11 Fashion Accessories That Were Useless
Here's a throwback to fashion accessories that looked trendy but had little to no real purpose.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Trends come and go. Sometimes, the items that defined an era end up being more style than substance. Many accessories looked flashy on the surface but offered no real practicality in everyday life. Here are 11 fashion pieces that were mostly useless but unforgettable parts of pop culture.
1. Chain Wallets
Pavel Ševela on Wikimedia Commons
Chain wallets were supposed to be the ultimate blend of function and rebellion. Hanging from a chunky metal link, they promised to keep your cash safe from pickpockets while giving off a biker edge. In practice, they mostly scratched chairs, made noise, and got tangled in everything.
2. Jelly Bracelets
Darlene624 on Flickr
Cheap, stretchy, and available in every neon color imaginable, jelly bracelets took over wrists in the early 2000s. They didn’t do anything but add clutter to your arm, and most snapped after a few wears. Kids wore them by the dozen, turning them into tangled, sticky piles of plastic.
3. Tiny Sunglasses
Mochammad Algi on Pexels
These ultra-slim shades looked sleek in celebrity photos but left everyone else squinting. Designed more for fashion than function, they offered minimal UV protection and barely shaded the eyes. The futuristic vibe clashed with practicality, especially under bright sunlight.
4. Anklets with Charms
BenMoses M on Unsplash
Charming in theory, these delicate chains often went completely unnoticed under jeans and socks. They jingled softly as you walked but tangled constantly or broke without warning. Maintenance outweighed any fashion payoff, especially for something so easy to overlook.
5. Shutter Shades
Lisa Martinez on Wikimedia Commons
Made famous by early 2000s pop stars, shutter shades looked bold but made vision nearly impossible. The plastic slats blocked both sunlight and common sense. Great for party photos, terrible for walking, driving, or seeing in general.
6. Chain Belts
leyla.a on Flickr
These glittery, oversized belts sparkled more than they supported. They rarely held up pants and instead dangled loosely like costume jewelry. The metal links snagged fabric and caught on everything, making them more of a hazard than help. Flashy, yes, but completely impractical.
7. Mood Rings
Moodman001 on Wikimedia Commons
Marketed as tiny emotional indicators, mood rings claimed to shift color with your feelings. In reality, they just responded to the heat from your skin. Once the mystery wore off, they lost their appeal faster than they changed shades.
8. Toe Rings
David L Smith on Unsplash
Toe rings had a short-lived moment of fame, mostly among beachgoers and sandal enthusiasts. They looked cute in theory but often pinched or slipped off mid-walk. Unless you were barefoot, no one noticed them anyway.
9. Slap Bracelets
Anntinomy on Wikimedia Commons
Everyone remembers the satisfying snap as these bracelets wrapped around your wrist. They became playground sensations but served zero real function. Many schools banned them after kids got scratched by the metal underneath. The fad disappeared as quickly as it slapped onto the scene.
10. Chainmail Hand Jewelry
The ChainMaille Lady Andersen on Flickr
Part jewelry, part medieval armor, this accessory is draped over hands and wrists for dramatic effect. Unfortunately, it snagged on clothes, hair, and anything remotely textured. Wearing it felt like a costume instead of an outfit. It was beautiful to look at but a nightmare to live with.
11. Wallet Chains with Extra Keys
Oktoberfest2011 on Wikimedia Commons
Some people took the chain wallet trend even further by attaching keys, bottle openers, and random trinkets. The result? A clanging, heavy mess hanging from one hip. It turned every step into a noisy performance.