I'm a millennial who thinks Gen Z was 100% right to mock high-waisted bottoms and skinny jeans, but I'll defend side parts to the end

• Gen Z has mocked aspects of millennial fashion and style trends on social media.
• In my opinion, millennials wearing business-casual clothes to non-work-related outings was atrocious.

Every generation has cringey style trends.

The 80s had nauseating amounts of neon, 90s-era frosted tips were a questionable choice, and "Vote for Pedro" T-shirts from the early 2000s make me visibly recoil. The 2010s — when millennial fashion reigned supreme — also had some duds, which Gen Z has called out for being outdated multiple times on social media.

Although I enjoyed many millennial trends when they appeared, I agree with Gen Z on mocking certain fashion styles.

The business-casual fits millennials wore to non-work-related outings were confusing

I'm not sure whether to laugh or cringe when I think about what I used to wear to high school: a slightly oversize cardigan, a sleeveless top, a pencil skirt, and ballet flats to finish off the ensemble. I looked like I was preparing for a board meeting, but the only things on my docket were algebra class and free period.

The key to this trend was looking like you were in the office all day and had zero time to change before getting drinks after work. Vests, ballet flats, button-up shirts, and pencil skirts were all acceptable clothes for any occasion, whether you were headed to a work event or not.

Although the style probably lives rent-free in millennials' minds, it gained traction over the last few years as people recalled the nonsensical aesthetic online. In December 2021, the TikTok user @cydnij's video making fun of her business-casual club wear went viral, gaining more than 1.2 million views and 348,700 likes as of Saturday.

I love high-waisted pants and skirts, but I admit millennials went overboard

The high-waisted wave was likely in response to the early 2000s Y2K era, but millennials absolutely beat this trend into the ground. The fashion industry in the early 2010s was oversaturated with high-waisted skirts, shorts, pants, swimsuits, and more.

In my opinion, that led to the Gen Z pushback to high-waisted anything. While I still have a few pairs of high-waisted shorts in my closet, it's less about trendy aesthetics and more about what fits my body type best.

Skinny jeans are a millennial staple, but Gen Z's aversion resulted in different silhouettes becoming more popular

Like high-waisted shorts, skinny jeans emerged as a defining millennial staple that worked for nearly any occasion. My love for skinny jeans runs deep, but the garment deserved all the criticism from Gen Z.

Although I disagree with them being labeled "mom jeans," I can see how the overly tight style doesn't work for every occasion — despite what millennials thought. It also may not flatter every body type, which is becoming more important to consumers as the fashion industry evolves.

One good thing that came out of Gen Z dunking on skinny jeans was the resurgence of wide-leg pants and other silhouettes — having more silhouette options has added variety to my closet and made me experiment with different styles.

I stand by the millennial side part 100%

Vice reported in February 2021 that Gen Z had begun "roasting" millennials for styling their hair in side parts, which is mind-blowing to me. Sure, I went through an emo phase, but how someone styles their hair should depend on their face shape instead of trends.

Plus, a side part can complete a look and give an ensemble a different vibe compared with the middle part. I think side parts can be worn at any age or occasion.