The 20 Most Controversial Men's Style Trends of the Past 20 Years

Image via Complex Original

What's all the fuss about? Before bros discovered dubstep and almost ruined EDM for everyone else, '90s kids in Europe and America had long been enjoying trance, garage, jungle, and other electronic music. Dressed in colorful clothing, UFO pants, and a shit-ton of Rainbow Brite gear (if you were a chick or a gay dude), ravers accessorized with glow sticks, candy necklaces, tiny backpacks, and baby pacifiers.

It wasn't so much the style and the music that got people in a tizzy, it was the rampant drug use that got associated with the term "rave." So while today's parents think kids have popped a molly simply because they've broken a sweat, back then if you said you were headed to a "rave" mom and dad most assuredly thought that was code for "see ya guys, gonna go drop some ecstacy with my friendos!"

What's all the fuss about? In the mid-90s, writer Mark Simpson coined the term "metrosexual" in an article about the rise of male vanity. For a long time, caring about appearance and grooming habits was a trait attributed to gay men, not straight ones. And unfortunately, plenty of guys still hold that to be true. The problem with this trend is that shows like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy played on that stereotype, sending out a team of "enlightened" gay dudes to teach straight average joes the basics of taste and style. In reality, all it takes is just giving a shit about how you dress, learning the basics, and buying different kinds of grooming products and making it a part of your daily routine.

This overemphasis on how "gay" something is or isn't is what makes this trend so preposterous. Who gives a shit if a guy is into clothes or likes to use moisturizer? Poor David Beckham was made into the poster boy of this burgeoning marketing movement, and his only crime was, to paraphrase Diddy: moisturizing his situation and preserving his sexy. Come on, if you're smanging the hottest Spice Girl, you have to make sure your own game is in top form. 

What's all the fuss about? Sagging pants allegedly began back in slavery as a way for homosexual slaves to let it be known that they are available to their white masters. It was later adopted by prisons because inmates were prohibited from wearing belts to prevent suicide. It soon became a fashion statement in hip-hop culture as men started wearing everything baggier. Soon enough, pants worn below the waistline shocked not only uppity conservatives all over the nation, but even Barack Obama, who voiced his opinion saying that "brothers should pull up their pants."

In response, some states outlawed the act of sagging. Which Obama deemed a "waste of time," not to mention is racially targeted. It's certainly not a bunch of white people who sag their pants.

What's all the fuss about? The Jordan craze swept the nation in the mid-'80s, but it wasn't until the '90s that mass media caught on to them, but for all the wrong reasons.

The media portrayed them as the source of people killing others for kicks. A new release today can still cause riots, beatings, and even deaths. Simply stepping on a pair of someone's new Js can earn you a shiner. Limited sneakers in general conjure up exclusivity among sneakerheads and style mavens, which can sometimes lead to real crazy behavior. 

What's all the fuss about? Designer Christian Audigier's whole deal has been to piggyback on the success of famous artists and figures and totally shit on their legacy by making crappy clothes. Take for example, Von Dutch. Originally attributed to hot rod culture artist Kenny Howard, Audigier printed its logo on trucker hats and T-shirts, overcharged for them, put them on celebrities and raked in millions.

After that, he used the name of a famous tattoo artist Ed Hardy and embraced his inner tiger/dragon/flame to do the same thing all over again. Soon, Ed Hardy's tigers, skulls, and trucker hats became the stuff of douchebag legend. Just look at guys like Jon Gosselin and Pauly D. What's more impressive is that it's remained popular with a certain type of consumer for the past 10 years. Beyond the cast of Jersey Shore, most people now know that a bedazzled hoodie with a tiger on the back probably isn't the best style choice.

What's all the fuss about? A simple white tee with elongated features has established itself as quite the rebellious trend beyond fashion or style.

Long white tees are allegedly the T-shirt of choice for drug dealers, with cops on the lookout for them and many clubs completely banning them from being worn in their establishment. This caused a constant source of racial tension and stereotyping since it was primarily viewed as a style choice of African-Americans. While most just saw it as a style staple that could be worn days on end without judgment from your peers, others (see: the laws) saw it as a possible red flag for lacivious activities. What was once seen as a hip-hop staple in the early-2000s turned into an all-out shit-stirrer.

What's all the fuss about? Long before CEO Mike Jeffries made  headlines by saying he wants only a very select group of "popular" people to wear his clothes (aka no uglies or fatties), Abercrombie & Fitch has found themselves repeatedly in hot water. From controversial hiring methods to racist and sexist T-shirts, the company's found itself in the headlines for many wrong reasons.

The startling thing about the brand is that it hasn't ceased to be the de facto outfitter of young white youth. High schoolers wore it in the mid-'90s, and still do today. It's not so much that the clothes are high-quality, well-designed, or "good" in any objective way, but perhaps the brand's ingratiated itself as the de facto clothing choice of young Americans simply because of its ubiquity, perceived sex appeal, and ironically enough—frequent controversy.

What's all the fuss about? Beards have been around since the existence of man, but no facial hair has been more trendy or more controversial than the wiley, unkempt beards men grew during the Recession of 2008.

While some men grew beards as a symbol for unemployment and laziness, others did it as a fashion statement. It commonly became the symbol of the "99 Percenters" of the Occupy movement who protested the concentration of wealth to a very small portion of the population. Talk about kicking a bearded man when he's down. 

