Looking back at our old photo albums can be a real trip, can’t it? From gravity-defying hair to shoes that felt like balancing acts, we’ve certainly endured some “creative” choices. Let’s take a hilarious stroll down memory lane to revisit the wildest trends that made us look twice!
The 1920s “Detachable Collar”: The Stiff Neck “Father Killers”
In the Roaring Twenties, men didn’t just throw on a soft polo. They wore separate, highly starched collars made of linen or even cardboard-like paper. These were buttoned onto the shirt, saving laundry time since you only washed the collar. However, they were so incredibly stiff and tight that they earned the morbid nickname “father killers.” Allegedly, if a gentleman fell asleep in his armchair with his chin tucked down, the rigid collar could actually restrict his airway or blood flow.
It’s no wonder we eventually traded these neck-choking traps for the comfortable, integrated collars we enjoy today!
The 1950s “Poodle Skirt”: Why We All Carried Dogs on Our Hips
Every teenage girl in the mid-fifties seemingly had to have a wide, felt swing skirt featuring a felt poodle applique. It was the ultimate “it girl” outfit for the soda fountain. The trend reportedly started when a designer needed a quick way to decorate a circular piece of felt and chose a dog. Why a poodle? Nobody is entirely sure, but it became a massive cultural phenomenon. We wore them with crinolines underneath to make them stand out.
And that made sitting down in a school desk a hilarious, poofy challenge that required some serious tactical maneuvering.