Not everyone cares about looking current or on-trend. But those who do may find it difficult to figure out exactly which items in their closet are dated, and which aren't. Sure, it's easy to know if something you're wearing came straight out of the late 90s (which is cool again, anyway) but it's a little harder to know if you're dressing...oh, maybe five years behind schedule.
So, if this is something you want to avoid, here are some items that were hot only five years ago, but now date you:
1.) Hi-Low hems
I loved hi-low hems when they were popular and I am secretly hoping they come back. My biggest gripe with shorter dresses is that if you have even a modest-sized rump, they get shorter in the back than in the front, and you wind up with a too-short dress in the back. Hi-low hems made this a non-issue, and showed some leg in the front for a best-of-both-worlds silhouette. Jokingly called the "mullet hem," this type of dress reached its peak somewhere around 2011 or 2012.
Instead of a hi-low hem, try a classic maxi dress--those never go out of style and are very much in keeping with '70s revival and boho styles, both of which are fairly popular right now.
2.) Short bodycon or bandage dresses, especially from Bebe.
I retain that bandage dresses are still totally in style if you're at a club in Vegas. And trust me, I clung to these with my last dying breath as they receded into obsolescence. But it's time to retire them--this just isn't happening anymore. While some people claim that ALL fitted dresses are out of style, this is demonstrably untrue. I'ma just say it: some people who don't think they can pull off fitted stuff (and in my opinion, anyone can if they want to!) are quick to diss it as "dated" or "trashy" just so other people stop wearing it. People are still wearing tight clothes, just not seamless lace dresses from Bebe or bandage dresses.
If you love this shape but don't want to look 2010, try a two-piece midi skirt crop top set, or a midi-length sweaterdress.
3.) Low rise skinny jeans
The fashion world keeps claiming skinny jeans are out of style, but it'll be a while before that's actually reflected in the general population (seriously, people are just not ready for flares.) However, if you're going to wear skinny jeans, they should be high or mid-rise to avoid late-2000s connotations. Not to mention that on almost everyone, a slightly higher rise is more flattering.
If you love skinny jeans but want to look current, try high-rise or medium-rise skinnies.
4.) Acid wash
Most people never got into acid wash, but I totally did, and I regret it because now my closet is stocked with acid wash jeans I'll probably never wear again unless I get invited to a 1992-themed, or 2012-themed, birthday party. In the early 2010s, acid wash made a comeback, especially present in house music videos and in the form of high-waisted, butt-cheek-showing short-shorts. That said, acid wash was over almost as quickly as it was in.
If you love acid wash but don't want to look like you came out of a 2011 Calvin Harris video, opt for bleached denim or ripped light-wash denim instead.
5.) Stiletto platforms
This is a tricky one because platform shoes are definitely making a comeback in regards to '70s revival. The difference, however, is that today's platform shoe is thick in the heel too, and a bit more casual (in wood, or cognac suede, as opposed to glitter or gold leather.) The late-2010s platform shoe has a big, hoof-like platform in the front and then a skinny heel in the back, conjuring up images of strippers and Kim Kardashian.
If you love platform shoes but don't want to channel 2009 Nicki Minaj, opt for '70s inspired thick-heeled platform mary janes.
6.) Jogger pants
Technically, these are still around and they're not altogether unfashionable, but this trend has peaked, especially when worn for anything other than exercise. Leather jogger pants or acid wash jogger pants are clearly out, although gray marl jogger pants, worn casually during the daytime, could still fly.
If you like comfy pants like joggers but don't want to look like Kanye West's muse, try leggings with a long sweater or top.
7.) Wedge sneakers
Wedge sneakers were another one of my favorites in the late 2010s. Like hi-low hems, they presented the best of both worlds--comfort and height. But they hit their peak years ago, and are now obsolete. Luckily, sneakers are still stylish--just not these.
If you loved wedge sneakers but want something more 2016, try high tops or Chuck Taylors instead.
8.) Dolman sleeves
This is so specific that very few people will even notice it's out of style, but if you want to be really picky and totally current, avoid Dolman sleeves. There was never a moment where the fashion world decided that Dolman sleeves were dated, but it's fairly obvious that Dolman sleeves hit their peak many years ago (personally, I feel it happened around 2010.)
If you liked the loose Dolman sleeves, try bell sleeves instead- that also works with the '70s styles that people love right now.
9.) Marching Band style jackets
These were never popular enough to be such an obvious trend, but you'll notice they were definitely more popular in the late 2000s than they are now. They were all over the runways in 2009, and made it to quite a few fast fashion chains around that time too. While I was a big fan of their structured, waist-enhancing look, I don't think we need to look like we're about to tell everyone what happened at band camp. Another one for the donate bin.
