Waists of Time

We are currently witnessing the death of the skinny jean.

The mid-rise waistline and claustrophobic fit once stood firmly as a staple of 2010s fashion, along with questionable trends such as hair feathers and UGG boots. However, runways have moved far away from these pants, with Dior’s 2021 Cruise collection including a variety of baggier denim styles. Elle credits the downfall of the skinny jean to jeggings, which was “bastardizing the denim and putting in too much stretch, [so that] it became trashy.” In essence, they’ve lost their cool factor. Skinny jeans also don’t mesh well with the sustainable fashion model of today, given that the elastane used for the stretch is not recyclable.

On the topic of sustainability, thrifting has encouraged consumers to try out different styles, such as the mom jean of the 80s which is now experiencing a resurgence with younger customers. There’s a certain element of experimentation when it comes to modern fashion, so repurposing older clothes is encouraged if not outright celebrated.

But how are current fashion choices influenced by the past, and have they always been so controversial? Let’s look back at the last 40 years. Pants saw their rise as a unisex fashion staple around the 1970s, when the wide-leg jean brought in colorful options for both men and women. The eighties were massive for the high-waisted mom jean. This was a baggier fit that tapered at the ankle, unlike the previously flared style of the seventies. The late nineties and early 2000s popularized a brand new and somewhat controversial model: the low-rise flare jean. Brands like True Religion and Diesel dominated the closets of celebrities like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. Fashion trends tend to repeat every so often, so it’s not surprising to see these styles returning to the mainstream today.

Where does this take us for the future? I don’t see a return to low-waisted jeans any time soon, even if I am personally a huge supporter. I believe that designers will opt to continue bringing in baggier pants with an emphasis on comfort over defining

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body shape. Living in the COVID-19 pandemic means many people have chosen soft, baggy materials over stiff, tight denim. Skinny jeans also catered directly towards skinny bodies, leaving a majority feeling left out or unattractive while wearing them. Thankfully, the popularity of the body acceptance movement has left these archaic ideas of conformity far behind us. Modern ideas of fashion have created room for bodies of all shapes and sizes at the forefront. Everybody deserves to wear clothes they feel comfortable in!