 Jewelry

Gold and silver are among the easiest metals to work. They melt at low temperatures, can be beaten into intricate shapes, and can be found simply lying about in streambeds without the need to dig deep into the Earth. But because they are so soft, they have few practical uses. Their beauty made them perfect for jewelry, however. The oldest-known gold artifact in the world dates from 4500 BC and is a tiny bead to be hung on a string.

If gold is too modern for you, then you may want to look further back for inspiration. Jewelry has a history that vastly predates metal use—and may not even be exclusive to humans. A set of eagle talons found among Neanderthal remains from 140,000 years ago show marks from having been cut into jewelry. In Kenya, people wore drilled discs of ostrich egg 40,000 years ago. In East Timor, at around the same period, people sported seashells, the remains of which bear red ocher that may have come from their body paint. In a cave in South Africa, tiny 75,000-year-old shells with holes were found grouped together. They were probably hung in bunches as a necklace.^[1]

9 Beanies

Animal skins are all very well for cave dwellers, but you want a more up-to-date look. You want that chic woven-fabric style of clothes that the cool tribes are wearing. Weaving first appeared at least 27,000 years ago. The earliest evidence comes not from clothes, which have long rotted away, but from impressions left in clay pots. The impressions show a wide variety of weaving styles to choose from. This discovery pushed back the debut of weaving and changed our view of some iconic ancient statuettes forever.

Venus figurines come from the late Paleolithic era and show enormously fat bodies, generally those of women. While you may wish to copy their body shape, it is their hats which have caught researchers’ attention. Before the discovery of ancient weaving, it was thought the complex patterns adorning the Venuses’ heads were elaborate hairstyles. Now they are being seen as early woven hats like a modern beanie.^[2]

8 Socks And Sandals

When a Roman army marched toward you, it would rarely be a laughing matter. Look away from their swords and shields, however, and you might chuckle to find these valiant men wearing socks and sandals. The conquerors of the world were not afraid to commit a fashion faux pas. In Britain, artifacts have been discovered showing Romans in their socks and sandals. A razor handle fashioned like a shapely leg clearly shows a foot with woven socks pulled up high, underneath a pair of sandals.^[3]

You might think this was a fashion necessitated by the chilly British climate. However, from the scorching sands of Egypt comes more direct evidence of the ancient fondness for socks and sandals. In the Victoria and Albert Museum, there is an unusual pair of bright red socks from roughly AD 300. They have two divided toes at the end to allow the straps of a sandal to slip comfortably through.

7 Tattoos

Tattoos are everywhere these days. It’s hard to find a pop star who doesn’t have even a little ink somewhere on their body. While the fashion for flaunting tattoos is new in our society, in the past, people were equally happy to show off their skin art. How do we know this about the ancients, who left little art and no writing? The best place to find tattoos is in the skin.

In Chile, hundreds of mummified bodies from the Chinchorro people have been discovered. One of these was a young man with a row of tattooed dots above his upper lip. Perhaps he was attempting to make up for a lack of facial hair. He died around 4,000 years ago.

The oldest-known tattoos come from Otzi the Iceman, a frozen body discovered in a melting glacier in the Alps. When Otzi froze to death 5,300 years ago, the cold preserved his 61 separate tattoos. These are mostly horizontal lines and are thought to have had ritual or therapeutic purposes, but they could also have been status symbols that would have made others envious.^[4]

6 Perfume

Fashion extends beyond what the eye can see. The human body isn’t always the most fragrant of objects. As soon as humans discovered pleasant-smelling ointments, they seem to have smothered themselves in them. On Cyprus, a 4,000-year-old perfume factory has been discovered in the ruins left by an earthquake. The residue of perfumes clinging to pottery vessels has allowed modern perfumers to recreate these ancient aromas.

The ancient Egyptians were addicted to perfume. They considered fragrances to be the sweat of the Sun god Ra. They had a god of perfume called Nefertum, who healed with sweet-smelling blossoms.^[5] To wear your perfume like an Egyptian, you’ll have to give up your spray bottles. The Egyptians infused aromas into oil, not alcohol as we do. A cone of perfumed wax would be balanced on top of an Egyptian’s head. As it melted over the course of a sultry evening, it released its smell.

5 Hairstyles

Are you a lady looking to stand out from the crowd, to set yourself above your competition? Then Roman women of the Flavian era (AD 69–96) have some advice for you: Pile your hair on your head in an imposing mass of rings. The satirist Juvenal describes how “numerous are the tiers and storeys piled one upon another on her head!” Aristocratic ladies of this time would have kept a specially trained slave, an ornatrix, for the task of teasing their quiffs ever higher. If a rich Roman woman lacked sufficient hair to produce the desired look, she could turn to wigs made from slave hair.^[6]

Fashions in hairstyle could change quickly, so a bust carved from marble could certainly end up depicting a lady with a passe hairdo. To combat this, some busts were made with detachable stone wigs to allow more up-to-date styles to be attached at a later date.

4 Roman Bikinis

The bikini was supposed to be as explosive a clothing garment as the hydrogen bomb which scorched the Bikini Atoll was. When it was created in 1946, it was the height of modernity—except for the fact that an ancient Roman woman would have instantly recognized it.

While modern bikinis are used for sunbathing and swimming, to the Romans, they were sportswear. A mosaic has been uncovered showing ten women taking part in various sports wearing something very similar to a modern bikini.^[7]

It was not merely a practical garment, however. The Roman bikini was an object of titillation. Poets made bawdy jokes about the women who wore them, and art was created of the wearers, possibly for men to gawk at. At Pompeii, a statue of Aphrodite was discovered showing the goddess of love in a gold bikini.

3 Cosmetics

The Roman comic playwright Plautus said, “A woman without paint is like food without salt.” The use of cosmetics goes back far beyond the Romans, however. Paint-making tools have been found from 100,000 years ago, containing the same pigments used in ancient societies to decorate the body.

Makeup as we know it can be traced to the Egyptians. Egyptian men and women from all social classes applied a thick layer of dark kohl around their eyes. This had a religious symbolism, related to depictions of the gods, but it also had practical uses. The dark pigment helped to reduce the glare of the fierce Sun, repelled annoying insects away from the eyes, and caught dust and sand.^[8] Kohl contains toxic lead, but that was a risk worth paying for beauty. Roman women would use rouge made from an equally dangerous red lead compound.

2 Togas

Think of Rome, and you might think of old men in togas in the Senate house. That was about the only time you could get a Roman to actually wear a toga. Togas were not designed for everyday use. Only on occasions when it was necessary to put on a show would a man don his toga.

Togas were pretty much designed to be useless as clothes. To be worn properly, these huge semicircles of wool required the help of slaves in dressing.^[9] Holding it in place all day meant you could not use your left arm for any other task. The thick wool was stifling in the Roman summer. Wearing a toga told people you were far too important to actually do anything physical. To keep your toga clean also required it to be soaked in urine and trampled by slaves’ feet to dissolve grease.

One advantage of the toga was that the folds of cloth provided handy spots for carrying small objects like a stylus and notepad. Caesar’s assassins hid their daggers in their togas.

