Gen Z Fashion Trends That Older Generations Don't Get

Gen Z, comprised of those born between 1996 and 2010, has made a name for themselves amongst older demographics. Known for their authenticity, honesty, and social advocacy, this generation has a lot going for them, but older folks — specifically millennials, Gen Xers, and boomers — don't always love the fashion trends being ushered in on their authority. In fact, there are plenty of Gen Z style movements that those older than them just don't understand. 

For the most part, Gen Z has a refreshing attitude towards fashion. While older generations embraced the concept of pain equaling beauty, with boomers even burning their hair with irons, Gen Zers — affectionately known as zoomers — are much more focused on being comfortable. They have a relaxed attitude towards styling, which lends itself to some trends that confuse anyone who's older. Overly baggy pants and tops might look cool and effortless in their eyes, but people who grew up in the bedazzled, belly-baring '00s, or the lycra-saturated loud '80s, don't always get the appeal of ensembles like this. Then there are those more surprising Gen Z fashion moves, where they embrace pieces from the "forbidden list" that millennials and Gen Xers swore never to wear (we're thinking of one shoe in particular, and we still can't believe these waterproof slip-ons have made it to the hot list in the 2020s). 

But we challenge the idea that a younger fashion trend is inherently bad because it's tricky to understand. Some of the most prominent Gen Z aesthetics might be confusing at first, but with a little bit of styling, they can actually fit seamlessly in anybody's wardrobe. The following sartorial crazes are different from what older generations are used to, but they might still deserve a chance in your rotations. 

If there could only be one garment that would sum up the Gen Z fashion ethos, it would be baggy jeans. Loose-fitting denim isn't exclusive to this generation, since it was also a staple among certain circles in the '90s and early noughties, before the skinny jeans of the 2010s rose to popularity. But whether it's due to selective memories or simply the younger generation's take on the baggy trend, older folks haven't warmed to it.

"Baggies were just a marketing trend to get people to go out and buy entire new wardrobes and Gen Z fell for it hahahah," one Redditor mused. Another noted, "They look terrible but every generation has made weird wardrobe choices at some point." When you consider the overall shifts in Gen Z's attitude towards fashion, it's easy to understand how baggy jeans rose to prominence in the 2020s. Zoomers are known to prioritize comfort, and have been one of the most progressive demographics when it comes to inclusive sizing and styling. These factors, plus the fact that their idols are folks like Billie Eilish and Hailey Bieber, have paved the way to oversized pieces becoming the norm — especially where jeans are concerned. 

Gen Zers tend to wear their baggy jeans with similarly loose tops. Think layered button downs, bombers, long coats, and blazers. Keeping in line with the casual aesthetic, they often finish the look off with whatever sneakers are trending. For older generations who want to embrace the trend, you can tone down the oversized aspect by teaming baggy jeans with a more form-fitting top, or even a bodysuit. However, as a millennial, Gen Xer, or boomer, baggy jeans might be something you'll never accept. For the record, skinny jeans are down but not out.

In line with their love of baggy jeans, Gen Zers also have an affinity for oversized tops. Whether it's a button down, utility-style shirt, or a graphic tee, they often reach for excess material, and this goes hand in hand with their casual approach to styling. On the flip side, they have also embraced super-tight crop tops — a staple millennials and Gen Xers might remember from the early noughties. The problem, then, is that there's not much in between these two extremes. 

"No nice women's tops," one Redditor stated, when asked what the worst fashion trends of 2024 were. "It's either crop tops or full on oversized shirts, no in-between, making women resort to gym clothes in daily life. I mean, how hard is it to make a wide array of stylish tops?" They weren't alone in their frustrations. "They either look too small like I'm trying to squeeze myself into a tube sock or so big I look frumpy," another concurred.

When it comes to crop tops specifically, Gen Xers and older millennials might come around to the idea in general, but they don't tend to embrace the way that Gen Z styles their crops. The younger generation often prefers a casual "odds and ends" approach where they pair unexpected pieces together with their crop tops, while older folks might find this a bit too relaxed. But you don't have to be afraid of color blocking and print mixing when styling your crop tops, no matter your age. On the oversized shirt front, this trend can feel more palatable to older generations when worn with something more fitting on the bottom, to create that balance. 

