5 Trends That Need to Die in 2015?

As we near the year's end, many magazine editors reflect on particular trends and/or looks which were popular among celebrities and "street style stars" alike. While opinions vary, an Elle magazine contributor shares her likes and dislikes.

I definitely agree with her on the single earring, and athletic sneakers. Many a look was "marred" by a well meaning sneaker. I do however, LOVE a slip on. they're comfortable, chic, and a versatile option to the loafer. While the high-end, designer versions are pricey, there's a slew of others which won't break the bank.

As far as culottes go, I can take them or leave them. I do own a pair, and find them a nice alternative to a skirt. My opinion is that, it's how you wear them that makes or breaks the look. While some looks appear matronly and dowdy, a paired down look is best. For this time of year, I prefer wearing them with a simple sweater and knee-high boots.

As we all know, Kim Kardashian LOVES body hugging, cleavage-barring clothing with a thigh-high slit! I will say though, I've actually liked a few of her recent looks, those akin to the third photo. I love the coat draped about the shoulders.

First, the disclaimer: Not every trend on this list is inherently "bad." Some of them I actually really like, it's just that in the past year, everyone—from celebs to street style stars to the chick ahead of me in the juice bar line—has been wearing them. I'd like to see people wear something else for a change, but for that to happen, we're gonna need to put a moratorium on these things for a little while. (Just a little while. Like a year?)

1. AGGRESSIVE EAR JEWELRY.

Statement necklaces were the Cool Accessory Look five years ago, then it was arm parties, followed by fistfuls of dainty rings that girls slipped on faster than they could say "Catbird." This year, the most popular accessory was the ear cuff, something that felt very subversive when girls first started sliding them over their lobes, like a hybrid earring/jail cell when they were metal or an explosion of sparklyness when they were the jeweled kind. But then they started showing up everywhere, and now they feel about as rebellious as a second hole in your earlobe.

2. VERY BASIC, VERY EXPENSIVE SNEAKERS.

I'm not saying sneakers shouldn't cost money. I get why people shell out for gold hardware-decked Buscemis or python Céline slip-ons. The breed of sneaker I'm talking about is different. They're the sneakers that are just simple white leather lace-ups or black leather slides with a rubber sole, which seemed to be everywhhhereee in 2014. So many of these shoes are essentially Adidas' Stan Smiths or Vans' slip-ons but with marginally better materials, and an astronomically more expensive price tag. Why?

3. HEAD-TO-TOE NORMCORE.

I can understand the appeal of a Birkenstock or a pair of Levi's 501s, but when you wear all the normcore staples together—carbon-copying Jerry Seinfeld's look—it isn't inspired, it's lazy. Why not break up your white T-shirt, mini backpack, and acid wash denim with some stuff that shows you're part of the iPhone generation, not the flip phone one?

4. CULOTTES.

I embraced them, really. Truly. I got past the whole "These are basically high fashion gaucho pants" confusion. My problem with culottes is more that they're like, really, really popular. They're such a striking, recognizable silhouette, and they're everywhere. I legitimately just found FOURTY-FOUR pairs of culottes on Net-a-porter.com when I searched, which is crazy when you consider there were probably only four pairs on sale there last year.

5. THE (NEW) KARDASHIAN SIGNATURE LOOK.

It's the same almost every time: a crop top and pencil skirt combo or a skin-tight midi dress, a strappy stiletto or pointy toe pump, topped by a calf-grazing coat if it's cold—but always, always, everything in the same color, which is firmly planted in the "putty" family. (Though, to be fair, it may stray as far as "clay" or "camel.") Yep, it's a polished look and it photographs well! But at this point, it kind of feels like watching the same episode of KUWTK every.single.day.

elle.com