1 Skull Binding

Are you tired of having to wear a top hat to show how upper-class you are? Why not change the shape of your skull? Alas, it is too late for you, but your children may benefit. For at least 10,000 years, humans have been molding the malleable heads of babies into unusual and unnatural shapes as a marker of social distinction.^[10] The practice seems to have developed independently in many civilizations. Ancient Europeans, the Huns, the Ostrogoths, the Maya, the Inca, and Native American tribes all used various methods to alter the shape of their children’s skulls.

Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, described the technique used to achieve artificial cranial deformation in 400 BC: “They think those the most noble who have the longest heads. It is thus with regard to the usage: immediately after the child is born, and while its head is still tender, they fashion it with their hands, and constrain it to assume a lengthened shape by applying bandages and other suitable contrivances whereby the spherical form of the head is destroyed, and it is made to increase in length.”

Teenage fashion is consistently changing, with more teenagers shopping online due to newer pieces of technology, more businesses promoting the use of fast fashion and the need, we all often get, to follow trends set by huge celebrities.

Teenage girls are always looking to expand their wardrobes, so, if you are a teenage girl reading this post, why don’t you get some inspiration to add some shine to your wardrobe?

Hottest Fashion Trends for Teenage Girls in 2024:

1. Embroidered Tops

These tops are a great staple piece to add into any teenage girl’s wardrobe. They give your tops a sense of uniqueness and will most definitely turn heads as you walk down the street feeling like a queen. The most popular pieces often contain an embroidered butterfly, cherry or a dragon on them.

You can find embroidered tops at any fashion store such as SHEIN, Urban Outfitters and other online stores for young women. They are definitely a trend as many famous influencers wear these nowadays.

2. Wrap Tops

Wrap tops are a perfect staple piece for summer and you can find a wide range of them at many online stores. They are perfect due to their often-soft texture and light material meaning you won’t be all hot and sweaty for summer (thankfully).

They also come in different styles of wraps such as a plunge wrap, a front tie wrap, and a wrap bralette. You can find these tops in places like SHEIN, Zara, Urban Outfitters, PrettyLittleThing and more!

3. Mom Jeans

Yes, you’ve heard me right. Mom jeans are back in a way we’ve never seen them before! These denim jeans feature a high waist and a little bagginess as it reaches the ankle. They have been popularised due to their aesthetic and stylish look that often remind people of the early 2000s.

These jeans make teenagers look taller and you can find them in a range of styles and colours, including ripped and baggy at the ends.

4. Air Force 1s

Air Force 1s have become a staple trainer in the sneaker world and would be a perfect addition to your closet. You can sport the trainer with anything from dresses to jeans.

You can find these sneakers anywhere, and, if you prefer them customised, you can head to DePop. Do bear in mind that the prices may be a little higher if you opt for this.

5. Shoulder Bags

Shoulder bags are in trend and you should get one. The bag is perfect to pair with any outfit and can even make the most boring outfits stylish.

Shoulder bags come in various sizes, shapes and colours so choose one that you believe fits your style aesthetic the most. You can find these at any online shopping site.

6. Biker Shorts

Biker shorts are perfect for pairing with a loose top, a hoodie, a sweatshirt – literally anything! They were popularised in 2024 and remain a teenage fashion trend today.

They are most popular worn in black and are made from stretchy material. Many influencers wear them such as Kim Kardashian, who made the clothing piece popular in the first place. Again, you can find them at any online fashion store.

7. Graphic Tees

A Graphic Tee is any t-shirt that has a design on it – that design could have been created by the processes of screen printing or painting etc. The graphic designs are well done and very artistic.

They are quite popular as they add an interesting element to your outfits and make them more unique. You can pair graphic tees with biker shorts and Air Force 1s for a complete look.

8. Doc Martens

Doc Martens are boots that are ever rising in popularity in the teenage fashion world. Like Air Force 1s. They are perfect to pair with any look.

The boots are made of leather and can be bought as either high-rise or low-rise depending on which you prefer. They are made from good material so should last you a long amount of time. You can also pair them with almost anything!

9. Bucket Hats

Bucket hats are a perfect accessory for any outfit. They give off that 2000s vibe which so many teenagers and influencers seem to crave.

You can find them almost anywhere and are a great clothing piece to wear in summer to shield your eyes and skin from the sun. They also come in many cute prints and patterns for you choose from.

10. Oversized Clothing

Last, but not least, we have oversized clothing which includes hoodies, sweatshirts and tees. They are great for loungewear, but you can also use them to create amazing outfits.

Many teenage girls often pair oversized sweatshirts or hoodies with skirts and doc martens or Air Force 1s. They could also be paired with matching baggy joggers to give it a finished look.

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They say that beauty is pain, but some fashion trends are so horrifying that they’re actually painful for everyone who sees them. Strange moments in history have created some pretty strange fashions over the years, looks that (hopefully) will never be repeated or ever be seen again now that their time to be trendy has ended. Fashion may be cyclical, but some looks should never be dusted off.

You might have had the experience of stifling a giggle upon seeing what your parents were wearing in old photos, but those old clothes have nothing on the entries in this list. Look back at history’s most depressing fashion trends, and vow here and now never to wear a flour sack—no matter how many people are doing it!

10 Flour Sacking

What’s more depressing than a trend born of the Great Depression? In an era where nothing in America was wasted, flour sacks became the go-to dress material for women everywhere.^[1] The height of the trend came in the late 1930s and early 1940s, when rural fashion rose to its heyday. Country women who could sew neatly and quickly became the fashionistas of their era and dominated the national sewing competitions that sprung up across the US.

Thriftiness was in fashion, and the fashion trend known as flour sacking caught on everywhere. Women who were really adept at flour sack dresses even managed to earn extra money by selling their dresses to others. Companies like the National Cotton Council and the Textile Bag Manufacturers Association sponsored contests where women could show off their flour sack creations, which gave flour sack dresses their own sort of fashion clout.

By the 1940s, savvy sack makers were catering to the trend by producing bags in brighter colors and with more intricate patterns, hoping their products would be favored because of the prettier packaging. Large sacks of feed and flour were particularly desirable, as they provided much material. So when life gives you flour sacks . . . make a dress?

9 The TB look

Fashion has seen many strange trends in history, but one of the most questionable is the popular TB look. It was all the rage during Victorian days to mimic the effects of the disease, which made people look very pale and skinny in its final phases (just before they died).^[2] The look was partially inspired by popular literature of the day, particularly tragic tales like La Dame aux Camelias.

Because tuberculosis was rampant and not just the stuff of literary fancy, the TB look became a viable—and desirable—fashion trend. The look was popular for decades, reaching its height from 1780 to 1850. The thin, pale look brought on by the disease already fit in with beauty ideals among the upper classes. But this is where fashion sense and common sense are directly at odds with each other because for generations, women living in the Victorian era starved themselves and avoided sunlight so that they could look more like they were wasting away from tuberculosis. How attractive.

8 Hobble Skirts

In what now seems impossible, the hobble skirt was so popular that no one knows who really invented it because everyone wanted to take credit for it. It was the 1910s, and women were ready to express their fashion freedom by getting rid of the trends that shackled them in the past.^[3] Gone were the layers of petticoats, the big hoops, and the extra fabric. Instead, women started lashing their ankles together.

