Fashion evolves with each generation, creating a fascinating divide between what different age groups consider stylish. Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, embraced certain clothing items and accessories that millennials and Gen Z simply don’t connect with. From formal attire to specific fabric choices, these once-popular styles now seem outdated to younger eyes.
1. Pantyhose With Everything
Remember when no outfit was complete without nude pantyhose? Boomers considered them essential for formal events, office wear, and even casual occasions. Today’s young women prefer bare legs or tights with personality and patterns when the weather demands coverage.
2. Matching Skirt Suits
Those perfectly coordinated skirt-and-jacket combinations were the ultimate power move for professional women of the Boomer generation. Younger professionals now mix separates freely, preferring versatile pieces that can transition between different looks and settings.
3. Men’s Pleated Dress Pants
Pleated pants reigned supreme in Boomer men’s closets, offering what they believed was a flattering, comfortable fit for office and formal events. Younger men overwhelmingly prefer flat-front trousers or even tailored jeans for a sleeker silhouette that doesn’t add bulk at the waistline.
4. Doily Lace Collars
Lace collars added a touch of femininity to Boomer women’s blouses and dresses, especially those delicate doily-inspired designs that framed the face. Modern fashion favors clean necklines or statement collars with bolder, less fussy designs when a collar detail is desired.
5. Shoulder Pads for Days
The bigger, the better! Shoulder pads gave Boomers that commanding silhouette they craved during the power-dressing era of the 1980s. While occasionally revived on runways, younger generations generally avoid the exaggerated shoulder look in favor of more natural lines.
6. Formal Hats for Church and Events
Sunday best meant something specific for Boomer women – often including an elaborate hat for church, weddings, and formal daytime events. Younger generations typically save headwear for practical purposes or casual style statements rather than formal social requirements.
7. White Tennis Shoes Only for Sports
For Boomers, pristine white tennis shoes were strictly for athletic activities, not everyday fashion statements. Younger generations wear sneakers with everything from business casual to formal attire, embracing comfort without sacrificing style.
8. Polyester Leisure Suits
Those matching polyester pants and jackets in pastel colors were the height of casual-but-put-together style for Boomer men. Today’s young men would rather wear almost anything else, preferring natural fabrics and separates that can be mixed and matched.
9. Silk Scarves at the Neck
The silk neck scarf was a Boomer woman’s go-to accessory for adding polish to any outfit, especially tied in that perfect stewardess knot. Younger women might wear scarves as hair accessories or tied to handbags, but rarely in that traditional neck-adorning style.
10. Dress Shoes for Every Occasion
Boomers wouldn’t dream of wearing anything but proper leather dress shoes to work, restaurants, or social gatherings. Comfort-focused younger generations have embraced stylish sneakers, loafers, and other casual footwear as appropriate for nearly all occasions.
11. Clip-On Earrings
Before ear piercing became commonplace, Boomer women relied on sometimes painfully tight clip-on earrings for their accessorizing needs. Most younger women today have pierced ears, viewing clip-ons as uncomfortable relics from a bygone fashion era.
12. Pantsuit with Matching Belt and Shoes
Coordination was key for Boomers – belt and shoes absolutely had to match in color and material for a proper outfit. Modern fashion celebrates intentional mismatching and personal expression, with accessories chosen for interest rather than perfect coordination.
13. Permed and Heavily Sprayed Hair
The higher the hair, the closer to heaven! Boomer women embraced perms, rollers, and industrial-strength hairspray to achieve volume and hold. Today’s younger generations prefer more natural-looking styles with movement and less product-stiffened structure.
14. Tucked-In T-Shirts
Boomers wouldn’t be caught dead with an untucked shirt – even casual tees were neatly tucked into pants or shorts. The deliberate untucked look has become standard for younger generations, who see it as more relaxed and contemporary.
15. Gold Chain Necklaces for Men
Those chunky gold chains were the ultimate status symbol for Boomer men, often paired with unbuttoned shirt collars to showcase the gleaming metal. While occasionally revived, most younger men opt for more subtle jewelry or skip the neck bling entirely.
16. Slacks Instead of Jeans
Casual Friday? That meant nice slacks instead of suit pants for Boomers, who viewed jeans as inappropriate for most public settings. Younger generations have embraced premium denim as acceptable attire for almost any occasion, from offices to fine dining.
17. Handkerchiefs in Breast Pockets
The neatly folded pocket square or handkerchief was essential for the well-dressed Boomer man, adding a touch of color to suit jackets. While still seen occasionally, younger men typically skip this accessory or opt for more dramatic folding styles when they do wear one.
18. Nightgowns Instead of Pajamas
Flowing nightgowns were the sleepwear of choice for Boomer women, who viewed them as both practical and feminine. Younger women generally prefer pajama sets, oversized t-shirts, or athleisure pieces that can transition from sleep to weekend loungewear.
19. Fur Coats and Stoles
Real fur represented the height of luxury and status for the Boomer generation, who proudly wore mink stoles and fox coats. Ethical concerns and changing tastes have led younger generations to reject real fur in favor of faux options or different luxury materials altogether.