The 10 worst fashion trends of 2022 may go straight to the trash

At best, fashion is subjective and anything goes. It can be argued that in 2022, people are making their own things more than ever.

However, some of the most compelling fashion criticism comes in the form of worst-dressed lists, a franchise coined by critic Richard Blackwell. It’s useful to compile a “worst dressed list”, not for ridicule, but rather as a barometer of our times and to assess what works for us (and what doesn’t) when it comes to pop culture.

It should be noted that Blackwell also published a list of “Fabulous Fashion Independents”, which was often populated by those he considered “the worst dressed”. Some would argue that you’re not really considered cool until you make the worst dressed list.

In that spirit, HuffPost rounded up the 10 worst fashion trends of 2022, and we reached out to stylists to explain why these looks just didn’t work for us.

Beverly Osemwenkhae is a New York and London-based style expert and founder of ProjectBee Wardrobe Consulting. His company’s services are uniquely designed to build individual images and develop a personal style.

Chelsea Fox is a Manhattan-based still life and fashion designer known for her idiosyncratic combination of vibrant colors and images. Clients include Bloomingdale’s, Estée Lauder, Highsnobiety, Hypebeast, Paper Magazine, Vogue and Women’s Wear Daily.

“The number of 20-somethings I’ve seen walking around the New York night scene in ultra-luxe sunglasses is mind-boggling,” Volpe told HuffPost. “Is the dark not dark enough for you? It’s not chic, or frankly practical, to slip on a pair of Balenciaga sunglasses at your local Bushwick bar, folks.

Osemwenkhae is not a fan of glitter, hearts or butterflies when it comes to dressing up. “There are some things that should stay in the early 2000s, like the Y2K aesthetic. Yes, there’s the cool factor that this trend comes from millennial pop culture, but there’s nothing flattering about dressing like a Bratz doll unless you’re under 21.

The coastal granny look has had a moment this summer, but Volpe found the barrage of floral patterns completely basic, and not in a good way. “Wearing your grandmother’s bathroom wallpaper as a dress is so old fashioned. Let’s replace the archaic Nantucket floral print with something cooler, shall we? He suggests going for solids.

Low rise jeans are making a comeback this year, but why? “Low-waisted leggings show off the wrong parts of your body,” noted Osemwenkhae. Showing cleavage or a cheeky thong is not, she argued, empowering. Of course, style is subjective, as are the feelings of empowerment associated with it. But according to Osemwenkhae, when this trend first gained popularity in the 1920s, it had a shock value associated with it. Twenty years later, wearing your thong trend feels a little empty, statement-wise.

Another trouser blunder that made waves in 2022 was the prevalence of cargo pants, which created, according to Volpe, a silhouette that appears necrotic. “Wearing cargo pants the size of a parachute is not cute. When your pants look like two garbage bags joined in a tragic nightmare, that’s a problem.”

It’s not the first time we’ve seen the rise of platforms in footwear – the style has been around since the 1970s. In the 1990s, we saw platforms on everything from Mary Janes to sneakers, but the most offensive, according to Osemwenkhae, is the flip-flop , which is back in 2022. She told HuffPost that she found the trend “a bit bulky and heavy on the leg” and added that when you’re styling your resort wear this winter, go for something more refined.

Conscious consumerism has been a mainstay of Gen Z, quick to use purchase options to let brands know when they’re doing something uninteresting or worse, offensive and inhumane. “Wearing an anti-Semitism placard is not fashionable, my love. Tsk, tsk, Adidas be happy with Kanye’s fiasco. Here, Volpe references the outrage people felt over why it took Adidas so long to cut ties with Kanye West following a spate of hate speech and anti-Semitic remarks. He added that “the big brands have to take responsibility.” In December, Balenciaga launched two campaigns that sparked accusations that the brand condoned child exploitation. TikTokers reacted by destroying Balenciaga products from their feed.

How short is too short when it comes to minis? For Osemwenkhae, it’s all about fit. “There’s a point where it’s so mini that it’s not practical to wear.” She said she’s ready to retire the mini skirt and bring back her slip midi skirts.

After two years of loungewear, Volpe noted, “it’s so easy to wear a sexy corset top or barely-there panties for a night out.” But according to her, lingerie belongs in the bedroom and eveningwear needs to have a little more substance in 2023.

Dyed pants are outdated. Osemwenkhae noted that it’s time to trade your skinny jeans for a pair of “relaxed straight jeans. It’s a style that’s easy to wear and really flatters the body.” She added that the fit is “proportionately flattering, especially for a pear shape.”