As soon as the skirt made its way from Paris to the US, it became the stuff of fashion scandal. Cartoonists drew caricatures of women attempting to walk in the restrictive skirts, and The New York Times wrote a giant article about the impact to the textile industry because so many petticoats would be sacrificed to the new trend. The story called the skirts “an ungraceful and immodest freak of fashion” and asked readers to imagine 10,000 families starving as a result.

But the trend just would not go away. Soon, so many women were wearing hobble skirts that streetcars and trains had to lower their entrance steps so that the ladies could still successfully climb aboard with their steps restricted. The hobble skirt trend may have continued to flourish, in fact, if World War I hadn’t changed everything for fashion the world over. New restrictions on fabric and a scarcity of manpower in Paris upset the fashion industry and put an end to the days of the hobble skirt. Happily, women chose not to go back to their petticoats just the same.

7 Scheele’s Green

If beauty is pain, then Scheele’s green is the most beautiful color ever.^[4] Karl Scheele was a chemist in Sweden when he created the pigment in the 1770s. The pretty green hue he found was cheap to make and easy to use in all sorts of items, from clothing to wallpaper. And that’s really too bad, since Scheele’s green was made with arsenic. Oops.

The gorgeous green was used in ball gowns and curtains, pretty much any home fabric, and was so commonplace that it surrounded none other than Napoleon in his final days. In fact, the arsenic-infused pigment may have contributed to his death. Since Scheele’s green was a hot color in Victorian Britain and elsewhere in Europe, he certainly wasn’t the shade’s only victim.

Scheele’s green was used in fashion for about 100 years, a century of death, before another chemist decided to take a good look at the pigment and discovered its true nature.

6 Bird Masks

Bird masks were part fashion trend, part professional necessity. The bird masks were first worn during the 17th century as a defense against the plague, but they inspired centuries of costume fashion and linger to this day as a popular masquerade choice.

The plague was deadly; it had decimated around one-third of Europe’s total population back in the 14th century, and it had periodically reared its ugly head since. Doctors roamed the streets and went into villages, tending to the afflicted. But to get the job done, they needed these masks.

The beaks on the masks weren’t just fashionable; they were functional.^[5] The masks were stuffed with fragrant flowers and herbs and worn directly over the nose. This kept the doctors from smelling the scents of death and decay as they attempted to haul away the dead bodies. The masks were worn due to the miasma theory, which held that disease was transmitted by poisonous, foul-smelling gas in the air, which was produced by decay.

5 Crinolines

It’s a must-have for every movie set in the latter half of the 1800s, and it featured so much in Gone With the Wind that it should have been given starring credit. It’s the crinoline, one of fashion’s deadliest and dumbest trends of all time. Made to give women’s skirts a big bell shape, crinolines, stiff petticoats that sometimes even had frames, literally killed thousands of people during their time in the fashion spotlight.

At their height in the 1850s and 1860s, crinolines made skirts too big and too puffy. That made them dangerous. In those two decades alone, an estimated 3,000 women in England died due to fires caused by crinolines.^[6] Big skirts and candles don’t mix well; nor do they make it easy for people to quickly escape a suddenly burning building. Some women simply ignited as a result of standing too close to the fireplace, while others died in massive events.

The most infamous crinoline fire occurred in 1863 at the Church of the Company of Jesus in Santiago, Chile. As many as 3,000 people died due to the amount of flammable crinolines in the room. In 1864, it was estimated that almost 40,000 women the world over had died due to crinoline-related fires since 1850.

4 Bullet Bras

An anomaly that the world hopes will stay confined to the late 1940s and 1950s, bullet bras were everywhere for a few years. The sharply pointed bras were worn by all the well-dressed women, and some designs were truly dangerous enough to put out an eye. The bullet bra became the must-have accessory for the classic pinup girls of the era.

More properly known as the Chansonette bra, the bullet bra appeared in Frederick’s of Hollywood and soon became a fashion icon.^[7] Part of the bra’s popularity was due to World War II and the nylon fabric restrictions it created; spiral stitching and different fabrics made bras stiffer and pointier.

The bullet bra faded into obscurity in the late 1950s with the rise of the softer, more gender-neutral fashions of the 1960s, though it did enjoy a resurgence in popularity thanks to Madonna’s 1990 “Blonde Ambition” look.

3 Armadillo Shoes

Though they haven’t been around long enough to really be historic, as they were designed by Alexander McQueen in 2010, armadillo shoes will surely go down as one of the worst of the worst. Everyone hopes these shoes will stay in the annals of fashion history, where they belong, never to be seen on a runway or at an award show again.

The first line of armadillo shoes were carved out of wood, which means they’re probably just as uncomfortable as they appear. The shoes were famously worn by Lady Gaga, who is notorious for bizarre fashion choices, and they sold for around $3,900 to $10,000 per pair.^[8] Only a relative few were ever produced—and only for extremely special clients, such as Gaga herself. Though Gaga made them work, one Vogue fashion blogger admitted they are impossible to walk in. No surprise there.

2 Zibellinos

Also known as tippets and flea furs, zibellinos were significant in fashion and worn only by the very wealthiest. If you were a high-ranking noble or member of a royal family, you wouldn’t go anywhere without his must-have accessory that was truly one of the most awful things ever.

Basically, a zibellino is the pelt of a marten or sable . . . with the head still attached.^[9] It’s worn simply draped over one arm, because that’s exactly where you want to hang your pelt. Sometimes, the heads were encrusted with gold and jewels.

It wasn’t until the end of the 16th century that faux versions were created to replace the actual animal remains.

1 Black Teeth

Today’s fashion is all about having white teeth, and you can’t watch TV or open a magazine without seeing an ad for whitener. But if you lived in Japan in the past, you’d need black teeth to be totally in fashion. Black teeth were a symbol of wealth and sexual prowess, particularly for women in Japanese society, for years.^[10] To get the look, they drank black dye mixed with cinnamon and spices for taste. The practice, called ohaguro, was outlawed in 1870, and the white teeth trend caught on after the Japanese empress showed off her own non-blackened smile in public.

But as it turns out, black teeth were better teeth, health-wise, anyway. The dye mixture used to created the blackened teeth look actually protected them from decay because it had a lacquer-like effect on the enamel. The mixture even warded off certain bacteria to promote better overall health. Maybe this is one trend that will make a comeback?

KC Morgan is a professional freelance writer. She has written thousands of articles, on every topic from history to food hacks. Whether KC is explaining how to complete a DIY project or exploring the world’s mysteries, she’s writing about something every single day.

Fashion is a relevant term. It is based on peoples’ personal preferences. Although there are fashion trends that the world gets crazy about, people will follow only the ones that they personally like. Fashion has been there for centuries. Cleopatra was one of the first fashion icons of the world and her style sense is still talked about. She introduced nail polishes with the pulp of fruits, the big dark lined eyes and the ornate jewelry that she adorned at all times. Fashion is observed everywhere in the world according to the area’s culture, climate and traditions.