If you liked the cut of these jackets, try moto jackets instead- much more current, with a similar sleek silhouette.
10.) Fitted blazers as going-out outwear
Blazers aren't the kind of thing that can ever truly "go out of style", at least not in the workplace. But fitted blazers used as outerwear for a cocktail or "going out" outfit might be slightly dated. Today's blazers tend to be looser and more androgynous, and going-out outwear tends to take the form of suede or leather moto jackets as opposed to blazers.
If you liked this look, try either a looser-fitting blazer, or a moto jacket.
11.) Ruching
I can't really offer an alternative for ruching, but ruching may have been over by the time 2012 rolled around. Ruching was ostensibly flattering, but now I can't see it without immediately thinking of a trying-too-hard cougar at a dive bar (sorry to anyone who is a cougar, goes to dive bars, or tries too hard, for how offensive that comment may have been to you.)
12.) Seamless tops
Recent years have been all about loose tops and tight pants, but with flares making a comeback, I wouldn't be surprised if fitted tops came along with them (after all, balance is necessary). That said, seamless, body-hugging tops that basically look like pantyhose on your chest are no-gos in 2016. I loved these back in the day because they were so feminine and comfortable, but it's time to move on.
13.) Mesh cutouts
Mesh cutouts and yokes were all the rage around 2011, but they've been out of style for a few years now, reminding everyone my age of their fake ID clubbing days. Luckily, there are quite a few on-trend alternatives to show a peek of skin: lace, embroidery, and netting, all of which were shown quite a bit on the spring-summer 2016 runways.
14.) Equestrian Boots
Equestrian boots aren't strictly "out", but they're not in style either. If your style has always been preppy and classic, these boots aren't going anywhere. However, if you tend to go with the trends of the time, equestrian boots hit their peak a few years ago. Now it's all about ankle boots and over-the-knee boots.
15.) Cork Wedges
I pretty much only wore cork wedges in the summer when I was in college. I don't know when they were phased out, but it happened at some point since 2011. Rope wedges still seem somewhat popular, as well as wood wedges, but cork wedges just didn't hold up.
So, if this is something you want to avoid, here are some items that were hot only five years ago, but now date you:
1.) Hi-Low hems
 |
| Source |
I loved hi-low hems when they were popular and I am secretly hoping they come back. My biggest gripe with shorter dresses is that if you have even a modest-sized rump, they get shorter in the back than in the front, and you wind up with a too-short dress in the back. Hi-low hems made this a non-issue, and showed some leg in the front for a best-of-both-worlds silhouette. Jokingly called the "mullet hem," this type of dress reached its peak somewhere around 2011 or 2012.
Instead of a hi-low hem, try a classic maxi dress--those never go out of style and are very much in keeping with '70s revival and boho styles, both of which are fairly popular right now.
2.) Short bodycon or bandage dresses, especially from Bebe.
 |
| This particular colorblock pattern is the most egregious. |
I retain that bandage dresses are still totally in style if you're at a club in Vegas. And trust me, I clung to these with my last dying breath as they receded into obsolescence. But it's time to retire them--this just isn't happening anymore. While some people claim that ALL fitted dresses are out of style, this is demonstrably untrue. I'ma just say it: some people who don't think they can pull off fitted stuff (and in my opinion, anyone can if they want to!) are quick to diss it as "dated" or "trashy" just so other people stop wearing it. People are still wearing tight clothes, just not seamless lace dresses from Bebe or bandage dresses.
If you love this shape but don't want to look 2010, try a two-piece midi skirt crop top set, or a midi-length sweaterdress.
3.) Low rise skinny jeans
 |
| The shoes here are also extremely 2012. |
The fashion world keeps claiming skinny jeans are out of style, but it'll be a while before that's actually reflected in the general population (seriously, people are just not ready for flares.) However, if you're going to wear skinny jeans, they should be high or mid-rise to avoid late-2000s connotations. Not to mention that on almost everyone, a slightly higher rise is more flattering.
If you love skinny jeans but want to look current, try high-rise or medium-rise skinnies.
4.) Acid wash
 |
| At least they're high waisted! |
Most people never got into acid wash, but I totally did, and I regret it because now my closet is stocked with acid wash jeans I'll probably never wear again unless I get invited to a 1992-themed, or 2012-themed, birthday party. In the early 2010s, acid wash made a comeback, especially present in house music videos and in the form of high-waisted, butt-cheek-showing short-shorts. That said, acid wash was over almost as quickly as it was in.
If you love acid wash but don't want to look like you came out of a 2011 Calvin Harris video, opt for bleached denim or ripped light-wash denim instead.