What's all the fuss about? Jay Z once said he couldn't wear skinny jeans because his knots couldn't fit. Well, most people can't wear skinny jeans because their human knots can't fit.

Studies have even proven that tight jeans cause low sperm count. Why put yourself through that pain, agony, and embarassment? While a baggier pant just isn't the way to go, there is a happy medium. 

What's all the fuss about? The adage goes something like, "if you're not heading to the beach, leave the flip-flops at home." People expect men to wear real shoes (shoes that cover gangly toes). Not to mention, women aren't big fans of guys in thong sandals. Men with visible feet while running about town is a social stigma that obviously isn't concerning to the frat bros of the world.

And besides the social stigma, there are even schools and workplaces banning them due to safety and hygiene issues due to exposed toes and their prevalence to slip of, causing accidents.

What's all the fuss about? The Americana menswear trend of the late 2000s to early 2010s was monumental. It seemed like stylish guys everywhere were on their raw denim, Chambray shirt, and Red Wing boot shit—a look that screamed "authentic America." But sometimes, the wearer nor the clothes were from the U.S. Hell, the trend didn't even start back up in the states, so where's the authenticity in that?

Between the romanticization of workwear's past history, which was pretty much a time of suffrage and intolerant racism, and the style's resurgence among the Japanese prior to making it's way back to the states, the basis of Americana is more than just clothing. It's a polarizing idea of history vs. ignorance of it.

What's all the fuss about? The Middle Eastern staple saw Western popularity in the mid-2000s as both a protest to Palestinian nationalism and as a fashion symbol by people who had no idea of its significance. People often compared the neckwear to pro-terrorism, which one could say is a pretty huge red flag in a post-9/11 America.

What's all the fuss about? You would think some harmless hoodies and tees rising to popularity in the late-2000s would be your run-of-the-mill trend, right? Well, along with that rising success among men and women to wear American Apparel came the litany of bad press about advertising and legal problems against founder Dov Charney, putting the brand under the public microscope. While consumers wanted to support a made-in-L.A. brand, they couldn't get with Charney's scandalous ads and harassment charges.

What's all the fuss about? You can't deny that the traditional designs used by Native Americans are fire. But when brands misappropriate the Navajo design for the mere purpose of fashion, it causes an uproar in the Native American community and elsewhere. Some brands have paid homage while others have insulted the culture, merely trying to jump on a trend without substance. 

The Navajo nation has even gone as far as suing those misappropriaters for trademark infringement of simply putting the word "Navajo" in the name of the item. So basically, you don't fuck with the federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act or you'll find yourself in a heap of trouble and a couple dollars shorter.

What's all the fuss about? The foam shoe/slip-on hybrid which debuted in 2004 is notorious for being the comfortable option for the absolutely un-stylish. The shoe is so un-stylish that it may have ouroboro'd itself to make it stylish.

The social stigma has been established and therefore deemed a controversy in the fact that you will be deemed fashionably unfit to work in the industry if you are seen outside of your house wearing them. Oh well, Mario Batali and chefs around the world don't seem to care.

What's all the fuss about? This popular haircut with shaved sides and a longer, pomaded top is beloved by the menswear tastemakers of today. It's clean, sharp and acceptable in formal and informal situations, unlike most haircuts. The controversial part is that the 'do is commonly called the "Hitler Youth" haircut because it's how the boys in the Nazi military used to wear their hair. Don't think we need to go into anymore depth about that, now do we?

What's all the fuss about? Streetwear has always been about rebellion. Anti-establishment messaging that strays away from the norm is what keeps streetwear alive. Hell, some brands' names are vulgar in and of themselves. But the influx of offensive language and imagery actually used on clothing from brands like Mishka, Supreme, Flying Coffin, T.I.T.S. and the likes has especially caused a lot of "SMH" in suburban and rural communities and a couple "GTFO" in schools across the country. 

What's all the fuss about? Who knew a simple piece of fabric could create such chaos? While bandanas are commonly used as a fashion accessory, commonly worn around the neck, in a back pocket or as a pocket square, the color of your bandana can also determine your gang affiliation or your sexual preference.

Middle schools and high schools have ruled all color bandanas from dress codes, and wearing the wrong one in certain neighborhoods can get you in a lot of trouble. Needless to say, the handkerchief is a controversial trend.

What's all the fuss about? Kanye and others started a hip-hop phenomenon that had fans WTF'ing from here to Zimbabwe. Why were black men wearing kilts that were a staple of the True Scotsman? We questioned, was the skirt the new silhouette for men? Was this look acceptable? Could normal citizens be walking the streets in them and pull it off like Ye? Someone tell us how to feel!

Needless to say, it was a love or hate trend that had the world buzzing, but while it is generally acceptable for non-Scots to wear kilts, as long as they don't bear a Scottish family crest or tartan, it is still a questionable choice when worn purely for the sport of fashion.

What's all the fuss about? The reigning trend among rappers and their entourage two years running is a polarizing concept all on its own. Sweatpants made of leather? Sports jerseys made with cowhide? Seeing leisurely clothing items done up in the luxe material still takes some getting used to.

Even though the rappers of today didn't start this movement, there aren't many other trends in hip-hop that leave non-hip-hop fans scratching their heads more. Don't believe it's controversial? If you can look past the sheer disgust some people have with wearing animal fur or hides, just read what the Internet had to say about all that leather at Summer Jam.