Fashion trends come and go and even though we all love following fashion, sometimes it just gets completely weird. There have some fashion trends that you just can’t seem to understand. Fashion designers like to bring out their creativity on the runway and we get that but sometimes they just go way over the top. They forget what would look nice or not and just create about anything possible. There have been fashion shows where models have worn dresses made out of hair, condoms and one designer attached real humans together in weird ways to make a statement. What are you trying to convey?

The Top 10 Bizarre Fashion Trends

Here is a list of the 10 bizarre fashion trends out there. Get ready to cringe.

10. Night suit in the day

One of most bizarre fashion trends, we have recently seen on runways and red carpets is the night suit fashion. Now you might be confused but people are literally wearing night suit for events. Brands have come out with slip dresses which are basically sexy nighties turned into dresses and some wear the good old pajamas and a robe. Um if you’re so sleepy why don’t you stay home?

See also: The 20 most beautiful girls in the world.

9. The hideous case of socks in sandals

For me the worst shoe trend is the crocs. I absolutely hate the shape of them and can’t stand them. But this trend just won the trophy. Socks in sandals is the new shoe trend and it is absolutely horrendous. Girls are wearing sandals and not the flat ones with thick neon colored socks in them. Um how exactly does that look flattering?

8. Colored armpit hair

There are fashion trends that are weird and there are those that are downright gross. This is one of those bizarre fashion trends. The new fashion trend endorsed by celebrities like Miley Cyrus is of dying your armpit hair of different colors. Women have grown their armpit hair and gotten them dyed. Apparently this shows a symbol of feminism but I just see gross hair.

See also: The 10 most beautiful women in the world.

7. Eye tattoos

People have gotten tattoos for centuries with the resources they have had. Tattoos can be simple and meaningful and some just plain weird. However the latest trend is getting your eyes tattooed and this is just bizarre and scary. I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it.

See also; Top 10 of the world’s most beautiful eyes.

6. Barbie Flu

Remember when we were kids and played with Barbies. Yeah those were the simpler times. However the Barbie fever has gone a little out of hand and turned into what is now called the Barbie flu. In Ukraine women are turning themselves into living Barbies by getting plastic surgeries done.

The men aren’t far behind either and are getting surgeries done to look more like Ken. A city full of human dolls, that’s just terrifying.

5. Ear Gauging

Piercings are commonly done as a fashion statement but in countries such as Africa these piercings are a part of their culture. An African ritual is to stretch out the ear and placing huge rings inside. However it has now seeped into the younger generation as a fashion trend and is just simply weird.

See also: 10 Most Weird Piercings You Won’t Believe Exist

4. Gothic Lolitas

We all know the comic con craze that goes in Japan but the recent trend has just weirded us out. Gothic Lolitas have taken over the fashion trend in Japan where women are dressing up in gothic clothing and makeup with an umbrella as a prop. Yeah we know you’re made in Japan.

See also: 10 thing You Need To Know About The Nose Piercing Du Jour

OMG somebody stop this monstrosity please. The new shoe trend seen on runways are the hoof footwear. These are shoes in the shape of hoofs and they look exactly like them. These look so scary as if people just became centaurs.

2. Meggings

We understand unisex fashion and love it too. But some things are just supposed to be worn by one gender and leggings are one of them. Leggings for men have now taken over the fashion scene and are being called ‘meggings’.

See also: The 10 most handsome men in the world.

1. The Hitler craze

Hitler died many years ago but his fashion sense has stayed. Thailand has been recently seen with a Hitler fashion craze. People are seen wearing shirts with Hitler’s face, accessories, posters and many other things. We’re very worried about the Thai nation.

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Fashion in the world of today is not meant for just Hollywood celebrities and runway models. Media has exposed common people to the world of fashion. Television, newspapers, internet, and all other means of communication have exposed people to the ever-changing fashion trends, getting updated in every season. Women from every walk of emulate the designs by top-notch designers. As we know, fashion changes with every season of every year. We have picked some of the latest and most wearable fashion trends for women.

So, let us take a look at the top 10 fashion trends for women to adopt in 2024.

1. Shirt-dresses

One of the trending styles to pick from the spring/summer collection this year is the shirt-dress. Long shirt, which hit the stands a few years ago, has already become a classic. But, this season, designers have reimagined the shirt-dress with a variety of quirks and cuts.

Drop waists, double high slits, button-downs, asymmetric hemlines, mandarin-collar: be ready to embark upon an adventure, and experiment with any look to match your personality as you play with this fashion trends for women.

See also: The 20 most beautiful girls in the world.

2. Kimono-style Trench Coats

This stylish mix of a modern robe, a traditional kimono and a proper coat has been a surprisingly fashionable and well-accepted trend since the last summer. A fancier, single-coloured version of last year’s waist-length flowery frocks totally worth bringing down from the runways that it is ruling this. They are slouchy, roomy and lightweight.

Though thrown in with these summer trench coats, just for the sake of it, belts, especially a medium-size obi belt, with a knot in the side, can complete the look.

3. Culottes

Culottes are tricky, especially with the length. Falling somewhere between a bootcut and a full-on flare, have evolved from last-season’s raw denim, double-tone or embroidered variants to the almost-trousers with wide legs this pre-fall season, and the length is hemmed just between the upper ankle and lower calf.

Apart from the ankle-grazing length, a higher, more notorious length is also going hot, and it will look best teamed with tall leather boots, considerably taming the style.

See also: The 10 most beautiful women in the world.

4. Long Vests

Long vests, which the designers have been playing around with for some seasons now, are perfect for the pre-fall season, particularly because pre-fall is the season for outerwear that you have been so excited about. An alternative for the 70’s jackets and blazers, long vests have a slimming effect on the body, especially when left unbuttoned.

They can be worn in the late summer September on their own, showing off the bare arms, with sweater when it gets colder, or even used for a layered look.

5. Sporty Look

Add the cool quotient to winter with the athletic trend, an old-school approach to styling that is making a comeback in the moderate temperatures this autumn/winter season. The classic touches like the go-faster stripes, tennis skirt, gym shorts, plimsolls or leather leggings can really jazz up the look in a fresh, splashy kind of way.

The sporty design can provide a nice fit, offering great body shape. Racer backs are in, but polo neck is one of major fashion trends for women for the year 2024.

6. Cape

The trench coat is so last year! This winter, beat the harsh winter cold with the all new fashion trends for women, i.e. the cape. It closely resembles a poncho, and is flexible enough to beat all the other forms of winter dressing.

It can be worn with either sides up or down, and will still go well with any other winter piece, from above-the-knee boots to the pyjama style. These are best when the neutral colours are chosen. The poncho itself offers a layered appearance. Do not miss this winter trend.

7. Gypset

Gypsy-inspired looks meets the glamorous jet set styling, and you have gypset, characterized by bold patterns, orientalism and opulence of bohemianism. It is one of the biggest fashion trend for women this year, and is totally wearable.

It is a fun and enjoyable cruise line, beginning in the ‘70s. Spice up your regular work and evening wardrobe with a dash of colour and exoticism. Layered tunics with Aladdin pants, oriental-inspired accessories and bold floral patterns, will jazz up the look.

8. A-Line Shapes

A-line has been ruling the fashion world for some time now, and it is definitely on the rise, especially for the resort season. It looks best when sported with a touch of the 70s for a bit of a twist.

