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Poll: Which Fitness Fashion Trend Shouldn't Make a Comeback?

By: Nicole Nichols : 2/5/2010 12:46:18 PM : 308 comments : 17,526 Views

A couple months ago, I shared some fun and entertaining 80s aerobics videos. Many of you could relate to these workouts and remember doing similar moves yourselves. Today I'm back with another fitness flashback that is sure to conjure up some more memories, but I don't know if they'll be good or bad ones!

Recently, ACE (The American Council on Exercise) created a fun slideshow of the Top 25 Fitness Fashion Trends from 1985 to today�definitely worth checking out.

I like leg warmers and yoga pants and lots of the more recent trends in workout fashion. But regarding most of these items, will you please join me in saying, "What were we thinking?!"

This led me to wonder: Which fitness fashion do you NEVER want to see making a comeback?

I was too young for the full experience of wearing these trendy outfits in all their glory, but I do remember these fashions. My mom totally wore biker shorts, the leotards on top of leggings and hair scrunchies when she went to Jazzercise or aerobics classes and I remember the "Buns of Steel" workout video she had and the skimpy leotards on the cover (and in the video).

If you ask me, I think anything related to leotards, whether they're on top of shorts or leggings, or just on their own should stay far, far away from the gym. Okay, especially the thong ones! They're not the most flattering look, even for super fit bodies, and there are plenty of workout clothing options that still allow you to move comfortably and see your form while you work out. If you ask me, leotards should stay in the dance studio.

What do you think? Check out ACE's slideshow for ideas. Then share your opinion on the worst fashion trends below!

