While it is definitely true that many trends make their way back around again, not everything is timeless. If you’re a Boomer, it’s okay to keep some of these trends to yourself, but you have to give up on thinking they’ll be considered trendy again anytime soon.
In the following article, you’ll find 40 examples of things only boomers think are still cool.
1. The Mall
Malls used to be the place to hangout with friends, or view concerts like when Brittany Spears first started. However, online shopping really eliminated malls.
Viewing size charts, organizing by color and fit preferences, we won’t be going back to spending hours looking through clothes that don’t fit us, not anymore.
2. Cable TV Packages
No, and never again. So many subscriptions with limitless options, and some free online resources, have completely removed the need for this.
No more add-ons and extras, no more commercials. No more limited viewing. Straight to what we want to watch, when we want to watch it. How could we even go back?
3. Writing Checks
We have to stop making fun of Millenials and Gen Zs for not knowing “basic life skills” like writing a check, when those are no longer the life skills required to function in the digital age.
Everything is online, digital, and moving forward. Digital is much more safe anyway! Who even owns a checkbook nowadays anyway?
4. Using a Briefcase
While once the pinnacle of business man fashion, the use of laptops and tablets have made using a briefcase completely obsolete.
We no longer carry large files, or piles of paperwork, or briefs around with us, so a laptop bag is sufficient for any business needs in a modern world.
5. Catalogs
Global warming is a hot topic at the moment and won’t be going away. All advertising has moved to digital and collection of data, so why are we still sending out catalogs?
The only thing a catalog is used for, is filling landmines, and those don’t need to be any more full.
6. Socks and Sandals
Honestly, it’s weird that we even have to say it. Sandals are designed to give your toes some air flow during the hot summer months, so why are we wrapping our feet up in warm socks and completely counteracting the benefits of sandals?
Make it make sense, please, we don’t get it.
7. Diamonds
The secret is out of the bag, we know that the interest in diamonds was created in an ad campaign and we aren’t falling for it anymore.
Materialistic pursuits just aren’t “it” anymore, and the cheaper alternatives, like costume jewelry, give us access to a larger variety of styles anyway.
8. Phone Hip Clip
Why was this such a trend anyway? Why does the phone literally need to be attached to the hip? The clip isn’t even as beneficial as it seems.
They’re bulky, run into things, and made from a cheap plastic that breaks the moment your hip hits a door frame anyway.
9. Conspiracy Theories
Okay, these have certainly gone too far. Movies make these look like a great addition to a plot, but the conspiracy theories have mixed with large internet data to create a really unhealthy amount of internet untruths.
It’s time to use reliable resources to get our information, and stop with these theories.
10. High-Waisted Jeans
They may look cute on very specific body styles, but the moment you sit down these stop becoming comfortable and cute and instead become restrictive and unflattering. We’ve got to stop perpetuating uncomfortable beauty expectations, so these have to go.
Many of us are trading in stiff jeans for comfort.
11. China Dishware
China is one of those things that take up space, but offer no value other than sentimental. They’re specifically only to impress others, and the younger generations are moving away from living their existence just to please the neighbors.
Clear those out, and buy something you like for you instead.
12. New Balance Shoes
Okay, so you’re trying to be comfortable, that is definitely something we can understand. But these shoes aren’t doing anyone any favors. There are many insole options and comfort designed shoes, you don’t have to sacrifice looks for comfort.
Throw these out, and move towards something a little more fashionable.
13. Phone Books
Much like catalogs, these aren’t doing the environment any favors. They’re outdated, cumbersome, and online directories have completely replaced these.
The integration of phone numbers, GPS, and location services means that the time it takes you to look up spots in a phone book is time you’ll never lose again.
14. Jorts
These make absolutely no sense. We wear shorts because it’s hot outside, but then why wear such a heavy material? Basketball shorts, athletic wear, and even cargo shorts are much cooler than jean shorts.
When the alternatives look better and are more comfortable, then it’s a yes to switching over.
15. 24 Hour News Networks
The news is important, this is undeniable. However, the requirements for providing material and content for 24 hours leads to misinformation and a rush at getting stuff out quickly, which means possibly not fact-checked.
Even for viewers, being immersed in news for too long causes anxiety. Just turn it off.
16. Hawaiian Shirts
Fun prints have come around full swing, but Hawaiian shirts should be left home. Consider this; most people who wear them do it ironically or because they’re going to a “themed” event.
A general rule is that if you’d wear it to a themed event, you shouldn’t wear it regularly.
17. Cursive
This is another thing that Boomers use to act smarter than younger generations. The truth is, we don’t need it anymore.
Typing, texting, and voice to text has completely replaced any written standards, and we have print if we need. Cursive might look good, it doesn’t have a place in a digital world.
18. Dad Slacks
What is this need to look professional when you should be casual? This screams a lack of fashion because you’re so used to wearing business slacks that you’re not sure what to wear any other time.
These are giving you away, get some joggers athletic gear instead. It will look much better.
19. Home Shopping Networks
These are nothing but attacks on the elder who are stuck at home with nothing better to do. Shopping networks are the capital of capitalism; long advertisements for things we don’t need?
No, thank you, next, move on. People aren’t even using these cable networks anymore. Just shop on the internet, like we do.