5.) Stiletto platforms
 |
| Red bottoms or not, don't. |
This is a tricky one because platform shoes are definitely making a comeback in regards to '70s revival. The difference, however, is that today's platform shoe is thick in the heel too, and a bit more casual (in wood, or cognac suede, as opposed to glitter or gold leather.) The late-2010s platform shoe has a big, hoof-like platform in the front and then a skinny heel in the back, conjuring up images of strippers and Kim Kardashian.
If you love platform shoes but don't want to channel 2009 Nicki Minaj, opt for '70s inspired thick-heeled platform mary janes.
6.) Jogger pants
 |
| The shoes are cute, the pants not so much. |
Technically, these are still around and they're not altogether unfashionable, but this trend has peaked, especially when worn for anything other than exercise. Leather jogger pants or acid wash jogger pants are clearly out, although gray marl jogger pants, worn casually during the daytime, could still fly.
If you like comfy pants like joggers but don't want to look like Kanye West's muse, try leggings with a long sweater or top.
7.) Wedge sneakers
 |
| There are cuter ways to do comfort, I promise. |
Wedge sneakers were another one of my favorites in the late 2010s. Like hi-low hems, they presented the best of both worlds--comfort and height. But they hit their peak years ago, and are now obsolete. Luckily, sneakers are still stylish--just not these.
If you loved wedge sneakers but want something more 2016, try high tops or Chuck Taylors instead.
8.) Dolman sleeves
 |
| "It hang like sleeve of Dolman." |
This is so specific that very few people will even notice it's out of style, but if you want to be really picky and totally current, avoid Dolman sleeves. There was never a moment where the fashion world decided that Dolman sleeves were dated, but it's fairly obvious that Dolman sleeves hit their peak many years ago (personally, I feel it happened around 2010.)
If you liked the loose Dolman sleeves, try bell sleeves instead- that also works with the '70s styles that people love right now.
9.) Marching Band style jackets
 |
| One time at band camp... |
These were never popular enough to be such an obvious trend, but you'll notice they were definitely more popular in the late 2000s than they are now. They were all over the runways in 2009, and made it to quite a few fast fashion chains around that time too. While I was a big fan of their structured, waist-enhancing look, I don't think we need to look like we're about to tell everyone what happened at band camp. Another one for the donate bin.
If you liked the cut of these jackets, try moto jackets instead- much more current, with a similar sleek silhouette.
10.) Fitted blazers as going-out outwear
 |
| I should note that this dress is also a violation. |
Blazers aren't the kind of thing that can ever truly "go out of style", at least not in the workplace. But fitted blazers used as outerwear for a cocktail or "going out" outfit might be slightly dated. Today's blazers tend to be looser and more androgynous, and going-out outwear tends to take the form of suede or leather moto jackets as opposed to blazers.
If you liked this look, try either a looser-fitting blazer, or a moto jacket.
11.) Ruching
 |
| Flattering, but it's time to go. |
I can't really offer an alternative for ruching, but ruching may have been over by the time 2012 rolled around. Ruching was ostensibly flattering, but now I can't see it without immediately thinking of a trying-too-hard cougar at a dive bar (sorry to anyone who is a cougar, goes to dive bars, or tries too hard, for how offensive that comment may have been to you.)
12.) Seamless tops
 |
| Tights for your torso. |
Recent years have been all about loose tops and tight pants, but with flares making a comeback, I wouldn't be surprised if fitted tops came along with them (after all, balance is necessary). That said, seamless, body-hugging tops that basically look like pantyhose on your chest are no-gos in 2016. I loved these back in the day because they were so feminine and comfortable, but it's time to move on.
13.) Mesh cutouts
 |
| This is giving me traumatic flashbacks to my late teens. |
Mesh cutouts and yokes were all the rage around 2011, but they've been out of style for a few years now, reminding everyone my age of their fake ID clubbing days. Luckily, there are quite a few on-trend alternatives to show a peek of skin: lace, embroidery, and netting, all of which were shown quite a bit on the spring-summer 2016 runways.
14.) Equestrian Boots
 |
| Not a faux pas, but not on-trend either. |
Equestrian boots aren't strictly "out", but they're not in style either. If your style has always been preppy and classic, these boots aren't going anywhere. However, if you tend to go with the trends of the time, equestrian boots hit their peak a few years ago. Now it's all about ankle boots and over-the-knee boots.
15.) Cork Wedges
 |
| Bonus violation if also slingback peep toe. |
I pretty much only wore cork wedges in the summer when I was in college. I don't know when they were phased out, but it happened at some point since 2011. Rope wedges still seem somewhat popular, as well as wood wedges, but cork wedges just didn't hold up.
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