A playful mix of masculine jackets with modernized floral prints or colourful zigzags, cropped cuts, and high-waisted flared fits or straight-leg trousers worn with trainers, can leave no doubt.

A-line jumpsuits, and dresses, or skirts with embroidery, paired with shirts or knits, are feminine, and so 2024!

9. Trucker Jackets

If you are looking to add something to your wardrobe that you can reach in for, any time of the year, the trucker jacket is a must-have this year. The denim jackets are great when there is an onset of a slight nip in the air, and are just as great when worn under a layer, creating a fashion statement.

Opt for any: just team it with slim jeans or khakis, wear it unbuttoned on a loose tee, or like a shirt. The choice is yours. This jacket is super-versatile, and an absolute essential to complete the wardrobe.

10. Saree: with a twist

The ethnic Indian wear is not just for the Indians anymore. Wear your saree with a modern twist, and drape it like a gown. Show off those curves in the styles that are rocking the ramp, or bring back the old modern style of Mumtaz.

Still not enough? Throw in a blazer, a crop top, a tube, or anything that catches your fancy, in place of the boring old blouse, and add a whole new, quirky dimension to the traditional 9 yards. Add a belt. Make an absolute fusion to own the saree-clad look this year.

Gingham patterns, both large and small, are trending patterns of 2024, and so is the large and flamboyant floral pattern. For the monochrome lovers, there’s head-to-toe white, just waiting to enamour, or the military green that goes with look, from slouchy to skinny. Suede is back from the 70s, while denim is making a comeback, too, especially with the 80’s favourite full-denim look.

Knits and midi-skirts are among the fall trends, and so are the timeless furs and plumes. Throw in an obi belt or fancy aprons for a more runway look at the lounge party. Show off some skin with some mid-riff baring, or play with the imagination with the fringes. Comfy flats are in, and so is bouffant.

So, go out there and mix it up. So what if you can’t wear Vogue, Chanel or Louis Vuitton? Get inspired, anyway, and indulge in a fashionable 2024. Be beautiful. Also see the list of 10 Most Expensive Clothing Brands.

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Famous fashion designers inhabit an exclusive world where beauty and money rule. But behind the red carpets and couture gowns there lurks a seething mass of hatred, rage and despair. The air is toxic enough to turn your designer fragrance sour. Welcome to the dark underbelly of the fashion world.

Related: 10 Fascinating Examples Of Disease Influencing Fashion

10 Yves Saint-Laurent

Yves Saint-Laurent was born in Algeria in 1936. He was a timid, sensitive child who was bullied at school but escaped to Paris aged 17 after winning a prestigious design competition. Saint-Laurent was soon hired by couturier Christian Dior and his fresh designs transformed the brand’s traditional image. When Dior died suddenly in 1957, Saint-Laurent became head designer.

Saint-Laurent’s edgy futuristic themes did not impress Dior’s longstanding clients and when he was called up by the French Army in 1960, his employers were happy to let him go.

Saint-Laurent lasted 19 days as a soldier before the harsh conditions and brutal treatment from the other recruits drove him to have a mental breakdown. He was admitted to a military hospital where he was subjected to controversial electric shock therapy and given powerful psychotropic drugs. During his stay he was fired by Dior and replaced by a rival designer.

Saint-Laurent recovered and created his own fashion house but struggled with mental illness and endured a lifelong dependency on hallucinogenic drugs, cocaine and alcohol. He blamed his addictions on the harrowing time he had spent in the army.

9 Dolce & Gabbana

Dolce & Gabbana are a world-famous Sicilian design duo. In 2018 they faced a global boycott after releasing an advert which featured a Chinese model struggling to eat spaghetti with chopsticks. The image was from their “D&G Loves China” campaign and the backlash was explosive.

Stores in China cleared their products from shelves, models refused to appear at a planned fashion show and protestors burned D&G clothes in anger.

Strangely, this wasn’t their first boycott. In 2015, Dolce told an interviewer that babies born through IVF were “synthetic”. His comments earned them a personal boycott from Elton John who called them “archaic”, and an LGBT rights group staged a protest outside their London store.

Dolce & Gabbana blamed it all on their strict religious upbringings which doesn’t explain their next outburst in June 2018. Gabbana drew fierce criticism when he commented on a blogger’s Instagram photos of Selena Gomez with the words “è propio brutta” which roughly translated means “and just ugly”.

8 Halston

Roy Halston Frowick was born in Iowa in 1932. He began his career as a milliner and his most famous creation was the pillbox hat worn by Jackie Kennedy in 1961 at her husband’s inauguration. By 1970 he was designing womenswear and owned a boutique on Madison Avenue. Halston’s brand became a by-word for disco inspired looks when celebrities were photographed wearing his creations at legendary New York nightclub Studio 54. In 1973 he sold his business to Norton Simon Inc but retained control as an Executive and continued to design for the label.

Over the years, Halston’s party lifestyle and drug use hit the headlines. His wild spending habits – he would regularly blow thousands of dollars on flowers – spiralled out of control.

In 1984 Norton Simon fired him due to negative publicity surrounding his personal life and he instantly lost all rights to design under his own name. Despite several court battles, Halston never regained control of the company and he died in 1996.

7 Ossie Clark

Ossie Clark made his name as a designer in the fledgling fashion scene of 1960s London and his clothing was worn by stars including Mick Jagger and the Beatles. As the Swinging Sixties ended, his floral, bohemian styles fell out of fashion and by 1980, Clark was bankrupt and homeless.

In 2010, Clark was found brutally stabbed to death in his rented London flat. Clark’s former lover, Diego Cogolato was found guilty of his murder after suffering a transient psychotic episode in which he believed that Clark was the devil. Cogolato was jailed for six years.

Clark’s ethereal 1960s designs are still in demand on vintage clothing sites and David Hockney’s famous portrait of him is on display at Tate London.

6 John Galliano

Two friends stopped for a drink at a Paris bar. They barely noticed the man sitting alone at the next table until he launched a 45-minute hate-filled rant, using vile anti-Jewish language and making threats to kill.

The man was John Galliano – a celebrated designer and creative director of Dior. Police escorted Galliano home from the bar and when the victims filed a complaint, he accused the pair of defamation. Soon afterwards, a video surfaced of Galliano at the same bar a few months earlier during another drunken rage. He was filmed making violent threats and slurring:

“I love Hitler.”

Galliano was suspended by Dior following the initial offence in February 2011. The case went to court and Galliano testified that he couldn’t remember the incidents due to his alcohol and Valium addiction. He was found guilty of public insults, but his fine was suspended after he made an apology.

5 Alexander McQueen

Lee Alexander McQueen trained as a tailor on London’s elite Savile Row aged just 16. He later moved into theatrical design and then attended university where he named the collection presented at his graduation as: “Jack the Ripper Stalks His Victims”. The clothes featuring fake blood and human hair were snapped up by influential stylist Isabella Blow.

Blow became a friend and financial supporter, providing vital connections to McQueen as he progressed through the fashion world. McQueen loved to shock – famously using an amputee model in a runway show. In 1996, McQueen became chief designer at Givenchy but felt restricted by the traditions in place at the Paris fashion house and returned to London to work under his own name.

