What Makes Outfits, Hair, and Makeup Look Dated?

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text reads "Outdated"

We haven't had an open thread on this in a thousand years: What makes outfits, hair, and makeup look dated? (I know there are a ton of influencers who do “update your millennial looks!” type of things — if you have any favorites, shout them out in the comments!)

{related: how to look great for work every day}

When we last spoke about this (in, ha, 2011), we were coming out of a period with round-toe heels, puff shoulders on blazers, and the new trend that was just starting (that we all hated) was exposed zippers on dresses. (Still a thing, sadly.) Colorblocked dresses were also very popular.

We're in a time period when there are so many trends, all happening all at once, and it's harder than ever to say what looks dated. (Sometimes, for example, I see commenters say that cobalt immediately reads to them as 2011… but it's going to be big again in fall.)

{related: how to do a complete wardrobe revamp}

Interestingly, a lot of commenters in the original thread were discussing the “black bottom, solid color top, black cardigan” look — I don't think there's anything dated about that per se, but I wouldn't say it's a necessarily groundbreaking outfit combo.

There was also an interesting debate on “classic” looks like twinsets + pearls — the consensus at the time was that those looks were classic, not dated.

{related: how to make an outfit look put together}

We had another discussion on style vs. trends a few years ago, with me listing a variety of things that seemed like they were out, like belting cardigans (had been huge in the late aughts!) or wearing brooches and so forth. I still wouldn't say that those things are trendy, but I think if someone were to do it today I'd think of it more as an affectation of style, rather than “Oh that's the same look from the late 2000s.”

That said, if someone were to wear a belted cardigan, with several brooches, with round-toe shoes, with a skirt with an exposed zipper… it would start to look like they haven't updated their wardrobe since that specific time period. (Just add a J.Crew bubble necklace…)

I'm particularly interested to hear what you guys think looks dated for hair and makeup — I'd say sock buns are out, but I still like a good messy bun.

Readers, what are your thoughts? In this day and age, what dates outfit, hair, and makeup?

{related: how to get your style groove back}

Stock graphic via Deposit Photos / pockygallery.

97 Comments

    1. Yup. Like, 90% of what Princess Anne wears is from forever ago and would look dated on someone else, but because she is a royal b-dass it looks practical and classic rather than frumpy and dated.

      1. Uhhhh – Princess Anne definitely looks dated and frumpy. She has an outdated style, particularly her hairstyle.

        1. I absolutely love Princess Anne but she is textbook dated and frumpy. Hair, clothes, shoes, everything.

      2. Yeah. And I notice it more if someone is clearly still holding onto a look that worked for them back in the day but has never evolved. Having a signature style is great, but if you never adopt anything new, the overall effect starts to become dated. (Then again, I think I was much frumpier as a 20-something because I was still figuring out what was flattering and made me feel good. I frequently missed the mark, haha.)

        1. This is what I want to say to a friend of mine who has not updated her style since 2010. She’s still in a-line dresses, cropped cardigans, ballet flats – the classic 00s J. Crew look.

          1. I can totally see how this happens though! We’ve all been the same size for the last decade, we spent a pretty penny on the clothes, and they are still in good condition – its BS that it looks “dated” to continue to wear them.

            This is also why I side-eye the advice to “invest in classics.” A white button down in 2010 is going to be cut and the details are going to be different than a button down that is “current” in 2023, let alone a LBD or black pump or something else less specific.

        2. One of my mom’s older friends must have had an absolutely killer time in the 1960s because she never gave it up. It was… not good. And not cute in a retro way either.

  1. Scarves are out but I have some that I love too much to give up so I’m prepared to be outdated.

    1. I used to own so many scarves! It was a good lesson to not go TOO far in on one thing, whether it’s scarves, colorful statement necklaces, or owning The Skirt.

    2. Yeah I have a whole built-in cabinet to hold my scarf collection, and there they sit.

      1. When my mother was dying, for her last Christmas, she used her collection of scarves to wrap gifts. Of course, the gift of the scarves and the memories of her wearing them is far more precious than whatever was tied inside.

