When you hear about low-rise pants or low-rise jeans, fashion enthusiasts tend to either completely despise or embrace the item. In the past few years, the most popular trend for pants have been the high waisted / mom jeans type, which help form the silhouette of a cinched waist. Although, in the past few months, models like Bella Hadid and popular users of platforms like Instagram and Tiktok have begun popularizing again the controversial low-rise pants. But how exactly did low rise pants enter the fashion world? How did they become a trend and why are they on the verge of trending once more?
The predecessor of the low-rise pants are known as hip-huggers. This unisex style of garment was popular in the 1960s, used by participants of Mod fashion and other fashion subgenres. Hip-huggers, as the name suggests, are pants that typically rest on the hip, or just generally below the navel and had a flared of bell-bottom finish. These pants were used by the younger generations that wanted to go against societal norms and promote sexual liberation. Clothing like shorter tops and hip-huggers that showed more skin went right along with promoting freedom of sexuality and feeling comfortable in one’s body. Different variations of the hip-hugger were created, some slightly higher or lower, in geometric, denim and glittery fabrics, loose or tight to the body. Popular figures like the Rolling Stones and Cher frequently wore these during the 60s and 70s.
The bumster can be considered as the most extreme version of any style of low-rise pant – the bumster gained controversy and attention due to the fact that pants so low had never been seen before. Interesting enough, McQueen did not have the intention of showing the derriere but wanted to elongate the female figure. One McQueen quote showcased his meaning behind the creation the garment: “"It wasn't about showing the bum... To me, that part of the body – not so much the buttocks, but the bottom of the spine – that’s the most erotic part of anyone’s body, man or woman,". McQueen started one of the most infamous trends of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Soon, other designer brands like Helmut Lang followed his footsteps and celebrities and popularized the look.
The low-rise pant has been taken mainstream thanks to the POC artists in R&B and hip-hop genres, as many male performers have worn sagging pants long before McQueen. These sagging pants also had the intention of showing designer underwear, usually Calvin Klein. Female singers like Aaliyah and Lil’ Kim brought the low-rise pant and matching thong into mainstream fashion. For their S/S 1998 collection, Gucci provided low rise skirts with visible thongs to complete the outfit.
In the early 2000s, celebrities like Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, and Paris Hilton continued making the low-rise trend skyrocket by wearing designer jeans on the red carpet and in music videos. The low-rise garment went from mainly designer to be created by fast fashion brands like Abercrombie & Fitch and Guess.
The rise of the low-waisted silhouette has come thanks to the rise of the Y2K aesthetic; not only jeans, but pastel colors, tiny bags (take the nylon Prada bag as an example), velvet tracksuits, brands like Juicy Couture and Baby Phat, and minimal makeup have become a rapidly growing fashion subgenre. In the past few years, brands like IAMGIA and Dolls Kill have sold garments following the old trends, and shows like Euphoria have gave younger generations inspiration. The growth of the Hyperpop genre - a genre of music pushing pop and electronic, inspired by early 2000s legends like Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue, mixed with an experimental touch – has also formed a subsequent aesthetic, which bases itself on the hot pink Y2K vibe. Artists like Slayyyter and Ayesha Erotica have contributed to bringing this genre of music and the matching aesthetic to the mainstream, which can be seen especially on Tiktok.
Celebrities like Bella Hadid and Lily-Rose Depp have helped give examples of ways to style low-waisted pants in a way that is sexy but not uncomfortable. The look has stirred up controversy, since many maintain their belief that the silhouette is unflattering and not ideal for the everyday woman. Just remember fashion doesn’t have any rules, and if you want to wear something, wear it! The key to an amazing outfit is wearing it with confidence. Garments may go in and out of style but what matters most is what you want to wear for your individual style and individual taste.
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