In 2007, Isabella Blow took her own life by drinking weedkiller, she had suffered from depression and her previously close relationship with McQueen had drifted over time.

In February 2010, McQueen was found hanged at his London home just days after the death of his beloved mother.

4 Paolo Gucci

Guccio Gucci arrived in London from Florence around 1898 to work as a porter at the Savoy Hotel. After admiring the elegant designs of the guests’ luggage, he decided to launch his own leather goods company. The first Gucci store opened in Florence in 1921. By 1953, Guccio’s son Aldo had moved to New York to market the brand globally.

Aldo was credited with designing the double G logo found on all Gucci products and drove the brand towards its iconic status. In 1977, Aldo appointed his son Paolo as Vice President of the company. When Paolo attempted to launch his own brand of luxury goods under the Gucci name, the family blocked the move and Aldo fired him. Paolo hit back by informing authorities of his father’s $7 million tax evasion and Aldo was subsequently jailed, aged 81.

In 1990, Paolo left his wife Jenny for a horse groomer at their English country estate. Jenny claimed that Paolo had left her, and their daughter stranded and penniless which sparked an epic divorce and custody battle between the two.

Paolo’s efforts to avoid paying child support led to a bizarre incident in 1994. Six prized Arab horses were found starved to death at his farm in an apparent attempt by Paolo to prove he had no money. His plan backfired spectacularly, as he was jailed for failure to pay child support.

Paolo died in 1995, a year after his cousin Maurizio was murdered.

3 Maurizio Gucci

Rodolfo Gucci, son of Guccio, wanted the best for his only heir – Maurizio. He strongly opposed Maurizio’s marriage to Patrizia Reggiani, even leaning on the Bishop of Milan to stop the wedding. The couple went on to marry in 1973 and raised two daughters but the union ended with a bitter divorce in 1984. At the same time, Maurizio was locked in a power struggle with his cousin Paolo which ended when his father Rodolfo died, leaving his majority share of the company to Maurizio.

As CEO, Maurizio sold Gucci holdings to an investment bank for around $120 million. Patrizia was furious that he had sold off their daughters’ birth right and bombarded Maurizio and his new fiancée with death threats.

On March 27, 1995, Maurizio was shot and killed on the steps of his Milan office. Police believed it was a professional hit but had no leads until a man began boasting about his involvement. An elaborate phone tapping system was set up and Patrizia, the hitman, the getaway driver and another associate were caught on tape discussing their part in the murder. One later confessed that Patrizia had insisted that Maurizio should be killed before his impending second marriage.

Patrizia was nicknamed “Vedova Nera” meaning “Black Widow” and served 16 years in jail for ordering her husband’s murder.

After her release, a TV crew asked her why she had hired a hitman to kill Maurizio. She replied:

“My eyesight is not so good. I didn’t want to miss.”

2 Hugo Boss

Hugo Boss is a German fashion brand whose slick advertising campaigns mask their shameful past.

In 1924, Hugo Boss opened a factory in Metzingen, making work clothes and raincoats. Soon, he was approached to produce shirts for the National Socialist party which became the Nazi party. By 1931, Boss was a fully-fledged member of the Nazis and sole manufacturer of uniforms for the Waffen SS, Hitler Youth and the German army.

As World War II raged on and his workforce shrunk, Boss was supplied with workers who had been forcibly removed from occupied Poland and France in order to keep his factory open. The mainly female workforce was housed in a camp with poor hygiene and no shelter from nightly bombing raids.

After the war, Boss – as an active Nazi – was barred from running a business. He successfully appealed and the Hugo Boss company flourished and grew into the luxury brand it is today.

1 Gianni Versace

Gianni Versace was the most celebrated fashion designer in the world when he left his mansion in South Beach, Miami on the morning of July 15, 1997. He took his usual stroll to a local café and upon arrival back at his home he was shot dead by two bullets to the back of his head.

The killer was Andrew Cunanan who was already the subject of an FBI manhunt when Versace became his fifth victim.

Cunanan was a privately educated student from a privileged West Coast family when he dropped out of college to work as a male escort. Cunanan – who friends later described as a compulsive liar—flew to Minnesota in April 1997 and murdered his friend, Jeffrey Trail. A few days later he shot dead his ex-lover, David Madson. Cunanan moved onto Chicago where he killed a stranger – Lee Miglin and stole his car to drive to New Jersey. His next victim was cemetery worker William Reese who he shot before stealing his red pick-up truck.

Cunanan fled to Miami where he spent two months at a hotel near Versace’s mansion. After the murder, Cunanan abandoned the red truck and police found newspaper cuttings about the earlier killings stashed inside the vehicle.

By now, over 1,000 FBI agents were searching for Cunanan. They tracked him down to a houseboat near Versace’s home but as they approached, Cunanan shot himself in the head.

No one knows what sparked Cunanan’s cross country killing spree or why he targeted Versace. The designer’s family believe that the two had never met.

Like any other craft or art form, designing fashion items requires inspiration. Fashion designers have been inspired by their roots, by popular music, and by nature.

But some fashion designers have been influenced by more unlikely sources. In fact, certain fashion trends throughout history—including the present day—have sprung from the strangest birthplace of all—disease.

Here are 10 fascinating examples.

10 Tuberculosis Influenced Victorian-Era Fashion

Tuberculosis, a fatal disease which attacks the lungs and is spread through the air, was laying waste to the citizenry of Victorian England in the mid-1800s.

At the time, the effects of tuberculosis on the female body were considered beautiful. That’s because tuberculosis made those afflicted thinner and paler. Called “consumptive chic,” the dreaded disease influenced corsets and skirts. Corsets were made pointed to create the appearance of an even thinner waist. Meanwhile, skirts were made immense for the same reason.

Due to the great number of funerals being held for those who died from the disease, black became particularly popular.

When Robert Koch discovered that bacteria caused tuberculosis, the “health corset” was introduced to allow a woman to breathe more freely, thus permitting her blood to better circulate. Physicians were also convinced that women’s full-length, trailing skirts were collecting street germs and introducing them into homes. So, in the early 1900s, hemlines rose a few inches.^[1]

9 The Spanish Flu Inspired The Surgical Mask Fashion Trend In Japan

Starting in 1918, the Spanish flu killed as many as 50 million people worldwide. In Japan, it is estimated that 470,000 people died of the Spanish flu or related causes. At the time, Japanese authorities suggested that wearing masks would be a good way to avoid contracting the deadly disease.^[2]

And that is how “mask culture” began in Japan.

These days, whether used as a fashion statement or when someone is actually sick, disposable face masks sell briskly in Japan. In 2014 alone, sales totaled 23.2 billion yen. And these masks are not just plain white. One company makes lace masks that come in various pretty colors.

Men prefer black masks. Metal fans can buy leather masks with studs. They also have masks that come in zebra prints and camo.

8 Alzheimer’s Has Inspired A Fashion Collection

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 50 million people currently have Alzheimer’s disease worldwide.

With two members of her family affected by the memory-erasing disease, fashion designer Nadia Pinkney fought back by creating a whole fashion line inspired by the color red—the color in PET brain scans that indicates the parts of the brain that the disease has yet to ravage.