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MICHELLEEJK 5/17/2010 2:14:42 PM	Man alivin', this brings back some memories of fashion, good AND bad! Some of these things DEFINITELY remind me of junior high & even late elementary school. I remember when leg warmers were THE thing to wear, & I think they do have their place. I remember neon in the '80s, too, & one fad in my junior high, especially, although there were some in senior high who wore this, were neon flashdance shirts. They had scrunchies & slouch socks to match, & one girl even wore a whole neon track suit to school one day! Yikes! Had to wear shades to look at her that day! Anyway, sweat bands do have their place & are great for those of us who sweat heavily, & I like biking shorts for biking. I also like leggings, both for exercising & for wearing under a certain denim skirt I have (I feel like I'm right back in high school when I do it; silly, I know! :D). I also love yoga pants, both capris & full length, because they're so comfortable & have ease of movement for whatever a person's doing, as well as just for relaxing. The unitards & leotards & thongs with bike shorts & muscle shirts & mesh stuff & stuff like that - ugh! In my opinion, at least. I didn't like them when they first came out & I don't like them now. I don't mind compression shirts when they're used as originally intended, but as a general everyday sort of look - not for me. Anyway! Now that I've given my 2 cents, I guess I'll just let it go. The past is the past & I'll just try to bear with the flashbacks that're coming at me from my school days. :P	308
FEARLESSLIFE 4/16/2010 10:08:17 AM	Oh, did that bring back memories. I love the bright colors. I definitely never want to see again the thong over leotard.	307
JIBBIE49 3/28/2010 12:27:06 AM	THE FIRM has girls that look so plastic. I just laugh. But my husband thought they were great.	306
VEGPUNK 2/28/2010 12:10:21 AM	oh, and I did the arms/abs/buns/legs of Steel videos with my mom when I was a kid. so goofy!	305
VEGPUNK 2/28/2010 12:09:40 AM	The slide show was great! I have a love-hate thing for leotards, but love leg-warmers, neons, and spandex of all kinds. I totally did the slouchy socks, but hope it does not come back in style. The thong-leotard-over shorts, the cropped muscle tees and scrunchies can stay gone.	304
DARWI46 2/12/2010 12:23:21 PM	Lets see....a thong leotard with the belly revealing shorts paired with who knows what else on top.........Still do the bike shorts (new versions) though.	303
NONIE_C 2/11/2010 10:45:17 PM	Yeah, leotards are the worst! But leg warmers rock. I have a friend who lives in hers, and she looks great!	302
MANDYBUC 2/11/2010 12:57:15 PM	Definitely no leotards please. I loved leg warmers although I do think they are kind of out-dated now.	301
AOGOAE 2/11/2010 12:52:50 PM	funny article- I actually wear a headband often when I run. It's so practical! It keeps the sweat from running into my eyes, nose and mouth. But I know very well that I look a little nerdy. It's the price you pay :) I still people wearing track suits! You can tell they aren't going to the gym very often...like once every decade...	300
BBIVINGS 2/11/2010 10:21:58 AM	Biking shorts with thongotards..........definitely. Reminds me that I need to do some cleaning. Still have biking shorts (wear them as Spanks) and nylon suits.........I know........sorry! I had quite a collection of neon shorts. HOT!!!	299
PEEKACOALIE 2/10/2010 4:28:20 PM	Please don't let the leotards back in the stores. My daughter showed me some old photos of me wearing those things at my ladies exercise group I attended weekly back in the 80's. We all wore those as we thought they were really cool. I just about died as my daughter became hysterical and said she was showing these photos to everyone as they were actually comical. That does it , I will take the sweats any day. Now i just have to try and get those old photos back before she shows them around.	298
IVLYGA 2/9/2010 9:36:33 PM	My 4 yr old is in love with her leg warmers, worn over stretch pants with slouch socks. Who knew?	297
SUMMERMOMMY1 2/9/2010 8:47:33 PM	OMG! Too funny! Those ladies in their track suits are pretty hilarious! I'll stick with my yoga pants and tanks, thank you very much!	296
MOONLIT 2/9/2010 7:32:47 PM	Any kind of clothing that make a whoosh whoosh sound while you more should be banned from the gym and everyday life in my opinion! Oh but I too loved my slouch socks!!!:)	295
MECAMAKA 2/9/2010 6:40:00 PM	i think that sweating to the oldies was the bomb. you not only got motivated but there really was not dress code. the big t-shirts and shorts made everyone feel comfortable and there was no one really paying attn to who was smaller or bigger then they were. so t-shirts, baggy shorts, and the cute little head bands is my vote lol	294
