I asked people at New York Fashion Week what millennial fashion trends need to disappear. This is what they said.

  • Members of Gen Z often argue that millennial style is cringey and not fashionable.

  • So I asked New York Fashion Week attendees about millennial wardrobe staples.

  • They shared the fashion trends they'd get rid of, and the ones they actually like.

One of the biggest debates between generations right now is whether millennial fashion is classic or cringey — so I took the question to New York Fashion Week.

A model walks the runway at PatBo's New York Fashion Week show on September 9, 2023.
A model walks the runway at PatBo's New York Fashion Week show on September 9, 2023.Amanda Krause/Insider

Unfortunately, for those born between 1981 and 1996, members of Gen Z have decided that skinny jeans are outdated, side-part hairstyles look odd, and "going-out tops" are things of the past — much to the disagreement of many millennials.

So when I attended New York Fashion Week on Saturday, I figured it was the perfect time to ask fashionable people from both generations about their thoughts.

Their answers were mixed, to say the least.

Actor and style blogger Temi Otedola knew immediately which millennial fashion trend she'd get rid of.

Temi Otedola attends the PatBo runway show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023.
Temi Otedola attends the PatBo runway show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023.Amanda Krause/Insider

"Skinny jeans," she replied instantly while shaking her head.

The denim style has faded from popularity in recent years, with straight-leg jeans being the most popular style among women in 2021, according to the market-research company NPD Group.

Gen Z then collectively declared the death of skinny jeans around May 2023, leading men on TikTok to show off the straight-leg trousers and baggy pants they adopted in their place.

Still, many millennials have stood by their tight-fitting pants.

TV personality Blake Newby said millennials need to be careful about what they're wearing under their outfits.

Blake Newby attends the PatBo runway show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023.
Blake Newby attends the PatBo runway show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023.Amanda Krause/Insider

"Improper undergarments are something that drives me nuts. We struggle with it," she told Insider. "We must prioritize wearing the right undergarments for our looks."

But as a millennial herself, there's also one trend Newby stands by: wedges.

"This is going to be very controversial, but I think we should defend wedges — the right wedge done the right way," she said.

And Newby might be onto something. One stylist who previously spoke with Insider about this summer's footwear styles said wedges with unique details like straps and open backs could be "the hottest shoe trend for 2023."

Fashion and beauty creator Hana Martin said she's a millennial-fashion defender.

Hana Martin attends the PatBo runway show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023.
Hana Martin attends the PatBo runway show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023.Amanda Krause/Insider

"I'm a Gen Z, but I really love millennial style," Martin said. "I actually think I'm in with it."

One trend she loves in particular is the the old-money aesthetic, which makes use of neutral-colored garments, classic prints (think houndstooth and stripes), and timeless fabrics like linen to evoke the image of being wealthy and having a chic lifestyle.

"The classy, elegant style is really in at the moment for Gen Z, and millennials are the OG of that. I love that trend," she said.

As Martin noted, Gen Z influencers like Sofia Richie Grainge have catapulted the style in recent months. Millennials, however, were the first generation to look at icons like Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Princess Diana as old-school inspiration.

"Gossip Girl," for example, featured characters dressed in old-money fashion, and modern royals like Kate Middleton have embraced the style.

Influencer Amy Lefévre said there are two millennial styles that need to go.

Amy Lefévre attends the PatBo runway show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023.
Amy Lefévre attends the PatBo runway show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023.Amanda Krause/Insider

"I'm really tired of the overly cropped tops, even cropped T-shirts," she said. "And skinny jeans need to go. They never should have existed in the first place."

Dawn, a drag queen from Brooklyn, also had opinions on millennial pants.

Dawn attends the Cucculelli Shaheen show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023.
Dawn attends the Cucculelli Shaheen show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023.Amanda Krause/Insider

"The worst is the high, high-waisted jeans. A nice mid-rise is really OK," she said with a laugh.

Still, there is one denim style that Dawn says millennials have mastered.

"Are overalls millennial? I think so. I love an overall," she said.

Model Carmen Lee said she feels millennials are often more fashionable than Gen Z.

Carmen Solomons attends the Cucculelli Shaheen show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023.
Carmen Solomons attends the Cucculelli Shaheen show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023.Amanda Krause/Insider

"The thing about millennials is that everything we have come up with is still in fashion to this day," she said. "Gen Z is trying to implement all our fashion trends."

Specifically, Gen Z has been reviving millennial-created trends that the older generation hates. So far, they've brought back ballet flats, low-rise pants, and the Fendi Baguette — all former style staples of millennials.

"There hasn't been anything I've learned from Gen Z that I'm like, 'Oh, that's timeless.' No honey," she added.

Stylist Odera Nkem-Mmekam gives millennials some credit but thinks they need to reconsider at least two trends.

Odera Nkem-Mmekam attends the Cucculelli Shaheen show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023.
Odera Nkem-Mmekam attends the Cucculelli Shaheen show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023.Amanda Krause/Insider

"Do you remember the color-blocking thing that happened? I was just thinking about that today. It was awful — like really, really bad," she said. "But millennials did indie sleaze, and that was cute, honestly."

Indie sleaze is an aesthetic that mixes grunge pieces with more hipster-esque ones. It was most popular in the mid-2000s and early 2010s.

Model Alioune Fall says many millennials make the mistake of trying to wear Gen Z trends rather than what they like.

Alioune Fall attends the Cucculelli Shaheen show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023.
Alioune Fall attends the Cucculelli Shaheen show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023.Amanda Krause/Insider

Noting that it's an "unpopular opinion," Fall said he's not a fan of millennials leaning into the "skateboarding style" and Y2K trends that Gen Z love. Instead, he wishes millennials focused on more chic styles.

"I think it's time to come back to classic looks, suits, tailoring, and wearing what fits your body — not just trends," he said.

Read the original article on Insider