Fashion trends that REALLY need to retire, according to four Cosmo India editors

The thing about fashion is that nothing is a constant there. Last month, it was brat summer; now it's demure autumn. There's always a new trend popping up, and it hardly ever lasts longer than a season. In 2024, we have seen too many of these—cottagecore, Y2K revival, maximalism, athleisure, dark academia, and grunge, and, well, the list is endless. While it's all fun and games, the truth is that keeping up with these trends is exhausting and overwhelming. And we know we’re not the only ones who feel this way. 

From overused aesthetics to fleeting fads that have lost their charm, here are some of the trends that REALLY need to retire according to the Cosmo team. 

“It used to be the Barbie obsession and now it's Brat. It is not an aesthetic I personally enjoy and at this point, some people are just blindly calling every black-and-green look brat, even if it is not remotely of the same vibe. A close second would be capris, don't know why these made a comeback. As if being tormented in the '90s was not enough!”

Schenelle Dsouza, Features Writer: Everything ‘core’! 

“I feel like we need to stop making everything aesthetic. Adding the word 'core' and making it a trend is a little boring because it's making everyone dress exactly the same. Here's another—while I think it's really cool to upcycle an outfit or style it in a few different ways, trying to wear a shirt backwards, sideways, or as anything but a shirt is plain tacky. It might look great on camera, but in real life, it just ends up looking puckered and uncomfortable.”

Tanvi Parekh, Assistant Editor: Crop tops and baggy pants 

“I’m not a fan of the whole crop top and baggy pants trend. While it creates a great silhouette, it leaves little room for personalisation. The simplicity of the look means there’s limited opportunity to play with forms and textures, which can make outfits feel one-dimensional. Fashion should be an expression of individuality, and I miss seeing styles that allow for more creativity. Sadly, it seems everyone is dressing in the same manner now.”

Adit Ganguly, Assistant Entertainment Editor: Ripped jeans 

“I’m baffled by the enduring popularity of ripped jeans that seem to consist of little more than tattered fabric. Why are these still in fashion? What drives people to buy them, especially at such high prices? To be honest, I don’t see the appeal—they rarely look good and often feel more like a trend gone wrong. It’s time to question whether we really need these in our wardrobes.”

Isha Maniar, Managing Editor: Low-waisted jeans 

“I’m very over low-waisted jeans. Of course, there are people who wear them really well but mostly the fit tends to feel awkward and I think it can create an unflattering silhouette. It’s hard to understand why this trend persists when there are so many more flattering options available.”

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