They say that if you want to identify someone's generation, look at the way they wear their socks. While millennials grew up on the no-show bandwagon, Gen Zers have restored longer crew socks worn over tights and leggings to their former glory. And objectively, there are lots of good reasons to support the crew sock trend; it's often more comfortable and doesn't turn your shoes into blister-makers. Plus, showing off your socks turns them into a key piece of the outfit, providing more opportunity to have fun with color and style. However, millennials are still holding their ground.

"Why do you want to look like a boomer?" one millennial questioned in a BuzzFeed survey. "They wore those long socks, which made us want to wear socks that looked less old school, so I guess time is always a circle. But seriously, you all look like you're going to a 4th-grade class at a Catholic school in 1975 with those damn socks."

To be fair, Gen Zers give as good as they get on the sock issue. In one fiery Reddit post where a Gen Zer called out the older generations for their ankle socks, the comment section turned into a heated debate. While millennials might be able to appreciate the benefits that come with longer socks, their distaste for this accessory is sometimes too deeply embedded. "I remember ankle socks being cool and fashionable starting when I was in late elementary school and early middle school, around 2005 or so," one wrote in another post. "Anything above the sneaker was ... for old people. I'm 30 now and I still have that internal reaction to seeing tall socks while wearing sneakers, even though I'm wrong."

Once upon a time, Crocs had a certain reputation. Widely considered an ugly shoe by millennials and beyond, they've now been embraced by Gen Z fashion gatekeepers. Celebrities even take to social media to show off their Crocs, and this may feed into the larger idea of not conforming to traditional beauty standards, which fits in well with Gen Z. When Vogue endorses Crocs, you officially know they're on the cool list. But that doesn't mean that older generations agree with the shift in acceptance towards this polarizing footwear. 

"I'm a college professor and I notice many of my Gen Z students wear Crocs as their every day shoe," a millennial admitted on Reddit. "I distinctly remember a severe stigma against Crocs as a kid. They were 'nerd shoes,' they looked ugly, and you never wore them in public." It's possible that Gen Z's surprising love for Crocs manifested off the back of the ugly shoe trend. Remember, this is also the generation that made dad sneakers cool. "Gen Z seems to be embracing fashion mistakes like half calf socks, mullets, baggy pants, and crocs," another Reddit user weighed in.

For those older generations with an open mind, Crocs don't have to be the enemy. To balance out the clunky aesthetic that you were probably groomed to despise, you can go for a pair that is super girly with embellishments like bows, bling, and other twee details. That way, you'll avoid the overly relaxed vibe that these shoes normally carry. Otherwise, they fit surprisingly nicely with wardrobe essentials, like jeans and basic tops in neutral colors. You could also lean into the utility vibe with cargo pants and structured, military-style jackets. 

Consistently a maximalist statement-maker, feathers make an appearance in every era. Colorful varieties were even one of the things that people found attractive in the '80s. In the reign of Gen Z, we're seeing plumage mostly as monochromatic trim. You can find feather trim on the cuffs of blazers and tops, on the hemlines of dresses and skirts, or even along the seam of pants. 

It feels a little out of place as a zoomer fashion trend, since this is a demographic that has embraced all things comfortable and relaxed. That might be why some older people aren't fans of the recent wave of feather trim, in addition to the practicality factor. "Those feathers on the bottom of the jeans are going to get so ratty and dirty SO fast!" one critic commented on BuzzFeed, where the original author of the post said they were "straight up baffled" by Gen Z's approach to plumes. Even though some folks from older generations don't love the trend, it's not showing any signs of slowing down as the 2020s go on. Feathers were all over red carpets in 2026, including on stars like Nicole Kidman and Lena Dunham at the 2026 Met Gala.

If you do want to jump on this trend, you can wear feathers on just about everything from your skirts to your jackets. You could make this trend a little more classic — and a little less Gen Z — by going for a fully feathered bag. It might make more of a statement, but this approach avoids the "trim" aspect that feels unique to zoomers. While there are some Gen Z trends you should skip if you don't want to look older, feathers are definitely one to embrace — if you can wrap your head around them.