    3. I still wear them but mainly for warmth. Not really as part of my outfit, but I bring them along for times when I’m chilly. I’m in the Bay Area so that’s year round.

      I’ve never been any good at square scarves though. My one and only Hermes scarf sits in her box where she has always sat because I can’t figure it out.

    4. I was in Paris this spring and chic Parisian women were wearing scarves – a bit for warmth, but also for style

  2. The “no makeup” makeup look. Side parts (ha). Balayage. Thin eyebrows are supposedly coming back.

    1. It’s crazy to me how brow trends come and go. Because if you’re not careful, those changes can become permanent! Just … don’t mess with your brows too much, people!

    2. What is more current than the no makeup makeup look? I feel like everything now is dewy skin and sheer skin tints, which feels like a no makeup look to me.

      1. Dewy skin, sheer skin tints and a very natural look are current. I was talking about the very obviously made up “no makeup” look with the heavy coverage and Urban Decay Naked eye shadow palettes that ran rampant several years ago.

    3. Wait, balayage is out? What kind of highlights are in? I’m naturally blonde but I get balayage to go blonder in a natural looking way

      1. Haha I asked this board about balayage a couple of weeks ago. Just got it to lighten up my dirty blonde hair and I love it! Super natural and low maintenance. If balayage is out then I don’t want to be in.

      2. Same, this is news to me (and my colorist who says most women in our big city prefer balayage to traditional highlights). The ombre look is definitely out though

      3. Seconding this confusion! I thought I was pretty up-to-date on trends but have never heard balayage is out.

      4. I think this commenter is unfamiliar with balayage as a technique and only familiar with a specific chunky balayage look that is dated. Good balayage doesn’t look like hair color at all.

      5. No balayage is not out.

        What is always in is having very fine highlights, very well integrated with additional lowlights if needed to make it look as natural as possible. A good balayage works very well with that look.

      1. I am with you!

        I operate on the theory that I do not need to be 100% “on trend”. So I have a side part (for many reasons, not the least of which is I have a big bald spot from an old surgery and need to cover it up!) And I keep my brows neat but am not chasing the latest brow look. But I try to keep my make up and nails current to make up for it. I stopped wearing skinny jeans but am not keeping track of exactly what hem (rolled! folded! raw!) is “in” this season. As long as 50% of my total outfit, including shoes, is current, I think I look like someone who is paying attention.

        Also, regarding cobalt and any number of other early aught looks, everything old is new again and once it has been 20 years it is not probably not dated, it is back in fashion.

        1. Yeah my brows are my brows and short of tweezing them down to a hairline or actually painting them on, there’s precious little I can do to change them.

        2. This is basically my approach–I don’t think I need to have every single part of my look dictated by what’s “in”, just incorporate enough elements that make it clear I have some idea what’s going on.

      2. Yea I change mine up depending on how I’m feeling. I also think a no makeup look will always work! Or I’m just getting older now and have no idea what’s in style.

      3. My amazing hairdresser, who has several salons, says that center parts are only for fashion models going on go-sees and children.

      4. I mostly wear side parts, too! I said “ha” in my original post because the side part/middle part debate is so silly! Often people’s face shapes are better suited for one or the other.

    4. I’ve worn a middle part for years, looks best on me but that idea is already a few years old. I wouldn’t put it in the current or dated category.

  3. Skinny jeans. Tall boots. Uggs. Barrel curls. Tunic length tops. False eyelashes. Sharpie brows. High heels. Wrap dresses. Skirts. Camo.

    1. I’m in a major city and attend a lot of national conferences and seeing more false eyelashes IRL than ever before. I think that one is still going strong.

      I see dated being more like liner around the whole eye or excessive cat eye. Agree on the rest.

      1. It’s dated. There are lots of people wearing dated looks. I attended a conference in NYC a couple of years ago and one of the attendees was still sporting her late 80s hair (rake bangs with a wall of high hair behind it.) That doesn’t mean it’s current. It means she’s Un-current.