In making her Alzheimer’s-inspired clothing line, Nadia worked with Dr. Tom Russ at the Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre at Edinburgh University to better understand the disease. Then she used brain scans of Alzheimer’s sufferers and turned the scans into prints used in garments and transparent fabric.

On top of that, she limited the range of colors in her collection after learning that Alzheimer patients in art therapy tend to choose only one or two colors and fixate on them.^[3]

7 Adaptive Clothing Is Designed For Those With Special Needs

Until recently, people with special needs struggled with the clothing they wore. Kids with cerebral palsy might have the buttons on their shirts replaced with Velcro due to severe motor issues. Autistic children often needed to have labels on the insides of their shirts and pants removed because the tags were extremely irritating.

Their parents had to improvise in the face of a clothing industry not designed with these special needs children—or adults—in mind. That is changing.^[4]

Various “adaptive clothing” companies have popped up in recent years to fulfill the needs of this previously neglected segment of the population. These companies are making children’s clothing without tags or seams, jackets with side openings to accommodate those confined to wheelchairs, adult jeans that fit over prosthetic legs, and more.

Even high-end fashion is responding with stylish clothes specifically designed for those in wheelchairs. All this clothing created just for people with special needs may lead to psychological benefits for the wearers, too.

6 Inoculation From Smallpox Inspired Hat Design In 18th-Century France

Smallpox ravaged the world for over 3,000 years. At the dawn of the 18th century, 400,000 Europeans were dying from the disease every year.

By the 18th century, smallpox inoculation was common everywhere in Europe—except for France. It took the successful inoculation of King Louis XVI and his two younger brothers to finally convince the reluctant French nation to get on board.^[5]

To celebrate this great moment in history, the hatmakers of Paris created a headdress called pouf a l’inoculation. No drawing of it exists, but it was apparently a series of symbolic images—a serpent to represent medicine, a club to symbolize conquering the disease, a rising Sun for the king, and an olive branch to represent the wonderful relief one gets from having been inoculated.

The celebratory headdress was quickly adopted by the fashionable elite. This helped to make getting vaccinated against smallpox a very cool thing to do.

5 Ball Gowns Inspired By Cancer Cells

One woman was so fed up with the amount of ugliness that cancer brings into our world that she decided to make something beautiful from it.

Inspired by microscopic pictures of cancer cells and cellular systems, Jacqueline Firkins, an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia’s Department of Theatre and Film, crafted a collection of ball gowns.

The cellular images, which came from the work of UBC scientist Christian Naus, appear as large, embroidered dots that spread down the length of one bright yellow and one dark green gown. Other gowns use ruffles or feathers to represent the cancer cells.

Under the project title of “Fashioning Cancer: The Correlation between Destruction and Beauty,” Firkins hoped to “tap into what a woman might be feeling about her body as she undergoes the disease, but simultaneously reflect a strength, beauty, and resilience.”^[6]

4 A Designer And A Scientist Created An Anti-Malaria Bodysuit

According to the World Health Organization, malaria killed 435,000 people in 2017. The disease is spread by mosquitoes. Insecticide-treated nets are used to keep mosquitoes from entering homes. But what do you do outside the home?

Enter apparel design undergraduate Matilda Ceesay and scientist Frederick Ochanda, both of Cornell University. They worked together to create a stylish hooded bodysuit that is embedded with insecticide at the molecular level. By binding the insecticide and clothing material at the nanolevel, the garment can be loaded up with three times more insecticide than the nets.

Debuted at a fashion show at Cornell University, the one-piece bodysuit is hand-dyed and “explores and modernizes traditional African silhouettes.”^[7]

3 Designers Are Starting To Create Clothing Especially For Blind People

Imagine shopping for clothing and not being able to see it. This has been a regular experience for blind people—until now. Designers in Lithuania, Argentina, and the United States are creating clothing exclusively for blind people.

Lithuanian designer Rugile Gumuliauskaite puts together books of her fashion collections. Using molding, carving, and stamping, her designs pop up from the surface of the books so that her blind customers can get a feeling for the clothes before slipping them on.

Based in Argentina, Maria Sol Ungar uses braille, embroidery, and textures in her garments to give her blind customers as much information as she can about her clothes—including washing instructions.

US designers Bradford and Bryan Manning, who suffer from an illness that slowly takes away your ability to see, include information in braille on the tag of each clothing item. About 70 percent of their employees are blind, and everything they earn goes to research aimed at ending blindness.^[8]

2 A Dress Inspired By Schizophrenia

According to the World Health Organization, more than 23 million people worldwide have schizophrenia. People with the illness often suffer from hallucinations, both visual and auditory.

In the UK, students from the Winchester School of Art consulted with neuroscientists at the University of Southampton to create clothing that drew inspiration from a number of diseases, including schizophrenia.

With the help of these neuroscientists, design students learned about cellular and synaptic function and dysfunction and got to visit science labs in preparation for their design projects.

One student, Nikki Day, looked into the morphology of various classes of neurons before designing a dress with “embroidered images to reflect the theory of schizophrenia as a disease of aberrant brain circuit connectivity.”^[9]

1 An Artist/Fashion Designer Created Latex Dresses To Fight AIDS

According to UNAIDS, 37.9 million people worldwide were living with HIV in 2018.

To remind people to keep safe during sex, artist and fashion designer Adriana Bertini designed a collection of dresses made up entirely of latex. For instance, she once created a wedding gown out of 80,000 condoms.^[10]

Dying and shaping thousands of condoms into colorful and stylish dresses, gowns, and bikinis, Bertini doesn’t make the clothes to be worn. Instead, she considers them to be works of art that carry an important message.

Domenico is a cinema obsessive who writes for his own film blog, So Many Films, So Little Time.

Strange trends in fashion seem like they’ve always been around. From paper dresses to platform crocs, many fashion trends have left people wondering, ‘What were they thinking’? From showing off one’s status to hiding illness are just a couple of reasons for some strange trends throughout history. This list covers 10 of the most bizarre fashion trends in history.

10 Fascinating Examples Of Disease Influencing Fashion

10 Bombast

If you’ve ever seen a person in a Elizabethan era painting, you’ve probably seen that person in puffy sleeves. These puffy sleeves are a result of stuffing, or bombast. And it wasn’t just the sleeves that were stuffed. Bellies, shoulders, and thighs would also be stuffed. Men were known to pad their calves as well.

Bombast was made from various materials, including cotton, wool, horsehair, and bran. The stuffing used was not light and soft like the large shoulder pads of the 1980s. Instead, the bombast was quite uncomfortable. The trend fell out of style in the mid 17th century.^[1]

9 Bliauts

The bliaut was a long gown worn by wealthy men and women. The bliaut was one of the long garments worn worn during the late Middle Ages. This garment used a substantial amount of fabric, due to the high amount of drapes and pleats used in its construction.

Bliauts worn by women were tighter fitting in the upper arms, shoulders, and torso. However, the sleeves were extremely wide from the elbow down. The sleeves would extend all the way to the floor. While the gown for women would be floor length, men’s were shorter. A bliaut worn by a man would only reach his ankles. The male version was loose fitting, with the sleeves extending at the wrist instead.^[2]

8 Chopines

Think 3 inch platform shoes are high? Those are nothing compared to this 16th Century shoe, or chopine. A chopine was a high-soled platform shoe that could be as tall as 20 inches.

