These 10 Once-Dorky Things Are Now In Fashion And We Couldn't Be Happier
Clogs anyone?
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by The Candidly Team
Some of the best things in life are also the dorkiest. And we’re absolutely talking about our clothes here.
I mean who in all of Millennial history would dare speak ill of these?
Sure, 90% of the time our clothes are aimed at being classic and chic and minimalist. But the off-beat things, the “dorky” things, are what make us feel like … us. They’re also what make our outfits interesting and not just a sea of sameness.
And so, without further ado (or nostalgia), let’s get right to the items that - dorky or not - are making a comeback, and of course, we share our favorite versions of each:
1. The Dr. Scholls With A Very Chic Twist
What: Dr. Scholl's x Favorite Daughter Heartbreak Sandal*
Why We Love It: The walkable kitten heel from Dr. Scholl’s first became a hit in the 1960s. The fact that 60 years later, we’re still swooning over them is impressive. They remain to this day orthopedically comfortable, but more excitingly they’ve just done a collab with Favorite Daughter and released one of the most wearable, nod-to-mod heels that somehow match everything but also make all your outfits 15x better. Be swift cause sizes are flying.
Price: $250
2. The Below-The-Knee, Librarian Skirt
What: Everlane The Dream Maxi Skirt*
Why We Love It: Sensible” pencil skirts are actually an amazing hack for looking long and lithe and having our curves wildly complemented. This one is made from a magic sort of double-knit material that has lots of stretch but really hoists you in. The side zipper is invisible which adds to its smooth, sleek effect. Because it’s fitted, it also balances our looser tops and sweaters, making it a very useful staple that we layer over in fall and wear with a tucked tank in the summer.
Price: $98
3. The Jean Vest
What: Madewell Denim Scoopneck Cutaway Vest*
Why We Love It: As much as we have crowed about jean jackets being a timeless staple, we have missed the denim vest of the 90s.
I mean, just look at all the moments it has given us:
But forget nostalgia; they’re actually extremely useful - either as a layering piece that elevates your outfit and covers your tum or a very tailored top that nips the waist. This one from Madewell fits like a dream. With the below honey-colored pants and a light scarf, we hit the stylistic sweet spot between summer and fall.
Price: $69
4. The Cords
What: Anthropologie The Colette Corduroy Full-Length Wide-Leg Pants*
Why We Love It: Cooooords! Can we even call such a vibey 70s street style thing dorky? Well, definitely not with this pair. They’re the full-length version of the best-selling Colette pants from Anthropologie that we write about all the time and that famously fit incredibly on all shapes of women. However, they’ve just come out in five lustworthy fall shades of corduroy! They size in plus, tall, and petite. And we honestly can’t even narrow it down to two colors in our carts.
Price: $148
5. The Plaid Skirt
What: Favorite Daughter The Meyer Skirt*
Why We Love It: Plaids used to feel very old-time country club, but now, they’re becoming more and more fun, while still being “quiet luxury.” Plaid is one of very few interesting prints that parade itself as a neutral and magically match a million things you already own.
We couldn’t help but feature this skirt as the ultimate plaid piece for the coming season, in no small part because it reminds us of this Rachel Green look we’ve been trying to recreate for two decades.
Image: NBC
We also found the stunning, matching green turtleneck HERE.*
Price: $248
6. The Overalls
What: Free People Good Luck Barrel Overalls*
Why We Love It: Every iconic montage where they fixed up a house or painted a nursery in an 80s/90s movie featured an inordinately cute pair of overalls that we really, really wanted. But we’ll actually be wearing this deeply flattering barrel-legged pair over a cashmere pullover just like this lady (who was already a style icon when she was still a baby in Dawson’s Creek):
Image: The WB
Price: $148
7. The Sweet Little Cardi
What: Everlane The Cozy Rib Cardigan*
Why We Love It: We LOOOOVE an oversized cardigan and we probably write about this love an unhinged amount. But we cannot forget the power of a fitted cardi. This cozy one from Everlane can either be among your prettiest fall/ winter everyday tops to wear with jeans. Or it can be your lightest layer over fitted tanks and tees that won’t make you look bulky.
Price: $98
8. The Army Pants
What: Madewell The Slim Straight Utility Pant*
Why We Love It: We tried on these pants and then proceeded to write an entire article about them because the fit is so incredible. Army green is a neutral in the world of pant colors but it just makes us look so much edgier and put together than most pants. Here is one of us wearing them:
Price: $128
9. the Flattering Skort
Why: Quince 100% European Linen Skort*
Why We Love It: We wore skorts to school with white tights and Doc Marten’s as a child, and that’s 99% of what accounts for our imposter syndrome as style writers today. But perhaps you did too and perhaps you also realize that what actually made skorts awful back then was that you could see that they were shorts in the back. Skorts today are different. They look just like skirts, but they give those of us who are not 22 anymore a comfortable way to wear and style shorter skirts. This one has all the sleekness of a pencil skirt but skims our hips instead of clinging which gives us an amazing shape. And yeah, we’d wear it with black tights and Doc Marten’s today. Have we learned nothing?
Price: $40
10. The Chore Jacket
Why: Old Navy Canvas Barn Jacket*
Why We Love It: We know this sounds like something a royal family member would wear on a hunting trip, but honestly this is the most useful light jacket around. It’s the jacket you grab on your way out the door on a cool day - no matter what else you’re wearing, and it will only make the whole look more put-together. The lines are clean, the color matches everything but it also adds a bit of zshuzsh by being green instead of camel or black.
Price: $60
BONUS: The Accessories
The Big Frame Specs: 90s makeover movies were dead wrong. We are prettier in these glasses.
The Freckle Stamp: These stamps youthify us in seconds.
The Big Ol’ Scrunchie: We’ll never quit the scrunchie, especially not this eyelet one.
The Fall-Friendly Bucket Hat: There’s no shape of face this exact bucket hat doesn’t look good on. It’s a gorgeous fall color, and it’s very on sale right now.
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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