HANNAHLAFRENZ 2/9/2010 5:06:36 PM	Yeah, every time I see an old Kathy Smith video with all the chicks wearing Thong-otards over their leggings only two words come to mind: YEAST INFECTION!!! eeeeeeew!	293
SOCKKNITTER 2/9/2010 1:04:04 PM	Thong anything over shorts or leggings was & remains, uncomfortable & disgusting!! I refused to go to exercise classes in the 80s if I had to look at them!! And those silver suits - another no no although, I saw them mostly on the older folks, if I remember correctly! I would've liked a sports bra in an F cup though . . . . . Remember the exercise series on tv that had three girls in thong leotards over leggings or bike shorts doing aerobics while the cameras showed very close shots of their bodies - especially the butts??? At the time, it was the hottest seller in the Middle East porn circuit.	292
JACFRANK 2/9/2010 12:40:17 PM	Some of these I hope aren't fads, like sports bras...um, those are kinda important. I'm also one to wear Converse All Stars regularly (I have several pair & love them), but not for working out...same with the hoodie. Some of the others I have very good riddence to, like the unitards & spandex and of course the thong over biker shorts thing....that's just weird! :) Even scrunchies never worked for me...they slide out really easily & go flying across the room...unless you make them tight & then they just look bulky and wrong.	291
HEIDIANN-50 2/8/2010 11:53:59 PM	Dolphin shorts - please don't ever bring those back!!!!!! Red Reebok Hightops - what were we thinking?	290
SUSANGO123 2/8/2010 10:33:30 PM	Great slideshow and blog! For sure the leotard thong with biker shorts have got to go! I remember when they first came out and my only thought was 'Great. more ways to wear dental floss." Thank God those days are O-V-E-R!	289
SUGADROP 2/8/2010 10:31:53 PM	I luv the 80s, sad 2 hav missed them but those leotards, wat the...? Yuck, people, just Yuck! That's sumthing im glad i missed	288
EMERALDINMAY 2/8/2010 9:49:54 PM	What a hilarious blog! I remember actually envying the "cool" women who wore these outfits to my aerobics class. I just showed up in sweats, and I was so embarrassed.	287
AGGIE56 2/8/2010 8:52:34 PM	I never wore anything but sweats and a t-shirt. Could never fit into a leotard except when I was a kid taking ballet. Yeah... leotards, spandex, and thongs were pretty raunchy. I like bike shorts, though!	286
MARGOMANIAC 2/8/2010 8:51:10 PM	Thong over biker shorts is the worst trend in that slideshow...it looks so uncomfortable and I bet it was too!!!!	285
HONEYBEEISME 2/8/2010 8:45:11 PM	These "fashions" had me laughing out loud! OMG!!! I remember being in high school and going w/ my mom to Jazzercise... half the women wore the bike shorts w/ the thong leotard. Ugh! If that ever comes back I'll croak! LOL! However, good looking, fit running men looked very hot in the short running shorts. Mmm... that might be an okay trend to welcome back... but you have to pass a "test" to wear them! Cute blog... even if the clothes are scary!	284
VELLAMO 2/8/2010 7:47:36 PM	I vote for the Unitards, Leotards, and Geometric Prints. I don't care if you have a rocking body and a butt you can bounce a quarter off of.	283
NGREER2 2/8/2010 5:21:31 PM	Oh, yes, I wore leotards, tights and leg warmers to my Spa Lady classes. I may still have some tucked away in the back of a drawer! Oh, and my husband had some of his ultra short running shorts and corduroy OP shorts. He put them on once and our children were horrified (but he could still fit in them!)	282
MAC4902 2/8/2010 5:01:51 PM	Thong over biker short! EEEEEWWWW!	281
MRS.DOYLE 2/8/2010 4:35:18 PM	I'm old enough to remember swimsuits with skirts attached....though I never wore one. How did anyone swim in them?	280
BAILEYS7OF9 2/8/2010 3:33:30 PM	Oh my! Thanks! I remember I joined Woman's Work Out World in the late 80's and the common 'dress code' was a black legging/leotard w/ a bikini brief in a different color!	279
TRUEALIEN 2/8/2010 12:33:04 PM	I still wear hoodies and I love the bright chucky converse. However, the unileotard can take a hike!	278
PATITAS51 2/8/2010 11:47:38 AM	It is fun to see on of these "flashbacks", and I hate to admit to having worn many of them! Never wore thongs of any kind and thong leotards over biker shorts is definatly my vote, no one looks good in them!	277
SKRIFARI 2/8/2010 11:37:36 AM	Still hoping for the comeback of slouch socks. I loved those.	276
MEOWROWRIE 2/8/2010 11:22:46 AM	JIMSGIRL said: "Thong Leotard over Biker Shorts, absolutely the tackiest thing ever." GUILTY! And while I want the body back that I wore that on, I DO NOT want that trend to come back. I believe in the saying, "if you're old enough to have worn it the first time around, do not wear it when it comes back in style!"	275
