February 16, 2022
Editor: Lauren Cuppy
Artist: Georgia Wallace
As trends come and go within the blink of an eye, there is debate over what is “in” or “out.” What was once at the peak of fashion is now considered “cheugy,” a popular term coined by the industry that shames clothes or trends that are considered to be out of style. Although society tries to create distinct lines between what’s considered “hot” and what’s “not,” it is inevitable that these lines will blur over time due to the cyclical nature of fashion. We have watched as consumers rock skinny jeans, swap them for boyfriend jeans, and later trade them for the current-day favorite: flare pants. In the 70s, flare pants’ counterpart, bell-bottom pants, were on the “hot list,” whereas ten years ago they would have been shunned. Now, they’re back.
Initially, these pants were worn by both men and women casually until Cher gave them an iconic debut. She appeared on her variety show wearing a funky version of bell-bottom pants and iconized this look by adding fringe, sparkles, and beads. From there, they became the fashion symbol of all-things-70s.
Today, Gen-Z fashion icon Emma Chamberlain can take credit for the roaring return of bell-bottom pants. Shortly after posting a casual selfie featuring a pair of black flare leggings on Instagram, almost every clothing brand dashed to produce their own version of these highly sought out pants. From Alo Yoga to American Eagle to Lululemon, these pants are the cool-girl staple of current wardrobes. The growing popularity of these pants can be attributed to their versatility, comfortable fit, and flattering flare. Their modernized, comfortable style encourages women of all shapes and sizes to feel confident and comfortable in pants that accentuate all the right places. Whether they are dressed up or dressed down, these pants can be styled to fit any occasion.
As old trends cycle in and out, each iteration possesses a new, unique, modernized twist on iconic vintage looks. With the help of social media, corsets and bustiers have reappeared in the fashion world. Corsets became repopularized at the end of 2020 after the release of the hit Netflix show Bridgerton, and fans of the franchise were eager to get their hands on these vintage clothing pieces and share their royals-inspired looks all over social media. Brands such as Urban Outfitters contributed to this growing trend, and they have modernized their own version of this sixteenth-century fashion staple which is now available for everyday consumers.
As trends continue to come and go, as will the cycle of fashion. As we recycle old fashion trends, we are able to put our own twist and creative variation onto them, thus modernizing these not-so-new ideas. Something that is “out” now is likely to come back in style in a decade or two. In 10 to 20 years, we may see flare pants re-emerge as future generations modernize and claim them as their own.