Chopines, although impractical footwear, served the practical purpose of protecting the wearer’s feet from mud and dirt along the streets. Chopines were often worn by Spanish and Italian women to show off wealth and social importance. The higher the shoe, the higher the status. Women required longer dresses to balance proportions, which required more expensive dresses. Attendants would also be used by wearers to help maintain balance.

These high shoes may have had roots in Ancient Greece and Rome. There are early images in Greek mythology of Aphrodite wearing high platforms. After the Romans invaded Spain, they established a cork shoe-making industry.

Like many other fashions, the chopine was not to last. The 17th Century saw the beginning of the high heeled shoe, thus ending the trend.^[3]

7 Crinolines

Crinoline was a popular fashion trend starting in the late 1840s. The crinoline was a petticoat made from horsehair. The crinoline was initially used to support and give shape to a woman’s dress. In order to achieve the large skirt look, the crinoline was wore worn with six starched petticoats. This was heavy and uncomfortable to the wearer.

The crinoline took different forms during its popularity. In the 1860s, it changed to a dome shape. By about 1865, it became nearly flat in front. By 1878, the crinoline was no longer popular.^[4]

6 Codpieces

In the 1500s, men’s fashion had changed. Men wore a doublet, which was worn on the upper part of the body. Hose, which were made of two separate leggings, were attached to the doublet. Then a cloak was worn over the outfit. As doublets and cloaks shortened, a man’s private area would sometimes become accidentally exposed. In order to prevent this exposure, the codpiece was formed.

Codpieces started out as nothing more than a triangular shape of cloth. During the time when masculinity and chivalry were highly valued, the codpiece became longer and more ornate. As the trend progressed, codpieces would be made from silk velvet. The codpiece could even have jewels or embroidery on it.

During the late 16th Century, the codpiece began to fade. A new trend with men stuffing their clothes in the stomach area emerged, thus ending the reign of the codpiece.^[5]

10 Of The Most Bizarre Modern Fashion Trends

5 Hobble Skirts

It seems strange that as the women’s suffrage movement was gaining momentum a new fashion trend would limit a woman’s movement. But in the 1910s, the hobble skirt was a hot fashion trend. The hobble skirt was a snug-fitting skirt that was cinched at the ankles. Where women used to walk and glide freely, they were reduced to only taking the tiniest of steps. Regardless of this limitation, women were more than happy to ditch their heavy petticoats which the hobble skirt replaced.

As the trend took hold, modifications to the skirt allowed women better mobility. Streetcars and trains reduced the height of their entrances to accommodate the skirt wearers. Hidden slits and pleats were added to allow longer strides.

Public figures denounced the trend and media were staunch opponents. Newspapers took every opportunity to publish stories about women with twisted ankles and broken legs caused by the hobble skirt.

The hobble skirt trend was short lived. By 1915, the First World War had begun and the hobble skirt didn’t seem to fit in with the times.^[6]

4 Macaroni

Perhaps when you’ve heard the song Yankee Doodle, you were puzzled by this line: “stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni.” After all, who can’t tell the difference between a feather and a piece of pasta? However, in this song, macaroni was not a piece of pasta. Rather, it was a fashion trend.

In the 1760s, young British aristocrats were returning from a journey across Continental Europe, know as the Grand Tour. This was a standard trip intended to deepen cultural knowledge. These young aristocrats also came back with a new sense of fashion know as macaroni.

The macaroni trend was seen as a type of effeminate dress. It incorporated bold colors, while the traditional dress at the time favored darker clothing. Flashy shoes, tight pants, and short coats were also part of this trend. The trademark of this trend, however, was exaggerated wigs almost as tall as the wearer with tiny hats on top.

When the trend began, it was limited to only the upper class. By 1772, it had spread to all classes. As the trend spread, the femininity of the style was amplified. The term macaroni changed from a sophisticated British person to “a person who exceeded the ordinary bounds of fashion”. The public shaming and ridicule of the newer macaronis caused the end of the fashion trend.^[7]

3 Mercury Hats

Hats in the 18th and 19th centuries were made of felt that came from beaver or rabbit hair. In this process, mercury, or more specifically, mercuric nitrate, was used to separate the fur from the animal pelt. This process was known as “carroting”.

While men who wore these hats were protected from mercury poisoning by the hat’s lining, the people who manufactured them weren’t so lucky. Ventilation was poor in the factories, causing larger amounts of mercury fumes to be inhaled. Hatters suffered a variety of ailments including “hatter’s shakes”, referring to tremors caused by mercury exposure. In Danbury, Connecticut, named “Hat City of the World”, this phenomenon was referred to as the “Danbury shakes”. Other ailments included paranoia, teeth loss, and hallucinations. While hatters attempted to achieve better working conditions, many just accepted it as part of life.

On December 1, 1941 Connecticut banned the use of mercury. The process of using of using hydrogen peroxide instead began to take place. However, the use of this poison did not completely end until the 1960s when men stopped wearing hats.^[8]

2 Powdered Wigs

Ah, to have a long, luxurious head of hair. Who doesn’t want one? In the 17th and 18th centuries, this was not just a desire; it was a status symbol among European upper classes. Being bald meant being subject of great ridicule. To hide a person’s baldness, a powdered wig would be worn.

Of course, going bald is genetic. However, sometimes going bald was from more sinister reasons. During this time, syphilis rampant through Europe. One of the symptoms of syphilis was baldness. So the powdered wig would be worn to cover the wearer’s secret shame. Also around this time, people had a serious lack of personal hygiene. People believed bathing would open their pores, exposing them them to diseases. As a result of this belief, people rarely cleaned themselves. The lack of cleaning caused the body to smell. The wig was powdered in an attempt to hide a person’s smell. The powder would sometimes contain lavender or orange to further hide the stench.

French citizens stopped wearing the wigs during the Revolution. In Britain, a tax was levied a hair powder, leading to the end of the trend there. By the late 18th Century, wigs would be replaced by short, natural hair.^[9]

1 Arsenic Dresses

Poison, poison everywhere. From candles to curtains, arsenic seemed to be in just about everything in the Victorian era. It was even in women’s clothing.

In 1814, a chemical company had invented a new green dye. Brighter and bolder than traditional dyes, it was dubbed “emerald green”. Women flocked to the color. With rooms being brighter thanks to the invention of gas lighting, women wanted to stand out in the crowd. The only problem was the reason for such a vibrant color was thanks to the arsenic in the dye. Due to the color’s popularity, it was not only in the dresses women wore, but also in gloves and shoes.

All of this exposure had effects on the women who wore such things. Arsenic exposure could cause problems such as rashes or hair loss. Exposure could also lead to severe symptoms such as kidney and liver failure. Manufacturers of these items were the most likely to die from its toxic effects.

Countries such as France and Germany banned the used of arsenic as a result of public concern. While countries such as Britain did not ban the substance, the rise of synthetic dyes helped phase out this toxic ingredient.^[10]

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