Trends and Entertainment

8 Things We’re Glad the Recession Killed

There have been many sad passings in the downturn, some the results of the economy (lots of jobs, Domino magazine) others not (John Hughes). But as always, there is an upside: The bust seems to have killed off some of the more distasteful boom trends, expressions of excess that just aren’t appropriate anymore.

McMansions
All around the country, sprawling new developments sit empty, oversized homes are being foreclosed on, and home buyers are choosing—for the first time in 15 years, more normal-sized properties. A double-height great room does not a happy (or financially sound) family make.

SUVs
The McMansions of cars also boomed in the boom, when we didn’t care how much we spent for gas and were happy to tower over pathetic hippie cyclists. Wired.com says that 60 percent of the cars that have been junked through the Cash for Clunkers program are gas-guzzling Ford Explorers.

Bottled Water
For the first time in at least five years, sales of bottled water are down. “Budget-conscious consumers…have discovered that tap water is practically free,” says the Washington Post. We knew that all along—and weren’t so into the whole water-as-status-symbol, plastic-bottles-in-a-landfill thing.

Crocs
The makers of the crayon-colored foam shoes are on the brink of bankruptcy—ironic given that they cost a very budget-friendly $30. We don’t actually want them to become extinct (my nephew loves his) but we wouldn’t weep on our shoes if we had to see fewer of them.

It Bags
At the beginning of 2008, the Wall Street Journal explained that It Bags—the super-expensive purses everyone had to have in a particular week—were falling out of favor because, well, everyone had them. Now it’s because we don’t have money anymore. “I’ve always thought the really, really expensive bag, which then becomes completely unfashionable the next season, is a bit dishonest, and I think customers are more intelligent than that,” handbag designer Anya Hindmarch said. We weren’t, but apparently recession makes you smart.

Bottle Service
Charging status-obsessed night-clubbers hundreds of dollars for bottles of alcohol (plus reserved tables and a fast-lane through the door) was one of the icky trends of the past several years. Club owners made lots of money off investment wankers, but nightlife sure took a turn for the worse.

Teen People
We don’t want to see more media peeps out of jobs. And we’re sad to see the end of such a fine magazine, one dedicated to educating the next generation about important issues—like what Leighton Meister wears when she’s not on the set of Gossip Girl. (Not that we don’t watch Gossip Girl.)

Paris Hilton Everywhere
We can’t actually support this with hard data, but when was the last time you heard about the Princess of Pout? She was a very appropriate icon for the boom—shallow, free-spending, and manicured to within an inch of her life. The spectacle could be funny sometimes, but we’re glad to see her go. Downside of this development: She’s been replaced by Jon and Kate.

Tags: Cars, celebrities, eating, media, real estate, shopping, style