20. Velcro Shoes
Okay so obviously for older generations these may be easier to put on once motor function is limited, but there are so many options for comfortable and affordable slip on shoes.
Velcro can still cause problems for those with limited motor skills, so why are these shoes still a thing?
21. Sending Emails
These may have been the new tech communication 20 years ago, but they’re expired now. We use DM, which stands for Direct Messaging, or text messages.
Emails are strictly left for business functions and spam, so sending an email to a loved one will just get lost in the mix.
22. Cruises
They advertise an adventurous affair, but really it is just about the food and the minimal activity. Most of the stops are over saturated with tourists anyway, and don’t offer the adventure that younger generations are looking for.
The “sit back and watch the waves” lifestyle is definitely reserved for Boomers.
23. All You Can Eat Buffets
Buffets are not good, we all know it’s just something you eat because it’s cheap and available. But now, we are moving away from them because they simply aren’t sanitary.
As nutritional information and health codes come out, buffets are finally being retired, instead of feeding retired. Time to say goodbye.
24. Dressing Like a Tourist
Even when you’re a tourist, there is no reason to dress like it. Travel used to be about taking pictures and seeing sites, but now we know it’s more about the experience.
Quality, not quantity. Put the camera down, leave the fanny pack at home, and simply explore around you.
25. Knick Knacks
Every home for someone over 50 has a glass cupboard or a shelf with just knick knacks on it. Nothing valuable, nothing sentimental, just little things that are wastes of money that have been collected over the years.
They just sit and collect dust. What is the value of these?
26. Bar Soap
Is bar soap clean and sanitary if hands have been rubbed all over them? Then the next person touches the same thing that your dirty hands touched?
Scrubbing with soap may be clean, but using liquid soap means only cleaning your dirt off of your hands, and not everyone else’s.
27. Sweepstakes
Maybe at some point they were fun and exciting, but now we all know it’s just a farce to collect our data. Does anyone actually even win these, or are they all just staged?
The younger generation is much too skeptical to sell our data for such a cheap promise.
28. 9-5 Work Weeks
The secret is out. We know of too many countries with daily naps and longer vacations to continue thinking it is healthy to work these hours and push ourselves to these limits.
We work to live, not live to work, and we are not going back to standard factory hours.
29. Blaming Millennials
Boomers raised Millennials, so that makes it even more ironic that Boomers blame them for everything.
Boomers are old enough to be accountable, and they can’t complain about rising costs of everything from gum to gas while simultaneously judging the youth for not being able to afford education and living.
30. Paper Bills
Ah, another environmental hazard. Paper bills get lost, accidentally thrown away, and take up resources that we no longer need to take up. Bills can be emailed, or text notified.
In addition to auto pay, we no longer need to waste the paper printing and sending bills in the mail.
31. Toast
So this may seem a weird one, but toast was just a simple way to get carbs fast and easy in the morning.
Now, we have frozen waffles, smoothies, breakfast bars, basically just a long list of things that are more nutritional and better suited for on the go calorie intake.
32. Cop Dramas
Whether they’re truth or fiction, Boomers are obsessed with shows about cops. It is especially troubling for the live, reality style show. No one needs to see someone else’s life changing business happening on national TV.
We also don’t need people thinking they’re a detective just because they saw NCIS.
33. Word Art On Walls
Please, just get some art. Art is meant to be engaging and interpretive. Not all quotes need to be vinyl printed and stuck to the wall with flowers, and these pieces of “art” are becoming memes and jokes. Relieve your house of those labels and buy some regular art. Read more about the next point.
34. Ironing
The truth is that detergent and machines are better now than they were back in the day. Irons may help with getting those nice edges, but they’re also dangerous to have something sitting around that hot.
Just use the right settings on your dryer, and you won’t need to worry about it.
35. Racquetball
Inside sport, with AC, limited space, and limited viewers. Something about this sport just screams “convenient” instead of “athletics”. While it may be a safe sport for elders, it’s definitely not trendy, nor will it ever be well-known.
This sport is definitely reserved for seniors. But after all, if you enjoy it, just keep practicing it!
36. Fuzzy Toilet Seat Covers
Okay, so we get that you don’t like hard toilet seat covers, or the cold. But there are so many other options than these unsanitary fuzzy covers.
These are gross, and even more gross. Underneath the lid and on top of the lid, these need to go and stay gone.
37. Patterned Wallpaper
Wallpaper in general is completely outdated, but the patterns are especially bad. Interior design has taught us about colors, effective spacing, and how to create different feels for different rooms.
Patterned wallpaper does nothing but clash with the rest of your furniture and designs. Plus it is so annoying to remove, once you are tired of it.
38. Mrs. Dash
If you have heard of this, then you know exactly why it’s on this list. The go-to for Boomer spices, you know it the moment you taste it.
They may have been good when they came out, but now the culinary palate has expanded, so you should too. Really, don’t use them anymore.
39. Crocs
It doesn’t matter how many colors they come in, how many charms are made for them, or how comfortable they are advertised to be, these will never be trendy or fashionable, everyone knows it.
Many of the young kids wear them ironically, but other than that, let’s just move away from these.
40. Potpourri
This is another one that just shows an unwillingness to branch out. There are plenty of safe and effective room air fresheners, these have become obsolete.
The fragrance doesn’t last near as long, nor does it offer the variety that fresheners do today. Time to throw these dust collectors out.