Think back to the phase of Tumblr and Pinterest’s peak. Remember those days? Yeah, me too. Looking back at our boards and posts, I can only label this stage in our lives with one term: cheugy. The fashion, the beauty, and everything in between screams cheugy. For those asking “what does cheugy even mean?” it is essentially what was once trendy and is now overdone, out of style, and even cringey.
This outdated fashion sense makes most of us reflect back on our style and cringe that we once wore something with the phrase “Live Love Laugh” or “Keep Calm and Carry On.” As we take a trip down memory lane, try to embrace your inner dismay and reflect on how generation by generation, fashion has evolved.
Bye Bye Skinny Jeans.
We all loved a good pair of skinny jeans once. Gen-Z has taken the liberty of labelling this style of denim to be outdated, and of course, cheugy. This once flattering and trendy style is rarely seen worn by younger generations as straight-leg, wide-leg, and flare jeans are now taking center stage. The anti-skinny jean movement has been rampant through social media platforms like TikTok, not to mention the hate against ripped skinny jeans.
Bold Brows
As the beauty industry evolved, the thick bold brow became the norm. Consumers flocked to brands putting out product after product promising thick, dark, impactful brows. Makeup YouTubers, influencers, and celebrities all sported the same exaggerated dark brows. Today the beauty industry has diverged from the sharp brow arch with an abundance of highlight to a more natural bushy brow. Nowadays a simple tinted brow gel is favored over an intense dip brow look.
Supreme
This is a hotter take that will definitely get some hate from our hype beast readers, but Supreme is especially cheugy. The shirt, the phone cases, the stickers all radiate cheugy energy. As the epitome of cheugy fashion is to dress in over-worn “basic” pieces with limited to zero personal style involved, it is quite difficult not to suggest that Supreme certainly belongs in this category of the fashion industry.
Ballet Flats
Apologies to all my ballerinas out in the world, along with my high school English teachers, but I do not remember the last time I saw someone wearing ballet flats and thought, “Wow! Those are super cool.” Thankfully my very own childhood violet ballet flats are long gone from my closet.
Gladiator Sandals
Sorry not sorry, gladiator sandals are very 2010 been there, done that. Nothing more to say on this matter.
HighLow Skirts
As a former high-low skirt lover, I look back on my middle school years and wonder what I was thinking. Not only are these skirts extremely unflattering, but they scream adolescent (and not in a good way). Since the high-low era we have come a long way, evolving into an industry of mini skirts and silk slip skirts.
Let’s come back to 2022. The “cheugy” trends listed above are all in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong, there are still people who love these items and styles. This should be a reminder that just as the trends of the past we once thought were chic are certainly questionable, many trends that are of the moment in fashion will soon join the cheugy club too. At the end of the day we all need a little cheuginess. In moderation, of course.
Featured image from Cosmopolitan