        1. But you also don’t see rake bangs on MUA insta or in the wild like that on otherwise stylish folks. Still going to push back on that one unless you’re talking the muppet lashes and big lip sort of thing.

          1. MUA are not office workers and everyday people. False lashes are an element of an extremely made-up look that is not current. You may see it, but it’s not current.

            People are loath to give up their false eyelashes because they will look so different, but I promise it is not the look. See dewy skin and skin tint comment above.

          2. If a substantial number of people are wearing it, it is by definition “current”. It might not be at the forefront of the current trend and fashion-forward people in NYC or LA might sneer, but the idea that something that a lot of people are wearing right is dated is honestly a bit silly.

          3. The question is whether it’s dated. A lot of women may still be wearing false lashes, just like a lot of women are still wearing skinny jeans. But it is dated.

      1. I would love to see them. All I’m seeing so far is jean skirts, but skirts like The Skirt have been out for a while.

          1. I’ve been very into flow midi skirts for a while now and it’s probably my favorite thing to wear these days.

        1. I’ve just crawled out from my cave, sorry. What is “the Skirt” , please? I hope it isn’t from Rochelle Behrens. All I saw there were tiered mini-skirts. For $99-140 each.
          Please, please, please tell me leggings are out. As a Pear in what seems to be an Apple world, I positively hate them!
          Two other “trends” I hope will end soon, distressed jeans (because they were stupid in the 1980s they are still dumb and really bad for the environment, just as all distressing techniques usually are. The other is the use of viscose as a sustainable fabric. Okay for trendy junk but not for a piece you want to stick around for 5-6 years, work suit separates & such. Cotton, linen, and Merino are the way to go. Viscose fibers will break if you look at them sideways, and even if you dry clean them every time–they will fall apart quickly.

    2. Oh, those barrel curls. My sister had elaborate T-Swift style ones for her HS graduation and it totally dates the photos.

    3. Does this mean I need to get rid of my DVF wrap dresses or at least stop wearing them? I’ve wondered this. I have a cute gingham one but can’t decide if it’s outdated.

    4. Skirts are all over the red carpet for Fall 2023 and false eyelashes still seem to be everywhere in my major California city.

      I have been looking at the Fall 2023 collection to decide if there is anything I want to buy (probably a long black coat and something in red). I have noticed that a lot of designers are showing bright red with black so people might not like the look but it is not dated. (Sheer black hose are definitely back BTW and I am super happy about that.)

      I suspect the exposed zipper look is not long for this world and I am even happier about that!

    5. Uggs haven’t been fashionable since the early 2000s but in my northern state they’re still popular during winter. I see plenty of women wear them to walk the dog or run a quick errand. They’re not dated in the way tan riding boots are dated.

      1. Uggs had a huge comeback in my city around 2018 – on men and women both. I still definitely see them in the winter, but they’ve transitioned to more of a “normal” shoe vs an intentional fashion choice I think.

      2. Same. I plan on getting a pair to wear to/from pilates classes – i can throw them on over my grip socks and then after my lesson I remove my socks and put my feet into the uggs for some coziness around my ankles. So not stylish but practical and popular.

        I also have a pair of lined crocs puffy boots that I am absolutely obsessed with, they are so so comfy. They are also, surprisingly, my most complimented shoe of the last 10 years.

      3. Uggs are very utilitarian, so I don’t think it really matters if they’re “in” or not.

  4. Any combination of black + red or black + cobalt is very dated to me. I wear a lot of black but pair it with neutrals.

    Navy as a neutral feels dated to me too, because I so strongly associate it as a preppy look and for most people, the preppy look is outdated. I’m a WASP, so plenty of people around me pull off preppy as their style not as a trend and pull off navy as a neutral, but that’s also because everything about them is WASP. And, in traditional old-school WASP fashion, they’re not chasing trends.

    1. My boss (who I cannot stand/yes I am looking for a new job) wears the black/red top + black blazer + black slacks + red shoes often and I feel like it’s so dated. Not ugly, or “bad”…but just…dated.

      1. Oh, matching your shoes to your outfit is dated too! Neutral shoes or statement shoes are fine, but red shoes to compliment your red blouse is very dated.

