'Speedos', leather trousers, Crocs are Britain's least favourite fashion items

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
May 29, 2018

Skimpy men's swimwear has topped a survey of the least favourite fashion items in the UK. The poll, conducted by YouGov, found that out of 25 different items, such swimwear (perhaps unfairly most closely associated with the Speedo brand in many consumers’ minds) was disliked by 69% of respondents. 

And women are more averse than men with 74% of female respondents disliking them compared to 62% of men.

The researchers came up with an aggregate score for all the items, based on the percentage of people favourable to them, the numbers who were neutral, and those who were anti, and swim briefs came up with a net score of -56.

The second most disliked item, leather trousers, is on -42 with 62% of consumers actively hating them. And Next on the list?Crocs, with the well known clog-cum-sandal brand scoring -39. Also scoring worse than -30 are flared trousers and any items with elbow patches.

In fact, very few items on the list managed to move into positive territory. The favourite item of all is slip-on shoes with a +55 score and 69% of consumers actively liking them, but only five others managed to rise above a zero or minus rating.  

Chinos scored +46 and are popular among 64% consumers, while waistcoats came in at number three on +34 and are liked by 58% of consumers. 

Also generating positive scores were hoodies, leggings for everyday wear, flat caps and bowties.

But it was all downhill from there with turtlenecks coming in on a -2 score and the list seeing a gradual decline through baseball caps, dungarees, braces, ponchos, blue shirts with white collars, jumpsuits, and berets. Meanwhile scoring between -20 and -29 were tracksuits, Uggs, red trousers and sweater vests.

The gender divide is quite clear for some items, as already seen with the most disliked piece on the list. Jumpsuits also divide men and women with 60% of men disliking them compare to only 43% of women. 

They also disagree on leggings and berets  with men 12 percentage points more likely to dislike both, while women are more likely to disapprove of Crocs.

And when it comes to age, there's another clear divide. Hoodies are the most divisive garment by far – while 67% of those aged 65+ have unfavourable views of hoodies, among 18-24 year-olds this falls to just 7%.

And Crocs are more likely to be viewed negatively by the young (71% of 18-24 year-olds) compare to only 48% of those aged over 65.

The research also looked at what Britons think are the worst fashion fails and low-slung trousers score negatively with 88% of people disapproving, followed closely by wearing pyjamas outdoors on 82%. Socks with sandals score badly for 79% while a visible panty line gets a thumbs down from 65%.

Colour seems to be a big issue too, especially wearing white socks with black trousers or shoes (62%) and a black bra with a white top (60%). Sports shirts worn for everyday are also unpopular with many (41%) and double denim is a big no for 35% of survey respondents.