By prabalgurung / lecca_dan / Instagram
Foregoing pants, skirts or any piece of fabric that might preserve the modesty of your lower half is the trend of the moment in the fashion world. An obsession that we owe initially to the Jenner-Kardashian clan, but which seems to have conquered the hearts of the public at large, and of the world's greatest fashion designers. The 'no pants' trend seems to be an all-round hit, even on the runways of New York Fashion Week.
Foregoing pants, skirts or any piece of fabric that might preserve the modesty of your lower half is the trend of the moment in the fashion world. An obsession that we owe initially to the Jenner-Kardashian clan, but which seems to have conquered the hearts of the public at large, and of the world's greatest fashion designers. The 'no pants' trend seems to be an all-round hit, even on the runways of New York Fashion Week.
Anything's possible where fashion is concerned. But this new fad of leaving the house in tights, if not in panties, is proving to be as unexpected as it is surprising. And yet, looking at the outfits presented at New York Fashion Week, which kicked off February 10, everything suggests that the trend may well be here to stay. It's a concept that's certainly extravagant, but which does at least have the merit of reducing -- at least by one pair of pants -- the impact of our wardrobes on the planet. Evidently, not a negligible factor for the fashion world.
This era of 'no pants' fashion has been taking shape since January, without anyone ever really imagining that designers would join in. At the time, it was just another obsession among many others for fashion icons in search of inventiveness -- and buzz -- then adopted by social network users equally keen on the viral effect. So far, nothing exceptional. However, the trend has now infiltrated fashion week, which has just kicked off in New York. A strong signal that this simple trend could turn into a full-blown fashion phenomenon.
55 million views
Associated with Kendall Jenner, after she posted a picture of herself wearing tights -- and panties -- on Instagram, the trend actually dates back to the last Paris Fashion Week, held in late September, with Kylie Jenner at its origin. For the Loewe fashion show, the youngest star of the most famous family on the planet stepped out without pants, wearing only a pair of opaque tights topped with white panties. An outfit that obviously did not go unnoticed. Also posted on Instagram, with the message "no pants, no problem," the look -- just like her sister's -- scored a few million views before making it onto TikTok.
Since it landed, social networks have been going crazy for the 'no pants' trend, which has already reached 55 million views on TikTok. In a snowball effect, many influencers have since followed the two reality TV stars, further consolidating the trend. And that's now mission accomplished for the likes of Caroline Daur, Chriselle Lim, Chiara Ferragni and Hailey Bieber -- all of whom have embraced the 'no pants' look -- considering the scale the phenomenon has reached in just a few months. And this veritable tidal wave has now reached the highest spheres of fashion, as seen in recent days at New York Fashion Week. So no matter what the temperature is outside, and as strange as this trend might be, it seems that we will now have to get used to making do without pants.
On the New York runways, the biggest fashion labels seem to have been swept up in this new obsession with a whole range of looks, each one proving lighter than the next. Prabal Gurung, for example, unveiled several outfits revealing bodysuits or panties, usually without tights. Meanwhile, Christian Siriano opted for the same effect but with tights this time, and Dion Lee chose to match the 'no pants' look with boots or thigh-high boots. And when the designer actually proposed complete looks, options for bottoms included micro-shorts or pants almost entirely torn apart, showing that the legs will almost certainly have pride of place next season.
New York Fashion Week, which ends February 15, is still in its early days, and may yet reveal many such looks. And the trend will undoubtedly be confirmed in London, Milan, and Paris, the three fashion capitals that will then host their own coveted weeks of designer showcases, whether on the catwalk or with street style looks. Watch this space...