    2. Agree with black + neutrals. I’ve been saying forever that black + color tends to look cheap.

      I don’t think navy is dated. Navy is classic. Which is what I think you’re saying. It may not be trendy but it will never be “dated.”

      1. I think I was trying to say if you’re “naturally” preppy, navy is a classic and it still works. If you were wearing navy in the 2010s because it was fashionable because the preppy look was in, then it looks dated.

    3. I get what you’re saying about navy, but for me, it’s far more flattering than black, which looks really harsh against my skintone. It doesn’t mean I never wear black, but I proceed with caution and am much more likely to wear black pants than a black top unless I can soften it in some way. I’d like to think I don’t look hideously out of style.

      1. Circa 2015 my favorite outfit was a gray cardigan, cobalt-blue woven shell and black pants. I have zero cobalt in my closet now.

      1. And with a lot of non-primary colors (jewel tones, neons, pastels), it just makes me think of “the 80s”

    4. This comment is exactly why I find these threads hilarious. Preppy has been trending for some time, cobalt, jewel tones and red are back, and big boxy jackets are about to be replaced by jackets with waists. If you read a bit of fashion news you can figure out what will look fresh and stale.

  5. I don’t think it’s that cobalt itself is dated, but black + white + cobalt (or some other eye-popping color like fuschia) just screams the 2011 colorblock knits to me.

    Not necessarily targeted to what you asked, Kat, but there are some fun Instagram creators whose content centers on “this thing you wore every day in 2011” and sometimes that helps me realize when the thing is dated. (You can pry my skinny jeans from my cold dead hands, however.)

    Said creators: @jennaabarclay, @overthemoonfaraway, @itskatesteinberg, @retr0avocado

  6. Really, really dated:
    Cold shoulder anything
    Rectangular eyeglasses
    Platform heels
    Bell sleeves

    Mildly dated:
    Womens suiting where the jacket isn’t long
    Moto jackets
    Loafers with dresses
    Striped t shirt dresses (most t shirt dresses)

    1. Agree with all of this. I’m going to give moms of young kids a break on the t shirt dress, wear it with sneakers though.

  7. The whole concept of women piling on about what is dated in fashion/makeup… is, well…dated. This thread is a depressing one to read.

    1. Why? Fashion has trends. Everything has trends. Also, this is a fashion blog. If talk about fashion depresses you, you’re in the wrong place!

    2. +1

      I had hoped that one of the tiny benefits of pandemic supply chain disruption would be a permanent reduction in ideas like “lug sole loafers were in briefly in January 2023 but by March 2023 they were sooooo dated.”

    3. I agree.
      Both the fashion and beauty industries thrive on this kind of thinking, though.

    4. People come here for fashion advice. I will keep some of my dated things, but it’s helpful to know what is looking dated so I don’t buy more of it. You don’t have to read the thread – it’s clearly labeled.

    5. I mean…trends exist so dated outfits exist. Maybe you look fine if an individual piece isn’t the most current but when you put certain items together the effect is noticeably dated. You know it when you see it.

      Many women want to avoid looking like they were trendy ten years ago. Styles change slowly enough that it’s helpful to get a reality check about your wardrobe.

    6. Yup. I have noticed that many women lawyers in their 50s and 60s are still rocking the same matching, wool, well-made suits that have been in their closets for 20 years. They all still look really put together. Because I gained weight, I have had to buy the stupid longer blazers in polyester because that’s what is in the stupid store right now.

      1. I am so with you on the stupid polyester long blazers. In style or not, I personally hate them.

    7. Agree. It’s especially depressing when it’s piling on about things that were in about four years ago (which is a totally reasonable amount of time to keep clothes!), or really work or don’t for specific body types (moto jackets vs long jackets).

    8. I totally see your point but this is a fashion blog for professional women! It’s ok to talk fashion.

      1. There is more to fashion than just keeping up with what’s current and dated, though…so if it’s ok to talk fashion, then it’s ok to talk about finding one aspect of fashion depressing.

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