I've been wearing bike helmets since 1978 and I have yet to see one that looks good. Whatever. That's not what they're for.
Heh, you and I were the first two people to wear them.
I also got mine in 1978. I got laughed at quite a bit, but I didn't mind. And of course, it was the Bell Biker. I think it weighed 17 oz! It was very hot.
In 1982, I was wearing that helmet when I got hit by a car, head-on. It was severe enough that I don't remember the accident at all and woke up in the hospital. The bike and helmet were destroyed, though the helmet didn't look so bad. It's impossible to know how much it lessened my head injury, but I think it helped. Sometimes I wonder how I would have done with one of today's helmets.
Nowadays, bike helmets are acceptable attire. Citi Bike is quite popular in NYC, and it's common to see people wearing bike helmets while not on a bike. They are either coming from a ride or going to one. At first, this brought stares, but it doesn't any more.