JIMSGIRL73 2/8/2010 11:09:42 AM	Thong Leotard over Biker Shorts, absolutely the tackiest thing ever. However, I still wear my Chuck Taylor's!	274
WENDYRS 2/8/2010 10:31:16 AM	IMO, Spandex should be neither neon nor shiny. Out with the thong leotard and any combination with it. I live by my bike shorts, yoga pants, and sports bra (which, IMHO, is the best invention for women besides Spandex). I never liked sweating in a regular bra, and when the sports bra came out (please, wear it under a Tshirt and not AS a shirt), I was so happy! Finally, please keep bellies covered when working out, except when at the beach. I am not partial to men wearing sleeveless Tshirts at the gym, but it's not half as bad as when the belly is showing too.	273
LIPS2EARS 2/8/2010 10:28:38 AM	We were made to wear leotards for gym at school - Ugh! Hated them then and hate them now! Those short-shorts were cool back then,heck Tom Selleck made a living in them, but can you imagine your fella wearing them now, Haha! I can also survive without the head and wrist sweat bands :)	272
VANNASMOM 2/8/2010 10:04:36 AM	Without a doubt, spandex pants with the thong leotard! Someone tell me how that can be comfortable. I don't care what size you are those shiny spandex pants did NOT look good, and anyone that told you they did, lied. I gotta say I loved the tapered jeans, leg warmers and high heels. So 80's!	271
LOCATEKIM 2/8/2010 10:02:24 AM	So glad the thong leotard went. Looked great on those not needing to exercise...	270
MOOTWO 2/8/2010 9:51:25 AM	Have to agree with the Leotard trend being among the worst to me - but if I can be so bold to say I would not mind seeing Midriff Cut-off Shirts return ( on women atleast! ) I guess I am pretty well steeped in the 80's look. I get nostalgic when I see the massive hairdo's from back in the day XD	269
4MY_HEALTH 2/8/2010 9:24:24 AM	There are many things that I would not want to come back into style but at the top of the list I would place the thonged leotard over the spandex pants.	268
KIPPERJAZ 2/8/2010 8:59:14 AM	Definately the leotard not the unitard. I would look like a beached whale in one of those unitards. I remember wearing one and watching the rolls I never knew I had and exentuating the ones I did know about. I went a couple of days ago to look for long johns because it's so cold here to go out and walk but I couldnt find any. The leotard would be exactly what i wanted to find.	267
NIGHTOWL953 2/8/2010 8:54:06 AM	Definitely the leotard- in any form!	266
JDSMMS 2/8/2010 8:03:40 AM	Thong over biker shorts. Please.....how was the even comfortable or practical! But there were colorful!	265
DANAE22 2/8/2010 7:51:24 AM	Please...the unitard? Never again!	264
LORIBBB 2/8/2010 7:33:13 AM	Truly, I hate ALL of them, but when the whole class has on pretty much the same thing, who cares how we all look(ed)! I remember buying my first full-length (long sleeves and legs) unitard, zipping it up, looking in the mirror, and wondering why I had never considered speed skating as a career before, because that is EXACTLY what I looked like...only it wasn't muscle so much as fat that was bulging in thing - I don't recall what I paid for the 2 I bought, only that it cost A LOT!	263
ELLENSUN 2/8/2010 12:27:50 AM	AAAUUUUGGHHHH!!!! Visions from my post high school days wearing tights, a leotard (but never a thong) and leg warmers to infrequently attended aerobics classes. I learned then that I hated aerobics. Men, please never never wear the ultra short running shorts! A co-worker came into work after a run wearing these things ... sheesh, seems like he should have been arrested for indecent exposure.	262
WLACMOON 2/8/2010 12:05:02 AM	I still have my legwarmers hiding in a closet. Only wear the black anymore. But then, I dance more than go to the gym! Absolutely no more Neon and no "Dolphin" shorts ever again please!!!!	261
LOLO568 2/7/2010 11:47:12 PM	Definitely agree with everyone else on the thong leotard and I just have to say that I really loved those scrunchie socks and probably wore them way longer than I should have :)	260
VANANDEL 2/7/2010 10:36:36 PM	As someone who's been working out for decades, and even leading aerobics classes, I've done my fair share of wearing many of these fashions. The ones I won't miss are the thong leotards and footless leggings. I still wear biker shorts as opposed to looser running shorts - I know they won't accidentally show a part of me I don't want to show! I still have some leg warmers which get worn when it's cold and I want to save money on heating - they really work!	259