Written by Paddy Maddison in Trends on the 4th October 2016

Given that you’re spending your personal time browsing a website called MenswearStyle it’s probably fair to assume that you take a bit of an interest in men’s fashion. Guess what? So do we! But while menswear can be a glorious thing, the quick turnaround of trends and what’s ‘in’ at any given time means that yes, we do get some great new styles which end up sticking around for decades to come, but conversely we also get things like curtains and popper pants. So sit back and let us regale you with tales of the worst menswear trends of the past 20 years.

Deep V-Necks 

A good rule of thumb to abide by is that if you wouldn’t want your girlfriend/daughter/whoever going out in it then it would be pretty hypocritical if you went out in it yourself. Nobody wants to see that man cleavage. Don’t kid yourself, the reason people were staring was not because they’re thinking how great you look in your skimpy little T-shirt.

Shutter Shades 

In 2015-16, whether you like him or not, the fact remains that Kanye West has been one of the biggest influencers in global menswear. However, this wasn’t the first time that he’s inspired people to dress differently. Remember shutter shades? First popularised in Kanye’s Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger music video, shutter shades were definitely not the most practical form of eyewear, but hey, at least they looked great and stood the test of time, right? WRONG.

Drop Crotch Pants 

If someone had come up to us in 2007 and told us that within a year men all over the world would be wearing the jean equivalent of Mc Hammer’s notorious trousers we’d have laughed in their face. Sadly though, they would have been right. Luckily this trend only lasted 2 years or so, still though, it was a long two years.

Layering Polo Shirts 

One polo shirt? Fine. One polo shirt with the collar popped? Probably not. Two polo shirts? What?! Two polo shirts with both the collars popped? Absolutely no way in a million years, you must have lost the plot. How anyone ever looked in the mirror before leaving the house wearing that and thought “oh yeah, I look excellent” is beyond us.

Fauxhawks 

A prime example of a time when the ‘if David Beckham does it then it must be cool’ school of thinking let a lot of people down, but made barbers rich in the process.

Sagging Jeans 

You know how the waist of your jeans is called the waist of your jeans? Well that’s because it’s the waist of your jeans. This means – surprise surprise – that it should rest on your waist, not, repeat NOT anywhere on or below your buttocks. It doesn’t matter how nice a pair of Calvin’s you have on, the whole world does not need to see them.

We look at male faux pas, style mistake and style sins in this guide to the most Ridiculous Menswear Trends from the Last 20 Years.