Cargos, parachute pants, low-risers and trackies are the best trousers for the hot-girl summer ahead. Arm yourself with ’90s and noughties attitude and look to Aaliyah, the Spice Girls and Beyoncé for inspiration.
Agustina Panzoni, trends and category manager at Depop, reports a 3,000 per cent increase in searches for parachute pants in the past three months. Shell pants and low-rise trousers, meanwhile, have spiked 171 per cent and 40 per cent respectively, and cargo pants remain the third most searched for term on the platform in the UK.
Depop sellers are listing cargos and parachute pants by the minute. Pre-loved and vintage styles are catnip for Gen-Z shoppers, as Agustina notes that both buyers and sellers like to “keep things circular”.
As well as the cargos you purchased as an ode to Destiny’s Child two decades ago, low-rise bootcut jeans are a fashion flex, too. The more Britney (Spears) or Paris (Hilton), the better. And Sporty spice devotees will be delighted to know that trackies are also still having a moment, fuelled by preppy It-girl Bella Hadid. “Our inner 2000s pop girl is screaming,” says Panzoni, who is very much here for Bella’s athleisure outings.
Tips to take from fashion plates, both old and new: crop tops and cargos/parachute pants are a dream combo (check out Hailey Bieber, who buys hers from 194 Local in East London, for inspo). Box-fresh white tank tops are another popular pairing, best worn tucked in.
With the right styling, trousers that are typically deemed “casual” or “baggy” can be work appropriate, too. British Vogue’s commerce director Naomi Smart wears her three-stripe trackies with shirting at Vogue House and fashion features editor Laura Hawkins pulls off camo cargos and a blazer on the reg.
Further inspiration can be found on Camille Charrière’s Instagram feed. The style maven shared an effortlessly cool carousel of her wearing the same Jaded London cargos as Hailey – Aja Barber appropriately coined them “Jennifer Aniston Pants” in the comments thread – and a white T-shirt layered beneath a brown sweater vest. She made the look extra edgy with yellow Asics trainers, a belly chain that spelt “babygirl” and a Dior bag.
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Compelled to try the trend? Check out corset and cargo specialist Dion Lee, whose collections are heaven for noughties fashion devotees. Or try London-based Peachy Den – a brand that has captivated Gen-Z shoppers with its sell-out Mimi shell pants. And of course, Depop, Vinted, Vestiaire Collective and eBay are meccas for vintage gems.
This story was originally published on Vogue.com
